2017 rice awards final

2017

RICE AWARDS Horizon Ag, Rice Farming and USA Rice are proud to bring you the recipients of the 2017 Rice Awards.

The program highlights three honorees for their contributions to the success of the U.S. rice industry through the Rice Farmer of the Year, the Rice Industry Award and the Rice Lifetime Achievement Award.

Christian Richard RICE FARMER OF THE YEAR AWARD

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tionists to improve his farm’s water-use efficiency. Richard has installed underground irrigation and grade-stabilization structures to NRCS specifications and has seen a significant reduction in water use while the field yields show continuous improvements.

He has implemented a tailwater recovery system on one of his farms that will store about 4 million gallons of water. This system allows him to recycle water that comes off of his fields as well as neighboring fields, pump it into his reservoir and hold it until needed for irrigation.

Richard was elected as a supervisor for the Vermilion Soil and Water Conservation District in 2008. Serving in this capacity has allowed him to promote conservation programs and practices that help his farm, as well as others, become more sustainable, protect natural resources and comply with Environmental Protection Agency requirements.

In 2014, Richard installed a grain management system in his grain bins, which allows constant monitoring of grain temperature and moisture. He can access the system from his smartphone to get updated readings.

A weather station outside the bins allows Richard to run the heaters only when weather conditions indicate they’re needed. The system promotes consistent grain quality and moisture content and provides a snapshot of conditions within each bin.

Richard also works closely with the Louisiana State University AgCenter and other universities on tailwater recovery systems and agritourism projects and participates in the LSU AgCenter rice verification and soybean verification programs.

He understands the importance of advocacy and tries to spread the agricultural industry’s message of sustainability and stewardship to as many people as possible.

“As farmers, we have a lot of exposure, and people are always critiquing us,” The Richard family, from left: son Saul, wife Julie, daughter Katherine, Christian and Richard says. “We need to be involved — son Landry be proactive, not reactive in telling the In spite of his young age, Richard has accomplished a great story of what we do. deal during his career as a south Louisiana rice producer. He “Rice is close to my heart, and it’s where our families uses technology, sustainability, and other conservation procome from. I often think back to the days sitting in the truck grams and practices to bring his crop to harvest in the most between my grandfather and great uncle listening to their efficient manner possible. conversations. Farming rice is what I have always done and it Richard has precision leveled 95 percent of the land he defines who I am and the heritage of my family.” farms according to Natural Resources Conservation Service It is with great pleasure that we congratulate Christian recommendations and works closely with agency conservaRichard as the 2017 Rice Farmer of the Year.

PHOTOS BY BRENT LEBLANC

hristian Richard was born into a part of the world where rice is grown with passion and celebrated with pageantry and admiration for its life-sustaining qualities. Everything his family did involved agriculture and, specifically, rice.

As a very young boy, Richard spent countless hours sitting between his grandfather and great uncle in the cab of a pickup truck while the men smoked cigars and spoke in Cajun French about life in general and what they planned to do on the rice farm each day. When he was 11 years old, his grandfather put him on a tractor and told him it was time to go to work.

“I was nervous and excited,” Richard says. “Everyone would pass by the field to see what I was doing. I was fascinated with growing rice and quickly gained a deep respect for it.”

He later married Julie Baker, whose family also has deep roots in rice. The young couple established Richard Farms — a sixth-generation family legacy — where today they grow rice, soybeans and crawfish and raise their three children: Katherine, Saul and Landry.

Christian Richard Kaplan, Louisiana

• B.S. Agricultural Business, University of Louisiana at Lafayette • Member, USA Rice Sustainability Committee • Member, USA Rice Communications Committee • Past president, Louisiana Rice Growers and Vermilion Parish Rice Growers • Vice-chairman, Louisiana Rice Promotion Board, 2008-present • Elected board member, Vermilion Soil and Water Conservation District, 2008-present • LSU AgCenter Leadership Class, 2008-2010 • USA Rice Leadership Development Program graduate, 2007 • Past executive committee, past secretary, Vermilion Parish Farm Bureau Federation • Vermilion Parish Rice Advisory Committee, 8 years • Certified Louisiana Master Farmer graduate • 2017 Field to Market Farmer Spotlight honoree • 2014 National Outstanding Young Farmer • 2013 Cotton & Rice Conference, Rice Farmer of the Year • 2011 Outstanding Louisiana Master Farmer • Kaplan Food Bank contributor and volunteer • Member of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church • City of Kaplan Citizen of the Month, October 2017 • Married to wife Julie. Daughter: Katherine, 7; Sons: Saul, 5, and Landry, 3

Dr. Xueyan Sha RICE INDUSTRY AWARD

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PHOTOS BY VICKY BOYD

r. Xueyan Sha was born and raised in a small vilvarieties as the greatest accomplishments in my career because lage near Shanghai, China, where rice means evof the numerous challenges I faced,” Sha says. “These included erything: A means to alleviate constant hunger a lack of ready-to-use germplasm, strict quality specifications, and provide hope for prosperity. subtle and difficult-to-measure important attributes, and proHe started his rice breeding career at Louisiana State Uniducing a package with reasonable yield potential and disease versity AgCenter’s H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station in resistance.”

2000 as a post-doctoral/specialty rice breeder working with In 2012, Sha took over the medium-grain rice-breeding Dr. Steve Linscombe, director and senior rice breeder. program at the University of Arkansas. By drawing on the Sha quickly learned and was given more responsibilities, successful approaches and elite germplasm from peer breedincluding medium-grain rice breeding in 2002, conventioning programs, an accelerated and comprehensive rice breeding al long-grain rice breedprogram has been esing in 2005 and hybrid tablished, Sha says. The rice breeding in 2009. In program includes me2012, Sha accepted the dium grain, semidwarf medium-grain rice breedlong grain, hybrid rice, er position at the Univerand Clearfield rice with sity of Arkansas Division an expanded population of Agriculture’s Rice Resize at all levels. search & Extension CenSince joining the ter near Stuttgart.

University of Arkansas, During his tenure at Sha has dramatically the LSU AgCenter, Sha expanded the existing released or co-released 20 medium-grain breeding long-grain, medium-grain program, which led to and aromatic rice vathe fast-track release of rieties, including JupiTitan — the first Arkanter, Jazzman, Jazzman-2 Dr. Xueyan Sha recently released Titan, a medium-grain rice variety. sas medium-grain variand Della-2. His mediety in more than a decade. um-grain rice breeding efforts also led to the subsequent reTo better serve Arkansas rice producers, Sha’s breeding lease of Neptune and Caffey in collaboration with Drs. Linsprogram has been operating at maximum efficiency by streamcombe and Brooks Blanche. lining operational procedures, maximizing mechanical oper“All of these varieties released or co-released by Sha played a ation and adopting cutting-edge technologies, such as GPS, critical role in maintaining a healthy Southern medium-grain automated harvesting data collection and marker-assisted serice industry either by keeping up with hybrid rice on yield lection. potential; satisfying major end users, such as Kellogg’s with “Nothing is more satisfactory than seeing your varieties approved quality specifications; or retaining traditional export help rice growers — especially when things are going well — markets, such as Turkey, and opening up potential new marwhether in Kevin Berken’s medium-grain fields near the Gulf kets, such as Taiwan and South Korea,” Linscombe says.

Coast or on Louis Ahrent’s farm in northeast Arkansas or in While working with aromatic rice varieties, Sha developed one of Jimmy Hoppe’s aromatic rice fields near Lake Charles, and implemented a novel hybridization and selection process Louisiana,” Sha says. involving different crossing combinations, development of Drs. Linscombe and Jarrod Hardke, rice Extension agronopre-breeding lines and marker-assisted selection of cooking mist, U of A Division of Agriculture Rice Research & Extenquality attributes. This led to the release of the first U.S.-desion Center, say, “Dr. Sha is an exceptional scientist who has veloped, tropical Japonica Jasmine-type variety, Jazzman, in contributed immensely to the U.S. rice industry. Because of 2008. Two years later, Jazzman-2, which has a much stronhis hard work ethic, diligence and dedication, Sha will release ger aroma, was released to meet the demands of aromatic rice many more important varieties during his career.” production.

It is a great honor to congratulate Dr. Xueyan Sha as the “I consider the development of Jazzman and Jazzman-2 recipient of the 2017 Rice Industry Award.

Dr. Xueyan Sha Stuttgart, Arkansas

• B.S., Agronomy, Nanjing Agricultural University, China, P.R.; M.S., Plant Genetics and Breeding, Nanjing Agricultural University, China, P.R.; Ph.D., Plant Pathology with a minor in Agronomy, Louisiana State University • Associate Professor, Rice Research and Extension Center, Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas, 2012-present • F. Avalon Daggett Endowed Professor in Rice Research, Rice Research Station, LSU AgCenter, 2010-2012 • Associate Professor (tenured), Rice Research Station, LSU AgCenter, 2008-2012 • Inducted into LSU AgCenter Patent & PVP Club, 2007 • Distinguished Research & Education Team Award, 31st Rice Technical Working Group, 2006 • Tipton Research Team Award, LSU AgCenter, 2003 • Active member in the Crop Science Society of America, Agronomy Society of America, Rice Technical Working Group and the USDA Rice Crop Germplasm Committee • Married to wife Xue Jin. Two children: Rebecca, 29; and Devin, 17

Chuck Wilson RICE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

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PHOTOS BY VICKY BOYD

huck Wilson developed a strong work ethic farming gram, become personal friends with them, have a small impact alongside his father, O.W., and his brother, Richard, on their lives and make this industry stronger and more comon their rice and soybean operation near DeWitt, petitive has been a blessing,” he says.

Arkansas. Today, one of his fondest memories is Former and current class members also are appreciative of learning to drive a 1936 Allis Chalmers tractor when he was Wilson’s hard work and dedication. Here is what some of them seven years old. have to say.

