A Tribute to a “Make a Difference” Rice Farmer

By John Owen
Louisiana Rice Promotion Board chairman

In 1972, a prior generation of Louisiana rice farmers had the foresight to initiate a grower-directed rice promotion check-off program to ensure a viable industry for years to come.  They envisioned a program that would generate demand for our crops worldwide, and do so with complete openness and accountability, all while representing the interests of every grower in the state.  I greatly admire their forward thinking and I, along with every other grower in the state, am reaping the benefits of that vision today.

Yet initiation of the check off system was not an end in itself.  To be effective it required, and continues to require, committed volunteer servants to direct the use of the funds generated through the grower-paid check-off program.  Fortunately, agriculture in general and rice specifically has always been blessed with such individuals –  men and women who volunteer their time and talents for the greater good without any compensation.  They are simply committed to ensuring that the Louisiana rice industry remains healthy for years to come.  John Maxwell, American author, speaker and pastor, calls such folks “Make-A-Difference People” and notes that they are committed to service.

Last June I was asked to chair the Louisiana Rice Promotion Board and I accepted knowing that I had some big boots to fill.  The outgoing chairman had served in that capacity for 10 years.  He was more than dedicated, he was out-and-out committed to ensuring that grower check off assessments were used in the most effective manner possible to increase the awareness and use of Louisiana-grown rice here in the U.S. and around the world.

By now you probably realize that I am speaking of Kevin Berken from Thornwell, . Louisiana.

Kevin was not only committed, he was innovative, especially when it came to activities designed to raise awareness of rice here in the state, efforts designed that complement national and international promotion efforts. I’d like to share just a few examples.

 




Left to right: Louisiana Rice Council President Eric Unkel;

Kevin Berken, past chairman of the Louisiana Rice Promotion Board, and  

Jimmy Hoppe, vice chairman of the Louisiana Rice Promotion Board.

Under Kevin’s leadership the promotion board joined USA Rice’s Domestic Promotion team in 2009 in a project called “New Orleans Restaurant & Chef Recognition.”  The program involved identifying New Orleans restaurants that use and promote U.S.-grown rice.


As a result of that effort, rice producers and other industry representatives were invited to participate in the “Chefs for Louisiana Cookery” for 500 attendees and the media.  Celebrated chefs of New Orleans came together for a fundraiser benefiting the James Beard Foundation whose mission is to celebrate, nurture and honor chefs and other leaders making America's food culture more delicious, diverse, and sustainable for everyone.

Also during Kevin’s service as chairman the board launched a project entitled “Louisiana Rice – Awesome,” a fun-filled workbook packed with exercises designed to help Louisiana’s elementary students prepare for the their annual standardized examinations.  The activity used rice industry scenarios to train students in mathematics, language arts and social studies and as a result reached them and their parents with the rice message.

The promotion board’s involvement with the television program “Holly Clegg’s Trim & Terrific Kitchen,“ started under Kevin’s leadership.  Today the series has morphed into a new program titled "Feasting On Agriculture With A.J. Sabine, "which takes viewers across state, where the unique flavors of Louisiana's food and agriculture are highlighted.

While chairman, Kevin also became the voice of the promotion board’s National Rice Month radio campaign designed to leverage promotion funds with other commodity groups or brands, such as the Louisiana Cattlemen’s Association and Camellia Beans, to conduct a state-wide radio campaign highlighting the Louisiana rice industry each September.

The board’s latest project adopted under Kevin’s leadership is the Louisiana Rice Report that airs over thirteen weeks on the Louisiana Farm Bureau Agri-News Radio Network.  Through this medium last year more than 78,000 Louisiana residents were educated on the benefits of the rice industry to the state and its economy and to their lives.

Kevin is truly a “Make a Difference” person and our industry is better off because of his leadership.  Although I was was pleased that Kevin was recognized for his dedicated service and I join all that were there as well as rice farmers throughout the state in applauding him for a job well-done.

