Ville Platte's own Larry Fontenot is Farmer of the Year finalist

Posted February 7th, 2010

BATON ROUGE - Ville Platte’s Larry Fontenot, a sweet potato, cattle and milo farmer, is one of this year’s finalists for the 13th annual Louisiana Farmer of the Year Awards Program and Banquet, which will be held Friday, February 26, at White Oak Plantation in Baton Rouge.

Other finalists include Kevin Berkin, a rice and soybean farmer from Lake Arthur, and William Stutts, a corn, soybean and wheat farmer from Oak Grove. The winner will be chosen by an independent panel of judges from Texas A&M University and University of Arkansas. The winner will receive a $1,000 cash award and each runner-up will receive $500.

The event will be highlighted by an address from Bob Stallman, a rice and cattle producer from Columbus, Texas, and president of the American Farm Bureau Federation. The program will being at 6:15 p.m. with the VIP reception, followed by the banquet and naming of the Farmer of the Year at 7:30 p.m.

“This award honors farmers who continue to thrive in today’s uncertain times,” commented Louisiana Network General Manager Jim Engster. “The nominees have inspired their colleagues with their remarkable success stories and perseverance.”

The Farmer of the Year program is sponsored by Louisiana Network in conjunction with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, LSU AgCenter and the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation.