(08/20/20) BATON ROUGE, La. — The 2020 Louisiana County Agriculture Agents Association honored three LSU AgCenter employees at its annual meeting held online on Aug. 18.
Justin Dufour, area agronomy agent based in Avoyelles Parish, received the Achievement Award presented to a member with less than 10 years of service.
Al Orgeron, area pest management specialist based in St. James Parish, received the Distinguished Service Award. This award is presented to a member with 10 or more years of service. Orgeron also was recognized by the National Association of County Agricultural Agents as the Southern Region Poster Winner, and he was a NACAA national winner in the Search for Excellence in Crop Production.
Allen Hogan was honored for his selection to the NACAA Southern Region Hall of Fame. Hogan retired as a county agent from the LSU AgCenter in 2012, and he currently works with the Louisiana Master Farmer Program.
The three honorees will all be recognized at the NACAA annual meeting in September.
Presenters during the meeting’s educational sessions included LSU faculty members Ashley Mullens, Ken McMillin, Michael Polozola, Ed Twidwell and Wink Alison.
New LCAAA officers installed were Lee Faulk, president; Mark Carriere, president-elect; Mariah Simoneaux, vice president; Bentley Fitzpatrick, secretary; Bobby Soileau, treasurer.
New board members representing the Southeast Region and Campus are André Brock, Jessie Hoover and Mary Helen Ferguson; for the Southwest Region are Todd Fontenot, Bradley Pousson and Jeremy Hebert; in the North Region are Randall Mallette, John Terrell and Jason Holmes.
Outgoing LCAAA President Sara Shields received praise and appreciation for navigating the association during these uncertain times.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Faulk invited the membership to the 2021 annual meeting scheduled to be held in north Louisiana.
Justin Dufour
Al Orgeron
Allen Hogan
The LSU AgCenter and the LSU College of Agriculture