"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.
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."
Ray Young 1998 Farmer of the Year
Jason Jordan 1998 Farmer of the Year Nominee
Daniel Lyons 1998 Farmer of the Year Nominee
Glenray Trahan 1999 Farmer of the Year
George Franklin, Jr. 1999 Farmer of the Year Nominee
Ronnie Owens 1999 Farmer of the Year Nominee
Ted Glaser III 2000 Farmer of the Year
Charles Thomhill 2000 Farmer of the Year Nominee
Jack Hamilton 2000 Farmer of the Year Nominee
Wayne Garber 2001 Farmer of the Year
Brian Vanderlick 2001 Farmer of the Year Nominee
Bob Williams 2001 Farmer of the Year Nominee
Ralph Oldham 2002 Farmer of the Year
Jack Dalley 2002 Farmer of the Year Nominee
Ben Kleinpeter 2002 Farmer of the Year Nominee
Robert Thevis 2003 Farmer of the Year
Joseph Beatty 2003 Farmer of the Year Nominee
Joe Mitcham, Jr. 2003 Farmer of the Year Nominee
Joe Mitcham, Jr. 2004 Farmer of the Year
Ricky Gonsoulin 2004 Farmer of the Year Nominee
Alton Lewing 2004 Farmer of the Year Nominee
Gerard Frey 2005 Farmer of the Year
Warren J. Harang III 2005 Farmer of the Year Nominee
Ricky Gonsoulin 2005 Farmer of the Year Nominee
Larry Sayes 2006 Farmer of the Year
Jeff Kleinpeter 2006 Farmer of the Year Nominee
Kirby Kent LeDoux 2006 Farmer of the Year Nominee
Vidal Fairchild 2007 Farmer of the Year
Richard Fontenot 2007 Farmer of the Year Finalist
Fred Zaunbrecher 2007 Farmer of the Year Finalist