North Louisiana AgExpo features rice

Read here about the promotion that reached thousands of people in Northeast Louisiana:


http://voiceoflouisianaagriculture.org/news/2017/1/17/rice-featured-at-north-louisiana-ag-expo-for-35th-consecutive-year?utm_source=The+Daily+Voice&utm_campaign=de2002964e-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_01_17&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_ecc92d7590-de2002964e-162482893

Governor John Bel Edwards Governor to Headline Louisiana Rice State Meeting  By Randy Jemison   JENNINGS, LA -- Governor John Bel Edwards will be the featured speaker at the Louisiana Rice Council (LARC) and the Louisiana Rice Growers Association (LARGA) annual joint membership meeting on February 7. The meeting of the state's two largest grower organizations will be held at the Grande Marais Center here, and opens at 4 p.m. with a reception hosted by the Louisiana Rice Political Action Committee and a trade show devoted exclusively to rice-related equipment, technology, products, and services.  The meeting program follows at 5:45 p.m.  Dinner will be served. "We are greatly honored that the Governor has accepted our invitation," said Michael Fruge, LARGA president who farms in St. Landry Parish.  "Our members are anxious to hear his vision for the state, specifically as it relates to agriculture." "We are proud of our industry and are excited to have the Governor become more personally acquainted with its stakeholders," said Eric Unkel, a farmer from Allen Parish and LARC president. The meeting provides an annual report to rice farmers on programs funded by the Louisiana rice promotion check-off as well as timely information on other important issues. The word of the year last year was "change" and USA Rice staff will discuss what the change in Washington is going to mean for rice.  There also will be reports on domestic and international promotion activities. Dinner will be provided courtesy of Falcon Rice Mill and Louisiana Rice Mill of Crowley, Farmers Rice Mill of Lake Charles, and Kennedy Rice Mill of Mer Rouge. USA Rice also will participate in the Northeast Louisiana Rice Growers Association Rice Forum on February 8.  The meeting begins at 9:00 a.m. at the Rayville Civic Center, 817 Louisa Street, Rayville, LA 71269.

 

Three Louisiana farmers  in new Rice Leadership Class

Three Louisiana farmers were among the selections for the 28th Rice Leadership Class, announced at the USA Rice Outlook Conference in Memphis.

Members of the class shown in the photo above are David Martin of Missouri, Alan Lawson of Crowley, Kimberly Gallagher of California,  Scott Franklin of Rayville, Ross Thibodeaux of Midland, Brian Greathouse of California, and Jarrod Hardke of Arkansas.

The leadership program is sponsored by John Deere, American Commodity Co. and RiceTec.

Evangeline Parish farmer honored at USA Rice Outlook Conference in Memphis

Richard Fontenot, second from left, with his family after receiving the award.

Upon receiving the award, Fontenot said 2016 has been a difficult one for most rice farmers. He thanked his wife, Rhonda, and son, Lance, for their support, and he said his success at farming results from working with his father, Bryan, and brother, Neal, on their farm near Vidrine. In addition to rice, they farm crawfish, soybeans, cattle and hay.

Fontenot was recognized in 2008 as the Louisiana Farmer of the Year, and he received the 2015 Distinguished Service Award from the Louisiana Rice Council. He is secretary-treasurer of the Louisiana Rice Research Board and he is active in Louisiana Farm Bureau and American Farm Bureau.

Fontenot said the U.S. rice industry also relies on farmers and others in the rice industry who work together, especially during difficult crop years such as 2016. “As a team both on our farm with my brother and father and with this fantastic staff of USA Rice, we’ve been better able to overcome the difficult year to face 2017. We are all team members of the U.S. rice industry and for that I’m proud, and it’s one of the reason I’ve done the advocacy work that I do.”

Dr. Rogers Leonard, LSU AgCenter LSU AgCenter associate vice president for plants, soils and water resources, said Fontenot Is deserving of the recognition for his work in the field and in organizations.

“He is one of the early adopters of the LSU AgCenter’s best management practices for rice and soybean production in his region of Louisiana and he offers tremendous support to our research and extension programs. His leadership and association with Louisiana’s farmer organizations have helped to guide agricultural policy in our state.”

Dr. Steve Linscombe also was recognized at the conference with a Rice Industry Award for his work at the H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station, both as a breeder and station director.