(06/14/23) GONZALES, La. — The Louisiana County Agricultural Agents Association met in Gonzales June 4 to 7 for its annual meeting and professional improvement conference. The meeting culminated with an awards banquet highlighting the achievements of LCAAA members throughout the year.

Conference highlights included a welcome supper at Westfield Sugar Mill in Assumption Parish along with multiple tour stops such as at Poche Perique Tobacco in Convent with a field tour from sugarcane and tobacco farmer Brandon Gravois, Houmas House and Gardens, Amite River Wildlife Sanctuary, Zen-Noh Grain Corporation and a lunch at the St. James Fast Food Farm.

Speakers at the conference included Galen Iverstine, of Iverstine Farms Butcher; wildlife specialist Ashley Longfrom the LSU AgCenter School of Renewable Natural Resources; AgCenter vegetable specialist Kiki Fontenot; Lillie Adams Wiley from Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry; and Brooks Lamb, of the American Farmland Trust.

The awards banquet was held at the Clarion Inn Conference Center in Gonzales and included opening remarks from outgoing LCAAA President Mariah Simoneaux, who was awarded a plaque for her tireless service over the previous year.

“One of my goals as president was to encourage participation on the state and national level of our organization,” she said. “I’m proud to say we’ve met that goal.”

Honorees included Heather Kirk-Ballard, who received the Achievement Award, and Jeremy Hebert, who received the Distinguished Service Award.

Communications awards went to Bradley Pousson, computer-generated presentation with script; Joe Willis, newsletter; Ashley Edwards, audio recording and website/online content; Kirk-Ballard, feature story; Mary Ferguson, personal column; and David Moseley, publication.

A poster contest at the event highlighted research and extension effort of LSU AgCenter specialists and agents. In the applied research category, a team led by Trey Price won first place. Leticia Santos and Stacia Conger won second place, and Moseley took third.

In the extension education category, a poster by Conger and April Divine placed first, and Valerie West came in second.

Simoneaux said recognizing the hard work of peers with the awards banquet is a large part of the annual meeting.

“Agriculture and natural resource agents and specialists across the state are doing great work and it’s nice to take a minute to recognize those accomplishments,” she said. “We have a great group that will be representing Louisiana at our National Association of County Agricultural Agents in Des Moines, Iowa, in August.”

First South Farm Credit representative Michele Simoneaux, far left, presented communications awards to David Moseley, Joe Willis, Sara Shields, Ashley Edwards and Bradley Pousson at the Louisiana County Agricultural Agents Association Awards Banquet held June 6 at the Clarion Inn Conference Center in Gonzales. Not pictured are Heather Kirk-Ballard and Mary Ferguson. Photo by V. Todd Miller/LSU AgCenter

Jeremy Hebert, left, was the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award at the Louisiana County Agricultural Agents Association Awards Banquet held June 6 at the Clarion Inn Conference Center in Gonzales. He is pictured with his presenter, Kurt Guidry from the LSU AgCenter. Photo by V. Todd Miller/LSU AgCenter

From left to right, Stacia Conger, Leticia Santos, Valerie West and David Moseley were presented poster contest awards at the Louisiana County Agricultural Agents Association Awards Banquet held June 6 at the Clarion Inn Conference Center in Gonzales. Not pictured are Trey Price and April Divine. Photo by V. Todd Miller/LSU AgCenter

Randall Mallette presented outgoing president Mariah Simoneaux with a plaque for her previous year of service at the Louisiana County Agricultural Agents Association Awards Banquet held June 6 at the Clarion Inn Conference Center in Gonzales. Photo by V. Todd Miller/LSU AgCenter