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| Directions l American Farm Bureau l Farm Bureau Bank l Privacy Policy l Contact Us l Help l Site Map |
The Voice of Louisiana Agriculture
Welcome to the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation
| Directions l American Farm Bureau l Farm Bureau Bank l Privacy Policy l Contact Us l Help l Site Map |
Welcome to the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation
Welcome to the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation
The Voice of Louisiana Agriculture
NEW ORLEANS-- The Lafayette Parish Farm Bureau was awarded the coveted President's Trophy by the
Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation at the organization's 87th annual meeting here.
Lafayette Parish Farm Bureau President Chad Hanks accepted
the award on behalf of the parish membership from Farm Bureau
President Ronnie Anderson. The award is the highest honor
bestowed during the farm group's annual meeting and topped
a list of award winners that included the state's top young
farmer, top young farm woman, award of excellence winner,
discussion meet winner and top ag educator.
"I accepted it, but this is for all those in Lafayette Parish who have
worked so hard to promote agriculture," Hanks said. "All of our
parish membership deserve this trophy and it's been a long time
since we've been in the spotlight here."
In the last 40 years Lafayette Parish has won the award just two
previous times, the first in 1969 and again in 1993. The trophy
recognizes outstanding contributions to state agriculture by the
volunteer leadership and farmer and rancher members. The
parish was among 61 parish Farm Bureaus recognized for their
efforts in promoting agriculture. The organization also recognized
ag educators, farm journalists and young farmers from the
organization's Young Farmers and Ranchers programs across
the state.
Also recognized during the Thursday night's award program were
Cullen and Sarah Beth Kovac, of Oak Grove, in West Carroll Parish.
The couple was named the Farm Bureau's Young Farmer and
Rancher Achievement Award winner. The award is presented to
farm couples under the age of 35 whose farming operations
balance production, profit and environmental concerns.
The Kovacs operate a diverse cattle and hay operation on 800
acres in Oak Grove. They have 300 head of cattle and purchase
about 150 head of stocker cattle each year. The couple's farm
takes advantage of the EQIP program, a land conservation
program by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Cullen said his
operation uses GPS technology to reduce fertilizer and herbicide
use and employs no-till methods to reduce soil erosion and runoff.
"We're just honored to be recognized among our farming neighbors,"
Cullen Kovac, 26, said. When you farm you can't help but work hard,
and the farmers we competed against work just as hard as anybody.
They all deserve this award."
"We put a lot of faith, sweat and determination into our operation," Sarah Beth Kovac, 25, said. "We feel
we've not only developed a good farming operation, but a good family life as well."
Part of the Kovac's prize package included a 2009 Dodge Ram 2500
pickup truck, savings bonds and other prizes. As Louisiana's state
winner the couple will compete for the national title in January in Seattle
during the American Farm Bureau Convention. The two other finalists for
the award were Clayton Hurdle, of Iberville Parish, and Dwayne Viator, of
Lafayette Parish.
The Farm Bureau named Amelia Levin, 26, of Amite, its Outstanding
Young Farm Woman for 2009. Levin operates a cow-calf operation and
manages her family's tree farming operation.
"I've worked hard to reestablish our family's timber operation after it was
devastated by Hurricane Katrina," Levin said. "We could have let those
stands (of trees) disappear, but we know how important it is to return
the land to its natural state. It's been tough going, but we've definitely
made progress."
Taking home the YF&R Committee's 2009 Award of Excellence was
Andre Danos, a cattle and cane producer from Raceland who works
as a farm specialist for Helena Chemical. The Award of Excellence
honors outstanding contributions to agriculture by professionals in
the industry who are not primarily engaged in agriculture. Through his
work at Helena, Danos said he helps primarily sugarcane producers
gain access to high quality strains of cane seed.
"This allows producers to expand a cane variety more rapidly across his
farm," Danos said. "This allows for increased profits that would otherwise
be lost to disease and insect pressures. My family and I have always been
involved in farming. I don't farm on a daily basis, but I understand what it
means to do so. I work very hard to give my farmer clients they need to be
successful. That's what's going to keep them on the farm."
Also at Thursday's awards program the Assumption Parish Women's
Leadership Committee was given the 2009 WLC Award of Excellence.
Julie Adolph, chair of the Assumption Parish Women's Leadership
Committee, accepted the award. The award recognizes the critical
role farm women play in volunteer activities and rural life.
"We're honored to be recognized this year and the women of Assumption Parish have worked hard to
make this happen," Adolph said.
The 2009 Young Farmers and Ranchers Award of Merit was presented to the West Baton Rouge Parish
Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee for its work promoting agriculture to young producers. Heath
Morris, chair of the West Baton Rouge Parish Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee, accepted the
award from Elliot Colvin, chair of the state YF&R Committee and Farm Bureau President Ronnie Anderson.
The Farm Bureau also recognized its Ag in the Classroom Teacher of the Year for 2009. This year's
winner was Carla Denison Cormier, a third grade teacher at LeBleu Elementary in Iowa, in Calcasieu
Parish. Denison Cormier was attending the national AITC conference in St. Louis and was unable to
attend Thursday's program. Farm Bureau AITC Chairperson Maryledden Danos accepted the award on
Denison Cormier's behalf.
The Louisiana Farm Bureau is the state's largest general farm organization. Founded in 1922, the Farm
Bureau provides legislative, commodity and marketing resources to the state's farmers and ranchers.
Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation at the organization's 87th annual meeting here.
Lafayette Parish Farm Bureau President Chad Hanks accepted
the award on behalf of the parish membership from Farm Bureau
President Ronnie Anderson. The award is the highest honor
bestowed during the farm group's annual meeting and topped
a list of award winners that included the state's top young
farmer, top young farm woman, award of excellence winner,
discussion meet winner and top ag educator.
