Anderson, 62, begins his 22nd term as president of the state’s largest general farm organization. His reelection took place during the Farm Bureau’s 88th annual meeting here.
“This has been critical year for agriculture so far,” Anderson continued. “The Gulf oil spill threatens our oyster farmers, oyster fishermen, shrimpers and everyone else who depends on the Gulf for their livelihoods. Right now we just don’t know what the outcome of this disaster is going to be.
“Cattle producers along the coast, as well as some rice producers, could still be in danger from this oil if it somehow makes its way into tributaries or ground water,” Anderson continued. “And a hurricane right now would be disastrous for all Louisianians.”
The Farm Bureau also reelected four members of its executive committee. The Farm Bureau board of directors is made up of a five-member executive committee and an 11-member board of directors. Each member is a production farmer, actively engaged in agriculture.
Those elected Sunday to the Farm Bureau’s executive committee were Jim Harper, first vice president. Harper is a cotton, rice and sugar farmer from Rapides Parish. Scott Wiggers, a grain and cotton producer from Fort Necessity, in Franklin Parish, was reelected second vice president. Linda Zaunbrecher, a rice farmer from Gueydan, in Vermilion Parish, was reelected third vice president, while Jackie Theriot was reelected Farm Bureau secretary-treasurer. Theriot is a sugar producer and sugar trade specialist in St. Martin Parish.
Members of the Farm Bureau’s 11-member board of directors serve in two-year terms. Even-numbered districts are elected in even-numbered years.
Dairy producer Dean Graner, of Grand Cane, was reelected to represent District 1. Serving farmers in District 2 will be Doug Duty, a cotton and grain producer from Ouachita Parish, while William Stutts, a grain producer from West Carroll, will represent farmers in District 3, in Northeast Louisiana.
Ronnie Owens, a poultry producer from Natchitoches, will represent farmers in District 4, in Central Louisiana. Serving District 5, in Central Louisiana, will be Thomas Mayes, a rice and cattle producer from Kinder, in Allen Parish. In District 6 farmers will be represented by Larry Lefleur of Bunkie.
Richard Hoffpauir, a rice, soybean and cattle producer will represent farmers in District 7, in southwest Louisiana, from Lake Charles. Chad Hanks, a sugar grower from Lafayette, will represent District 8, while District 9 will be represented by Harold Kirby, a beef cattle producer from Zachary.
District 10 will be represented by sugar producer Greg Gravois from Vacherie, in St. James Parish, while District 11 will be represented by John Tilton, a cattle producer from West Baton Rouge Parish.
Marty Wooldridge, a cattle producer from Oil City, in Caddo Parish, was reelected chairman of the Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee. Denise Hymel, a sugarcane producer from Gramercy, in St. James Parish, was reelected chairman of the Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee. The YF&R chairman and the Women’s Committee chair serve as ex-officio members of the Farm Bureau board of directors.
More than 1,200 farmers attended the annual event. The Farm Bureau is a non-profit, private volunteer membership organization of Louisiana farmers and ranchers.
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