Kurt Guidry to Head LSU AgCenter Southwest Region

By Tobie Blanchard, LSU AgCenter

Kurt Guidry has been named regional director for the LSU AgCenter Southwest Region.

BATON ROUGE, La. — Kurt Guidry, a professor in the LSU AgCenter Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, has been named regional director for the LSU AgCenter Southwest Region.

Guidry’s appointment is effective Oct. 1. He will replace Steve Linscombe, who will retire on Sept. 30 after 35 years with the AgCenter.

The Southwest Region includes 14 parishes and three research stations.

Guidry has a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, a master’s degree in agricultural economics from LSU and a doctorate in agricultural economics from Oklahoma State University.

Guidry started his career with the AgCenter in 1993 as a county agent in St. Landry Parish. He left to pursue his doctorate in 1994 and returned to the AgCenter in 1997. He has moved through the professorial ranks in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness and was named the Gilbert Durbin Professor of Agricultural Economics in 2008.

Guidry said he is looking forward to the challenge of maintaining and expanding on the successes of the Southwest Region under the leadership of Linscombe.

“I have a deep appreciation for the level and importance of the work that is being done by the research stations as well as by our extension faculty in the region,” Guidry said. “I will work with our faculty and clientele groups to ensure we continue to effectively and adequately address the needs of the region.”

Guidry’s office will be at the H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station in Crowley. He grew up about 15 minutes from the station.

“This is very much a homecoming for me,” Guidry said.