Louisiana Farmer Recognized By North Louisiana Agri-Business Council

YOUNG AGRICULTURAL PRODUCER OF THE YEAR, MARSHALL HARDWICK

WEST MONROE, Louisiana — The North Louisiana Agri-Business Council presented Marshall Hardwick with the 2020 Young Agricultural Producer award on January 17th during the annual Ag-Expo Awards luncheon.

Hardwick farms with his family's Hardwick Planting Company located on the family’s Somerset Plantation in Tensas Parish.

A graduate of the LSU College of Agriculture, Hardwick received his undergraduate degree in Agricultural Business in 2011 and master's degree in Plant, Environmental Management and Soil Systems in 2013.

MARSHALL HARDWICK RECEIVED THE YOUNG AGRICULTURAL PRODUCER OF THE YEAR AWARD AT THE NORTH LOUISIANA AGRI-BUSINESS COUNCIL AG EXPO AWARD LUNCHEON.

As a student, Hardwick said he learned firsthand the value of working with farmers to further university research, and he looks forward to continuing that work now that he is a producer.

In 2019, Hardwick graduated from the LSU AgCenter’s Master Farmer Program. The Louisiana Master Farmer Program is a national model for voluntary education and compliance with natural resource and environmental conservation.

The Hardwick family has been extensively involved with conservation and restoration efforts in the area for many years. Almost 500 acres have been removed from agriculture production and restored to their natural existence along with the continued preservation of 3,000 more acres. In addition, approximately 6,000 acres of hardwood timberland are maintained which provide habitat for the Louisiana black bear. 

Hardwick says his family firmly believes it is crucial to combine productive agricultural operations with maximum natural resource protection and a comprehensive conservation plan for the farm. Hardwick Planting Company’s mission is to achieve a viable, profitable and sustainable farm enterprise that pursues the ethical stewardship of all land resources with minimal impact upon the farm ecosystem. To pursue this mission, they have implemented conservation practices and systems such as extensive crop rotation, minimum tillage, filter strips and wetland restoration and preservation. Hardwick Planting Company was also recently awarded the 2015 National Wetlands Award for Landowner Stewardship for their effort of blending production agriculture and conservation.