"I accepted it, but this is for all those in Lafayette Parish who have
worked so hard to promote agriculture," Hanks said. "All of our
parish membership deserve this trophy and it's been a long time
since we've been in the spotlight here."
In the last 40 years Lafayette Parish has won the award just two
previous times, the first in 1969 and again in 1993. The trophy
recognizes outstanding contributions to state agriculture by the
volunteer leadership and farmer and rancher members. The
parish was among 61 parish Farm Bureaus recognized for their
efforts in promoting agriculture. The organization also recognized
ag educators, farm journalists and young farmers from the
organization's Young Farmers and Ranchers programs across
the state.
Also recognized during the Thursday night's award program were
Cullen and Sarah Beth Kovac, of Oak Grove, in West Carroll Parish.
The couple was named the Farm Bureau's Young Farmer and
Rancher Achievement Award winner. The award is presented to
farm couples under the age of 35 whose farming operations
balance production, profit and environmental concerns.
The Kovacs operate a diverse cattle and hay operation on 800
acres in Oak Grove. They have 300 head of cattle and purchase
about 150 head of stocker cattle each year. The couple's farm
takes advantage of the EQIP program, a land conservation
program by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Cullen said his
operation uses GPS technology to reduce fertilizer and herbicide
use and employs no-till methods to reduce soil erosion and runoff.
"We're just honored to be recognized among our farming neighbors,"
Cullen Kovac, 26, said. When you farm you can't help but work hard,
and the farmers we competed against work just as hard as anybody.
They all deserve this award."
"We put a lot of faith, sweat and determination into our operation," Sarah Beth Kovac, 25, said. "We feel
we've not only developed a good farming operation, but a good family life as well."
Part of the Kovac's prize package included a 2009 Dodge Ram 2500
pickup truck, savings bonds and other prizes. As Louisiana's state
winner the couple will compete for the national title in January in Seattle
during the American Farm Bureau Convention. The two other finalists for
the award were Clayton Hurdle, of Iberville Parish, and Dwayne Viator, of
Lafayette Parish.
The Farm Bureau named Amelia Levin, 26, of Amite, its Outstanding
Young Farm Woman for 2009. Levin operates a cow-calf operation and
manages her family's tree farming operation.
"I've worked hard to reestablish our family's timber operation after it was
devastated by Hurricane Katrina," Levin said. "We could have let those
stands (of trees) disappear, but we know how important it is to return
the land to its natural state. It's been tough going, but we've definitely
made progress."
Taking home the YF&R Committee's 2009 Award of Excellence was
Andre Danos, a cattle and cane producer from Raceland who works
as a farm specialist for Helena Chemical. The Award of Excellence
honors outstanding contributions to agriculture by professionals in
the industry who are not primarily engaged in agriculture. Through his
work at Helena, Danos said he helps primarily sugarcane producers
gain access to high quality strains of cane seed.
"This allows producers to expand a cane variety more rapidly across his
farm," Danos said. "This allows for increased profits that would otherwise
be lost to disease and insect pressures. My family and I have always been
involved in farming. I don't farm on a daily basis, but I understand what it
means to do so. I work very hard to give my farmer clients they need to be
successful. That's what's going to keep them on the farm."
Also at Thursday's awards program the Assumption Parish Women's
Leadership Committee was given the 2009 WLC Award of Excellence.
Julie Adolph, chair of the Assumption Parish Women's Leadership
Committee, accepted the award. The award recognizes the critical
role farm women play in volunteer activities and rural life.
"We're honored to be recognized this year and the women of Assumption Parish have worked hard to
make this happen," Adolph said.
The 2009 Young Farmers and Ranchers Award of Merit was presented to the West Baton Rouge Parish
Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee for its work promoting agriculture to young producers. Heath
Morris, chair of the West Baton Rouge Parish Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee, accepted the
award from Elliot Colvin, chair of the state YF&R Committee and Farm Bureau President Ronnie Anderson.
The Farm Bureau also recognized its Ag in the Classroom Teacher of the Year for 2009. This year's
winner was Carla Denison Cormier, a third grade teacher at LeBleu Elementary in Iowa, in Calcasieu
Parish. Denison Cormier was attending the national AITC conference in St. Louis and was unable to
attend Thursday's program. Farm Bureau AITC Chairperson Maryledden Danos accepted the award on
Denison Cormier's behalf.
The Louisiana Farm Bureau is the state's largest general farm organization. Founded in 1922, the Farm
Bureau provides legislative, commodity and marketing resources to the state's farmers and ranchers.
Lafayette Parish Wins President's Trophy, Oak Grove
Couple Named State's Top Young Farmers
Couple Named State's Top Young Farmers
By MICHAEL DANNA
FB News Staff Writer
FB News Staff Writer
| FB NEWS Photo by Lauren Thom |
IT'S YOU. Cullen and Sarah Beth Kovak were
named the top young farmers at the 87th annual
meeting.
named the top young farmers at the 87th annual
meeting.
| FB NEWS Photo by Lauren Thom |
Chad Hanks, left, president of the Lafayette Parish
Farm Bureau accepts the President's Trophy from
Louisiana Farm Bureau President, Ronnie
Anderson. The trophy is the highest award
presented to a parish Farm Bureau for their work in
promoting agriculture. Hanks accepted the award
on behalf of his parish membership at the 87th
Annual Farm Bureau Convention being held this
week in New Orleans.
Farm Bureau accepts the President's Trophy from
Louisiana Farm Bureau President, Ronnie
Anderson. The trophy is the highest award
presented to a parish Farm Bureau for their work in
promoting agriculture. Hanks accepted the award
on behalf of his parish membership at the 87th
Annual Farm Bureau Convention being held this
week in New Orleans.