Rice Recognizes 2023 Industry Leaders

Rice Farming Magazine

Every year at the Annual Rice Awards Luncheon, Rice Farming magazine bestows three awards: Rice Farmer of the Year, the Rice Industry Award, and the Rice Lifetime Achievement Award. These annual recognitions, co-sponsored by Horizon Ag and USA Rice, highlight some of the most positive achievements associated with the U.S. rice industry.

The 2023 Rice Farmer of the Year is Jeremy Jones, who works for Isbell Farms, his wife Whitney’s family’s 3,500-acre operation in Lonoke County, Arkansas. Jeremy grew up in the heart of rice country near Stuttgart where he fell in love with the farming lifestyle and everything that goes with it. He has a “boots on the ground” approach that means he’s out in the field every day, making decisions much like an in-house agronomist. Isbell Farms considers themselves a research farm and they work closely with both the University of Arkansas Extension as well as industry partners. And through their social media presence they educate not only other farmers but also those with no agricultural knowledge.

“We like to educate people about where and how their food is grown,” says Jeremy. “We want to tell the real story of rice farming: this is what we did today, and this is why we are doing it.”

Louisiana rice specialist Dr. Ronnie Levy is the 2023 Rice Industry Award winner. He is knowledgeable, personable, and deeply committed to the U.S. rice industry through his work at the Louisiana State University H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station. He travels the state assisting rice farmers, rice consultants, and Extension agents on the best management practices that are vital to producing viable, profitable, and sustainable rice crops year after year. His genuine passion for the industry makes him an invaluable asset to not only the Rice Station but to the rice industry in general.

“To me, rice and all the people who work with it are special,” says Ronnie. “It’s a great industry with which to be associated.”

Betsy Ward, who is retiring as president and CEO of USA Rice, received the 2023 Rice Lifetime Achievement Award for her many years as a passionate and effective advocate for the U.S. rice industry.

Among her many accomplishments is the historic partnership with Ducks Unlimited that has been successful in getting more conservation dollars in the hands of rice farmers, and established the industry as the gold standard on sustainability. Betsy also spearheaded the growth of the USA Rice Political Action Committee from $70K to $400K to support rice allies and maximize industry influence.

Dr. Tim Walker, Horizon Ag general manager, said, “Certainly, Betsy’s record speaks for itself, but she has also been a friend to the industry and involved out in ‘rice country.’ She cares about the people and challenges they face outside of D.C.”

To learn more about the three award recipients, check out the special section included in the December issue of Rice Farming magazine.