Who is Class XIII (Part 2)
By Mike Danna
Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation Public Relations Director
There’s still a prevailing notion that women in agriculture are something of a novelty. That’s like saying women might one day make it to the boardroom.
While women do make up a small percentage of farm-owner/operators, (less than 6 percent nationwide), the number of women taking a more active role in agriculture is on the upswing.
Katie Ramagos is one such woman. As business manager for Ramagos Farms, Katie made the decision to return to her family’s sugar operation after a few years in the business world. And while she admits she doesn’t drive a tractor everyday, her management skills are just as important as the farm’s cane harvesters.
My relationship with the Ramagos family goes back nearly 30 years. Katie’s uncle and I worked together in the newspaper business in the mid-1980s. Her father and I have known each other for almost as long. Her mother is a fine photographer in her own right and when we see each other we always talk cameras and our latest photo expeditions.
Katie signed up for AgLeadership because she’s serious about making a difference in agriculture. “Let it be known that you want to be part of the family farm,” she told TWILA during a brief profile last year. Katie’s definitely shouting, albeit quietly, her support for agriculture from the mountaintops.
I met Ed Reeves for the first time on this trip. Ed’s one of those guys you feel like you’ve known for years after just a few minutes. A farm and commercial property manager for A. Wilbert’s Sons, Ed works with more than 12,000 acres of row crops. You can tell when he’s on the job he’s all business. Such responsibility demands it. But afterhours Ed’s easy-going, always quick with a smile and a kind greeting. It’s this combination which makes him a valuable asset to the future of agriculture. He knows his stuff, but always willing to see all sides of an issue. His wife Anne is traveling with us and I know he’s enjoyed this trip even more because she’s by his side.
I met Joey Register more than two decades ago when he was part of our YF&R program. Joey’s commitment to agriculture began as a child when he and his brother vowed to one day make their living off the land. Today J&L Farms and Register Brothers, LLC raises poultry and cattle in DeSoto Parish. Joey is a guy constantly striving to improve the efficiency factor in agriculture. He never stops moving and if it weren’t for his wife Lisa bringing balance to what he admits are sometimes “harebrained” endeavors, Joey would never stop long enough to sleep.
Everyone loves a good storyteller, and by extension, everyone love A.J. Sabine. As co-executive producer of “This Week in Louisiana Agriculture,” you’ll not find a better image-maker than A.J. I’ve had the privilege of working along side him for the last 10 years and his stories continue to amaze me. The guy can shoot, write and edit news packages that draw you into the usually complex, but always compassionate world of agriculture. The ag community is lucky to have an advocate like A.J. telling their story.
Guillermo Scalia sometimes reminds me of the favorite uncle of the family. You know, the guy everybody’s happy to see. A man who eases into the room and immediately begins dispensing laughter, praise and a few crisp $5 dollar bills? But in this AgLeadership class “Doc” is known for his worldview and razor sharp perspective of global agriculture. As associate professor at the AgCenter’s Iberia Research Station, Guillermo’s expertise in beef nutrition and management makes him a tremendous asset to an organization hammered by five years of budget cuts. Despite the financial assault on the AgCenter, Guillermo is ready to stand in the breach to defend his organization with knowledge and, most importantly, common sense.
Mardell Sibley is as quiet as she is engaging. She and I visited only briefly during this trip, but you get the sense that when Mardell has something to say, you’d better pay attention. As the St. Landry Parish executive director for the USDA’s Farm Service Agency, Mardell has an extremely complex job administering federal commodity and conservation programs for the USDA. I image many a farmer has relied on Mardell to help him navigate the labyrinth of federal farm programs that I’m certain will only become more difficult in the future.
Bobby Skeen’s father Jimmy and I worked together at the News-Star-World 30 years ago when I was a cub reporter and he was the newspaper’s circulation manager. Which means I know where Bobby acquired his sense of humor and easy-going manner. As regional communications manager for The Cotton Board, Bobby lives and breathes cotton, and not just because he plays for the home team. Cotton has been in a state of flux, particularly in Louisiana, for the better part of the last decade. Bobby understands this and never stops promoting an industry that’s been the backbone of the U.S. agricultural economy since America first called itself a nation. And don’t get him started on the Jerry Clower impersonations. You’ll bust a gut for sure. Haawww!
Ross Thibodeaux is a young farmer taking on lots of responsibility when it comes to production agriculture. As a partner in the Thibodeaux Ag Group, Ross helps manage 8,500 acres of rice, soybeans and crawfish. While Ross is quiet at times you get the sense that his mind is always working, always on the lookout for ways to improve efficiency. The first step to a successful farming operation is a good plan and Ross looks like a great planner.
Josh Vines is general manager of service for Goldman Equipment, the largest farm implement dealer in Northeast Louisiana. Josh is pretty quiet as well, but his street smarts do much of his talking for him. A young leader in ag, Josh and his company are setting the pace for the future of mechanized agriculture. Keeping up with technology is his stock in trade and his participation in AgLeadership will serve him well.
I first met members of the Wiggers family when I killed the family dog, but that’s another story. Fortunately Drew and the rest of the Wiggers didn’t hold it against me. As a young farmer Drew is straight out of central casting. An imposing young man with a full beard, you can tell he puts his 6-foot-plus frame to the test everyday around the farm. But don’t let his rough hands and size-12 work boots fool you. Drew, like the other members of his farming family, holds a deep passion for his profession. But it’s a quick check of his large rodeo belt buckle that really tells his story. It features the three crosses, a testament to his unwavering faith in a higher power. He led grace at his dinner table last night. And as any farmer will tell you, the power of prayer is just as important as anything that goes into the planter.
It doesn’t take long to pick up on the fact that Donnie Wooley is a banker. As owner of Ark-La-Tex Financial Consultants LLC, Donnie sees the P&L in everything. And that’s not a bad thing. During the tours his questions were always centered on the financial end of an operation. And they should. No one runs a business for his or her health. His fellow classmates often tease him about the money. Donnie put his faith, his trust and his money in Joey Register’s operation and the two have become the best of friends. As any farmer will tell you, the three things you need to be successful in this business are good equipment, good weather and a good banker.
Like Brandon Gravois, Ryan and Danielle Yerby were finalists for the Farm Bureau’s 2013 YF&R Achievement Award. But Ryan and his family aren’t in this business for awards; they’re in it for family. The couple has a newborn, and like all new fathers Ryan now sees his world in a new light. Farming 3,500 acres of grain, cattle and pecans is a major juggling act and the pressures of fatherhood and farming are enough to change anyone’s disposition, particularly a young farm couple. But to listen to Ryan and Danielle speak so passionately about the profession they love, you know that deep down they’re going to be just fine. And agriculture will be the better because of them.
Until next time…