Parish Annual Meetings

It is that time of year- the time when parishes hold their annual membership meetings.  This period started in February with St. Landry parish.  St. Landry held their annual meeting in a standing room only Yambalee Building in Opelousas.  This year’s talent winners and queen contestant were introduced.  Local politicians were present to visit with the crowd. 

Iberia parish held their meeting on March 2nd.  Their annual meeting was held at the Jefferson Island Conference Center west of New Iberia.  Local politicians and state legislators were in attendance and each addressed the group.  Pointe Coupee held their annual meeting in New Roads.  During this meeting their incoming board was elected, resolutions to the La Farm Bureau Board of Directors were passed, and winners of the raffle benefiting AgriPac were announced.   

Finally, Lafayette parish held their annual meeting in Ridge, La.  Women’s, Young Farmers and Ranchers, and Ag in the Classroom reports were given.  AgCenter personnel were on hand to give an update on events that the AgCenter hosts.  Awards were given to outstanding members of the local board of directors. 

More annual meetings are scheduled.  Meetings in Iberville, St. Martin, and St. Mary parishes are coming soon!

 

 

Tenant-Landlord Committee Meeting

As the result of a resolution submitted by the Iberia Parish Farm Bureau Board, a committee was appointed to examine the tenant- landlord agreements that currently exist and the legalities that these agreements entail.  Nine members from various parishes were appointed to this committee which met on February 21, 2008 at the Iberia Parish Farm Bureau Office. 

This committee visited about several current situation reguarding agricultural leases.  This committee has asked that the Louisiana Farm Bureau Board of Directors support the three following topics:

1. Before the landowner sells land out of cultivation, the landowner must notify the farmer in a timely manner of his intention to sell the land.

2. Before the land is developed, the landowner must financially compensate the farmer for his crop and investments or reach a mutual agreement for financial compensation with the farmer for his crop and investment.

3. Changes to make private companies liable for legal expenses in expropriation of land by private entities if they lose their case.

The committee also discussed possible legislation requiring specific allocation of part of the purchase price of agriculture property be given to the evicted tenant at a specified value as determined by the statistical values published by the LSU AgCenter.  Other meetings that pertain to this issue will be scheduled after action is taken by the State Board. 

Legislative Suppers Held

Phares’ Restaurant was the stage for a legislative supper hosted by the Louisiana Farm Bureau.  The parishes of Iberia, Vermilion, Lafayette, and St. Martin were all represented by members of each parish’s Farm Bureau Board.  The local board members in attendance were able to socialize with their legislators and discuss issues that are of importance in their parish.  This was a great opportunity for the delegation to reconnect with returning members of the legislature as well as meet the new faces that have appeared this spring. 

Farm Bureau members in attendance at this event were able to visit with Senator Nick Gautreaux, Senator Mike Michot, Representative Fred H. Mills, and Representative Patrick Page Cortez.  Over fifty parish board members were in attendance on the evening of March 5th.   

Lafourche and Assumption parish farm bureaus followed suit, hosting legislative suppers for their respective parishes.  Lafourche , in conjunction with the Lafourche Cattlemen’s Association, welcomed legislators to the Raceland Agriculture Complex building on March 13th.  Mike Strain was their key speaker, followed by representation from Mary Landrieu’s office, the City-Parish President, the Lafourche levee board, and the Louisiana Cattlemen’s Association. 

Assumption Parish Farm Bureau took a more subtle approach by inviting their state legislators to the parish office for an informal dinner.  Representatives Joe Harrison, Karen St. Germain, and Elton Aubert attended and had the opportunity to tell board members about the projects and legislation that they are currently working on and converse about these.  The individual board members voiced their issues currently facing their industry and informed the legislators about legislation coming forward in the regular session.

 As these legislation gatherings continue to occur, we see various styles and venues that have been utilized while allowing for the same end result, the ability to meet with and discuss current issues that are in need of legislative attention.  Great job to those who have held such meetings!

Santa Barbara Trip

For two days members of the Louisiana Farm Bureau visited the farms and ranches of Santa Barbara County.  This trip was provided as an incentive to those parishes who obtained membership quota for 2007.  The group toured a cut flower operation, a citrus and avocado farm, Firestone Vinyard, a vegetable operation, and a strawberry farm.  Those attending were as follows:

Jackie and Sue Theriot- LFBF Board 

Mike and Pam Melancon- LFBF Board

Allen Theriot- St. Martin Parish

Tom and Linda Ellender- LFBF Board

Cecil and Sally Ramagos- Iberville Parish

Joey and Denise Olivier- St. Landry Parish

Curt and Lucy Engemann- Pointe Coupee Parish

Gary and Colette Gravois- Assumption Parish

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

Santa Barbara, California Trip

Last week we took a group of about 75 Farm Bureau leaders to Santa Barbara, California on a farm tour.  It was our membership incentive trip for last year, and it was really something.  Here’s who attended from Northwest Louisiana:

Brian & Billie Mitchell – Bossier parish 

Jimmy & Jeannie Marsalis – Claiborne parish

Dean & Vicki Graner – DeSoto parish

Joey & Lisa Register – DeSoto parish

Henry Thrash – Bienville parish

Joe & Rita DeBose – Sabine parish

Ed & Anne Crawford – Winn parish

There are a lot of pictures on the website homepage.  Just look for the link that says “Photos! Membership Incentive Trip to Santa Barbara County”.

Annual Meetings

Annual Meetings are getting underway in Northwest Louisiana.  Bossier parish is always the first one in our area.  They held theirs back on February 22nd, with an excellent attendance…probably 200 or so people.  I’m always impressed with the elected officials who attend Bossier’s meeting.  They have every reason to be proud of their efforts.  Jackson parish held their annual meeting this past Monday night.  I didn’t make it because of the Legislative Dinner in Bossier, but I talked to parish president Robert Moore yesterday about it.  He said their attendance was down around 60, where they have been running about 80.  As I mentioned in a previous post, there was some really rough weather coming through here Monday night, and Robert is sure that’s the reason for the drop in attendance.   Here’s a rundown of the other annual meetings that are scheduled in Northwest Louisiana:

Caddo – March 20th

DeSoto – March 29th

Claiborne – April 17th

Northwest LA Legislative Dinner

Seventy Farm Bureau members from across Northwest Louisiana turned out for our recent Legislative Dinner on March 3rd.  It was a stormy Monday night, so I’m sure that kept a few folks home.  But, I’m proud that our members always show up in good numbers for these type of events.  We had it a Ralph and Kacoo’s in Bossier City, so it was definitely a good meal.  I guess if there was a downside it was that there were only 8 legislators present.  We did expect that, however, with the short time between special sessions.  One representative told me we were his fourth meeting that day.  They are all running like crazy trying to meet with constituents and make other meetings.  Thanks to all of you who attended. 

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.

Welcome!

In an effort to improve the content of our website and to give members across the state a better understanding of what’s happening in your area as well as across the state, we’ve developed this blog for you called “From the Field.”  This gives you the opportunity to communicate with your Field Services Directors in your area via this website.  Please let us know what you think and we look forward to keeping you informed with what’s happening in your area.  Be sure to bookmark this page and check back often for updates. As always, thanks for all you do.