La. Farm Bureau Honors Parishes, Volunteers at 100th Annual Convention

By Avery Davidson

Louisiana Farm Bureau News

The Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation culminated the opening night of its 100th Annual Convention with Vermilion Parish Farm Bureau capturing the President’s Award for the third straight year. 

The President’s Award recognizes the parish Farm Bureau that excels in membership, advocacy and communications over the past year. Louisiana Farm Bureau President Jim Harper presented the award to Vermilion Parish Farm Bureau President Bryan Simon Thursday night at the New Orleans Marriott.

Also winning big Thursday night were Philip and Chelsie Domingues of Vermilion Parish, who received the Louisiana Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Achievement Award. The Domingues are fourth generation farmers who grow sugarcane, soybeans and raise commercial cattle in Erath, Louisiana. The Achievement Award recognizes farmers and ranchers age 35 an under who have thriving operations and a strong involvement in Farm Bureau. For winning the Achievement Award, the Domingues receive $35,000 cash from the Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company, an all-expense paid trip to the 2023 American Farm Bureau Federation Convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico, as well as other cash prices.

The Discussion Meet is an opportunity for Louisiana Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers to show their skills at tackling topics in a group setting, much like at a governmental meeting. The topic for the final round of this year’s Discussion Meet focused on how Farm Bureau can be more accessible and welcoming to members who are farming and working off-farm jobs. The judges named Amanda Duhon of Vermilion Parish the winner of 2022 Discussion Meet. Duhon receives a John Deere Gator utility vehicle, courtesy of the Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company, an all-expense paid trip to the 2023 American Farm Bureau Federation Convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico, as well as other cash prices.

Marylynn Waddle of DeSoto Parish is the winner of the 2022 Louisiana Farm Bureau Excellence in Agriculture award. The award is designed to recognize Young Farmers and Ranchers who do not derive the majority of their income from an owned agricultural operation, but are actively contributing and growing through their involvement in Farm Bureau and the agriculture industry. For winning, Waddle receives $7,500 toward the purchase of a 4-wheel ATV, courtesy of Louisiana Land Bank, an all expense paid trip to the 2023 American Farm Bureau Federation Convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico, as well as other cash prices.

Laura Hebert of Vermilion Parish is the 2022 Louisiana Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Outstanding Young Farm Woman. Hebert is a fourth generation rice, soybean and crawfish farmer from Maurice, Louisiana. She has been an active member of Louisiana Farm Bureau since 2016. For winning, Hebert receives a $2,000 gift card from the Louisiana Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance, an all-expense paid trip to the 2023 American Farm Bureau Federation Convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico, as well as other cash prices.

  The Louisiana Farm Bureau Ag in the Classroom committee recognized Haley Broussard as the Teacher of the Year. Broussard teaches second grade at Dozier Elementary in Erath, Louisiana The AITC committee gives the honor every year to a teacher who does an exemplary job of incorporating agriculture into lesson plans. Broussard receives an all-expense paid trip to the National Ag in the Classroom conference in Saratoga Springs, New York, an iPad and $500 cash from the Louisiana Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom.

The 100th Annual Meeting of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation continues through Sunday, June 26 at the New Orleans Marriott.