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- 2013 Louisiana Farmer of the Year
CONGRATULATIONS TO MR. HARPER ARMSTRONG OF MOREHOUSE PARISH
FOR WINNING THE 2013 LOUISIANA FARMER OF THE YEAR
Harper Armstrong of Bastrop, La., a farmer for the past 47 years in Morehouse Parish, has been selected as the 2013 Louisiana Farmer of the Year. He was among three finalists in Louisiana. This competition is sponsored by the Louisiana Agri-News Network, the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation, the LSU AgCenter and the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry.
Harper has been in the farming industry is entire life, beginning with his dad and uncles over 50 years ago on their small family farm in Collinston. At age 65 Harper has built his farm into a thriving agricultural enterprise by learning from his mistakes and being open to new technologies and plant genetics that have helped with his farming success. Mr. Armstrong currently farms over 2,500 acres of crops including corn, soybeans, wheat, and rice. He also has interests in cattle with about 60 head of cattle and a haying operation. Armstrong and his wife, Lois, have one daughter, Ashley. All are involved in the farming operation.
For the last 8 years his farm has been on display at an annual crops demonstration field day where other farmers from throughout Louisiana and other states have attended to see for themselves the latest technologies available to producers by the LSU Ag Center and Southern University as well as new technologies from seed companies and equipment companies such as the John Deere Co. This tour is even filmed for future references on Farm Bureau network.
Mr. Armstrong has been a mentor to many young men through the years that have worked under his leadership. He taught them about work ethics, responsibility, and loyalty. Today many of these young men are responsible citizens with families of their own, welders, electricians, fire men, and others who will tell you they are grateful for the opportunity to work and learn under Mr. Armstrong.
Mr. Armstrong is currently president of the Morehouse Black Farmers and Landowners Association. This is an organization that he helped develop along with other black farmers in Morehouse Parish and surrounding parishes to give minority producers the latest information on farm programs and farming practices that has enable the minority producer to continue farming. Mr. Armstrong is also a vice president of the National Black Growers Council which covers minority producers from throughout the South. Through the years Mr. Armstrong has served on many committees with the Farm Service Association, the Soil Conservation Service, and the LSU Ag Center serving as an advisor to give all farm producers in Morehouse parish both black and white an opportunity to continue farming.