Louisiana Farm Bureau Members Advocate for Agriculture at the State Capitol
By Anna Holmes
Louisiana Farm Bureau News
Members of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation’s Women’s Leadership Committee and Young Farmers and Ranchers brought their voices directly to lawmakers at the state capitol, advocating for policies that impact farmers and rural communities across Louisiana.
The Women’s Leadership Committee focuses on developing leadership skills while promoting agriculture and helping women understand the value of advocating for not only their families, but also rural communities across the state.
Michele Simoneaux, Women’s Leadership Committee chair, emphasized the value of women taking initiative to understand and engage with legislative issues.
“It’s important for the Farm Bureau women across the state to come to the Capitol to see what the policies are, what’s going on, and interact with our legislators to tell them about our family farms,” Simoneaux said.
Rhonda Butler, Chair of the House Agriculture Committee, knows first-hand the value of women’s advocacy, drawing from her experience as both a farmer and a longtime advocate for agriculture policy.
“These women understand the day-to-day and how important our agriculture is to our people and farmers,” Butler said. “The legislators need to know how hard it is for our farmers, how expensive it is to run those farms, and how to produce that food.”
In addition to members of the Women’s Leadership Committee, Young Farmers and Ranchers volunteers also attended the Capitol visit, bringing perspectives from the next generation of Louisiana agriculture leaders.
These groups' advocacy work not only affects farmers, but others within the agriculture industry who experience the impact of legislative decisions.
Hunt Simon, a chemical fertilizer and seed sales representative and member of YF&R, appreciates the experience of going to the Capitol as an ag industry professional.
“There’s cattlemen, grain farmers and a little bit of everything that all need a say,” Simon said. “The experience opens you up to the whole state and issues at hand. What might affect your area, will also affect someone else's, and you can team up to solve those problems through Farm Bureau.”
The influence of agricultural leaders extends beyond the industry itself, affecting consumers across Louisiana.
“We’re all involved in agriculture, everyone who eats and wears clothes. It’s all tied in more than we think,” Simon said. “Finding legislation that works for everyone and helps the farming community is great for Louisiana.”
Meeting with legislators not only addresses farming concerns and improves policy outcomes but also creates meaningful relationships that carry into action.
“We make valuable personal relationships, we can call on any day, at any time, and they will listen to our stories. In return, they can call and see what the issues are with us,” Simoneaux said. “To know that we have those personal contacts is a reassuring feeling.”
Advocacy doesn’t stop at the State Capitol; it continues in everyday life through farmers, ranchers and agricultural communities. The relationships and conversations grown through these visits create a stronger united voice, shaping the future of Louisiana agriculture.