Governor to Headline Louisiana Rice State Meeting

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards

By Randy Jemison, USA Rice

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.