Many Mardi Gras

Young farmers from across Louisiana gathered at Cypress Bend in Many for the annual LFBF YF&R Leadership Conference in January.  The purpose of the conference is to give young farmers from across the state the chance to meet and to discuss the issues they face.  The weekend started Friday night with a banquet, followed by a dance and costume contest.  The meeting on Saturday included speakers covering topics including stress and the Louisiana Ag Literacy Day.  Attendees also got a chance to discuss issues that will be coming up in the next Louisiana Legislative Session.

Women Taking Action Against Hunger

The Louisiana Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee along with several parish committees joined the fight against hunger.  In honor of Hunger Action Month the Women’s Committees joined together to make a donation to the Cameron Community Action Agency and the Faith Share Mission, both in Grand Lake, LA.  Women’s Leadership Committees from throughout the state helped by making donations which were delivered by members of the LFBF Women’s Leadership Committee.  The goal of Hunger Action month is to provide an opportunity for people to engage in the fight against domestic hunger, as well as communicate the impacts of hunger. 

 

Members of the LFBF Women’s Leadership Committee present donated items and monetary donations to volunteers at Faith Share Missions and the Cameron Community Action Agency.

The Hard Work Pays Off!

 

 

Fishing Tournament Proceed Checks Presented

                                 

   Acadia, Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes met at the August LFBF State Board meeting to present checks from the proceeds of their Fishing Tournament to LFBF AITC Chair Maryledden Danos and LFBF President Ronnie Anderson.  The three parishes joined forces once again this year to host a Fishing Tournament in Cocodrie, LA.  The proceeds  of the tournament benefited the Lousiana Ag in the Classroom Foundation and the Louisiana Farm Bureau Scholarship Foundation.  Presenting the checks were Glenn Hebert and Cathy Habetz from Acadia parish, Chris Fakier and Rodney Foret from Lafourche parish and Gordon Doiron and John Walther from Terrebonne parish.  Thanks to these parishes for the work they put into the Fishing Tournament.  Thanks also to everyone who came out and fished, volunteered, and donated their time and money to help out with the tournament!

And the winners are …..

Wow - What a week!  I hope everyone enjoyed their time in New Orleans for the LFBF Annual Meeting.   I think it was a great time to catch up with old friends and get to know a few new ones.  I’d like to congratulate all the winners at the convention. 

Thanks to all the participants and applicants for all the work you put into preparing for the  LFBF Convention.  Thanks also to those parish voting delegates who helped to develop LFBF Policy for the upcoming year, your roles as voting delegates are some of the most important in our organization. 

I look forward to working with you all in the upcoming year!

Shall we meet in the Big Easy?

  June 26-29 marks the dates for the 2008 LFBF Annual Meeting.   Members from across Louisiana will gather in New Orleans to develop policy, attend commodity meetings, and see who will receive some of the top honors given by the Louisiana Farm Bureau.  Members will also get a chance to catch up with old friends, pull for their favorite contestants and out bid each other in the Silent Auction.  

Go Fish!

The 2008 Foundation Fishing Tournament was held in Cocodrie, LA on Thursday, June 12, 2008.  The weather was great, the fishing (mostly) was great, and I think everyone had a wonderful time. Fishermen and volunteers arrived on Wednesday to register and enjoy some South Louisiana cooking.  On Thursday, after a full day of fishing, the boats returned! Back at the dock the fishermen headed for the scales. As the crowd gathered to watch the weigh-in, the fish tales started.

Special thanks o the sponsors, volunteers and of course the fishermen!  We look forward to seeing everone back next year.  Make plans now to be a the 2009 Fishing Tournament — someone’s gotta catch the one’s that got away!

Spring Meeting

It’s that time of year again and Women for the state and parish Women’s Leadership Committees gathered in Baton Rouge this weekend for the Spring Meeting.  The agenda was filled with timely topics, including Women’s Health Issues, Ronald McDonald House Charities, AITC, Legislative Issues, and presentations by AFBF personnel on working together.  Participants also found time for a little fun and as usual a chance to catch up with Farm Bureau friends.  From the comments I heard, a good time was had by all. 

Membership Incentive Trip

Wow -   It seems like ever since the AFBF Convention in New Orleans we have been on a whirlwind!  But we got to slow things down a little bit on the Membership Incentive Trip to Santa Barbara County, CA.  Parish Presidents from all over the state were able to see first hand California agriculture in action.  We got to visit with California farmers, or ranchers as they call themselves, and hear what issues and concerns they deal with in their operations.  We got to visit strawberry, vegetable, citrus, avocado and cut flower operations and also got a tour of Firestone Winery.  It was an amazing trip and the California folks ordered beautiful weather for our visit.  They also treated us to a wonderful California Special – Tri-Tip BBQ with all the (delicious) fixings!  Special thanks to Teri and the Santa Barbara County board members for the hospitality! Keep in mind that the 2008 Membership Incentive Trip is to Washington DC in Spring of 2009.  We hope you can join us!

              Cut Flowers

                      

    Firestone Winery Shall we taste?

             

Lunchtime                          Strawberries

Food Checkout Day Celebrated

Food Checkout Day was celebrated February 8 in Evangeline Parish.  The LFBF Women’s Leadership Committee, along with the Women’s Leadership Committee members from Evangeline and other neighboring parishes met at Champagne’s Grocery in Ville Platte to host a FCOD Event.  The highlight was a ‘Celebrity Shopping Cart Race’.  Local celebrities, Keith Fontenot with the Evangeline Parish Extension Service and Randy Guillory with KVPI Radio, “raced” to collect LA Commodity items.  Collected items were purchased and donated to ‘Care and Share Charities’ in Ville Platte.  During the week prior to the event, Ag Trivia and Farm Facts were aired by a local radio station.  Several neighboring parishes were also present to assist and make donations.  Other FCOD celebrations will also take place throughout the state.  Thanks to all those parishes who participated  and thanks to Ms. Dianna Fontenot and Evangeline Parish for all their hard work.  Please remember to let us know about any FCOD events hosted in your parishes

Lets get started!

Hi everyone and welcome to the new Field Staff Info Site.  We hope to use this as a tool to help keep you better informed.  Along the way, please let me know what works and what doesn’t.  

Things have really been rolling since the beginning of the year, with the AFBF Convention in New Orleans and now many active in Livestock Shows I know many people are stretched thin. 

Please remember about Food Checkout Day.  This marks the day that the average family has earned enough income  to pay their food bill for the year!  It will be celebrated during the week of February 3 through February 9.  We invite interested parishes to participate in anything from food donations to commodity promotions. There are also several statewide promotions going on, if you would like to participate in one of those let me know.   Be sure to let us know what you do to promote Food Checkout Day.