Home > Administration > Services > Farmer of the Year > "The Louisiana Farmer of the Year Program" was started in 1998 as a partnership with the LSU AgCenter, Louisiana Network and the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry as a way to honor Louisiana's number one industry: agriculture. Nominees are chosen from producers around the state, no matter what commodity they grow. The nominations are sent to an out of state panel of professional judges and from those nominations, three finalists are selected with one of those is selected as "Louisiana Farmer of the Year." Past winners have included farmers that produce cotton, grains, sweet potatoes, hogs, cattle and peaches. The winner is announced each spring during a banquet and awards presentation ceremony. This year the ceremony will be at John Folse's White Oak Plantation in Baton Rouge. The Farmer of the Year is presented with several awards and a cash award of$1000. The two other finalists each receive a cash award of $500. Farmer of the Year - Award Videos Provides links to award videos depict ing the Louisiana Farmer of the Year from 2003 -2008. This honor is for excellence in agriculture. Avoyelles Parish Man Named 2006 Farmer Of Year; Finalists From Pine Grove, Vinton [Image: Larry Sayes and wife] (Distributed 03/17/06) Avoyelles Parish is known as the Cajun Crossroads and home to a diverse agricultural economy. It’s where you will find Larry Sayes doing what he does best – growing bumper crops of corn, cotton and soybeans on nearly 3,000 acres. Sayes does it so well he was named the 2006 Louisiana Farmer of the Year. Louisiana Farmer of the Year News "The Louisiana Farmer of the Year Program" was started in 1998 as a partnership with the Louisiana Network, LSU AgCenter and the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry as a way to honor Louisiana's number one industry: agriculture. Farmer of the Year Partners and Sponsors [Image: dodge logog] The Louisiana Farmer of the Year is a parnership between the LSU AgCenter, Louisiana Network and the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry.  more articles... Farmer of the Year Awards Ceremony The Farmer of the Year awards ceremony is held every year in March. Provides information and directions for 2007 ceremony. Farmer of the Year Winners and Finalists "The Louisiana Farmer of the Year Program" was started in 1998 as a partnership with the Louisiana Network, LSU AgCenter and the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry as a way to honor Louisiana's number one industry: agriculture. 2004 Farmer of the Year As a young man, Joe Mitcham, Jr. considered a career in medicine. But being a Ruston native, he naturally had to try his patience with peaches. This proved to be a wise business decision when Mitcham was named the 2004 Farmer of the Year at the Lod Cook Alumni Center in Baton Rouge. 2005 Farmer of the Year Gerard Frey has lost crops to drought. He has lost money due to low commodity prices. He even lost both kidneys during one tumultuous harvest. But he never lost his passion for farming and his persistence was rewarded by being named the 2005 Louisiana Farmer of the Year. 2003 Farmer of the Year He calls himself a rice farmer, but 2003 Farmer of the Year recipient Robert Thevis grows much more than rice. Thevis farms nearly two thousand acres in Avoyelles Parish raising soybeans, corn, milo, and when the weather allows winter wheat. He finds the freedom to farm alluring. 2007 Farmer of the Year Application Forms The LSU AgCenter, the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation and Louisiana Network have joined hands to honor excellence in agriculture with the “Louisiana Farmer of the Year” -- our way of recognizing excellence and your way to nominate an outstanding farmer.