“I have always felt a job worth doing is a job worth doing Texas state comptroller Glen Hegar says, “When I think of well,” Wilson says. “On our farm, if we did not do it well the an individual who has energy, passion, drive, people skills and first time, my dad made sure we did it again and again until it a down-to-earth personality, Chuck Wilson comes to mind. was done right.”

From him, we can all learn how to be better leaders, and even Soon after graduating from the University of Arkansas at more importantly, how to be better individuals.” Hegar also Monticello, Wilson went to work for the Rice Council as an continues to work with his family’s agricultural related business Arkansas and Mississippi field representative. After Mississippi and remains a partner in their farming operation. formed its own Rice Council, California rice farmer and Wilson took central and northagricultural journalist Robyn ern Arkansas and the Missouri Rominger says, “Chuck is highBootheel until Missouri estably respected throughout the rice lished its own Rice Council. industry and is very professionIn addition to carrying out al and courteous to everyone.” these fulltime responsibilities, Jim Whitaker, who farms Wilson helped out on the famrice in Arkansas, says, “When I ily farm whenever he could — entered the program, I had no especially during planting and idea how much of a friend and harvest seasons. mentor Chuck would become “Working on the farm alin my life. There are two things lowed me to stay in contact I hold high: character and work with what was going on in the ethic. Chuck has these two real world of agriculture, which traits and many more.” helped me do my job better,” he Arkansas rice farmer Robert Chuck Wilson and his wife, Cheryl. says.

Petter says, “Chuck has mainIn 1989, the Rice Council set tained a lifetime commitment up The Rice Foundation, which administers the Rice Leaderto promoting rice in our community, the state of Arkansas, all ship Development Program. And although Wilson has faithof the other rice-producing states, our country and around the fully served the U.S. rice industry in many different capacities, world.” perhaps he is best known for managing this outstanding proMarvin Cochran, a rice farmer from Avon, Mississippi, says gram since 1992. Throughout his career, more than 180 rice Wilson always remained unbiased among the various segments farmers and industry representatives have graduated from it. of the industry.

“The goal of the leadership program is to develop a base of “He promotes all aspects of the U.S. rice industry from seed young, knowledgeable individuals, who are well versed on all to dinner plate,” he says. aspects of the U.S. rice industry and also have a desire to be “I have always believed an industry is only as strong as its leaders,” he says. leadership,” Wilson says. “Thanks to this outstanding program In 1999, the program expanded to two years of training infunded by grants from John Deere Co., RiceTec and American stead of one. In 2009, Wilson says an International Leadership Commodity Co. to The Rice Foundation, the U.S. rice industry Session was added because 50 percent of U.S. rice production is in a positive position to be vibrant, competitive and profitable is exported, and the program needed to increase emphasis in while providing a safe, nutritious and sustainable product not this area. only for the United States but for the world.”

“To have the privilege and honor to work with the elite men It is with great respect we congratulate Chuck Wilson as the and women in the U.S. rice industry who go through the prorecipient of the 2017 Rice Lifetime Achievement Award.

Chuck Wilson DeWitt, Arkansas

• B.S., Business with a minor in Economics, University of Arkansas at Monticello • Graduated from the Institute for Organization Management, University of Notre Dame • Director, The Rice Foundation, 2003 • Director, Arkansas Rice Council field services • Manager, Rice Leaadership Development Program, 1992-2017 • Served on Senator Blanche Lincoln’s (D-AR) Farm Advisory Committee, 2009-2011 • Past industry stakeholder member of RiceCAP — a project funded by a grant from USDA and designed to use genetics to help alleviate sheath blight and poor milling yields, 2004-2009 • 2006 Rice Industry Award • Member and deacon of the First Baptist Church in DeWitt, Arkansas • Married to wife Cheryl. Son Jason (wife Jodie); granddaughter Kamdyn, 2. Daughter Ashley Wilson Nichols (Adam); grandson Luke, 4; granddaughter Ava-Clair, 1

Horizon Ag would like to recognize past Rice Awards recipients.

2017

RICE AWARDS

1992

Dennis Leonards, Crowley, La.

Nolen Canon, Tunica, Miss.

Rice Farmer of the Year: Gibb Steele, Hollandale, Miss.

Rice Industry Award: Chuck Wilson, DeWitt, Ark. Rice Lifetime Achievement Award: John Denison, Iowa, La.

1995

2007

1993

Jacko Garrett Jr., Danbury, Texas 1994

Duane Gaither, Walnut Ridge, Ark.

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orizon Ag is proud to once again sponsor the Rice Farming Rice Awards and welcome the industry to beautiful San Antonio for the 2017 USA Rice Outlook Conference.

This is always one of my favorite times, as we gather together as a rice industry family to contemplate the challenges and successes of the previous season and look ahead with excitement at the opportunity for another productive year.

We know there will be obstacles and trials that will test us in 2018, but after working closely with U.S. rice farmers for over 20 years, I have complete faith in their tenacity and their determination to aggressively tackle each challenge head on while producing high-yielding, high-quality crops that help feed our country and the world. Standing with them will be the individuals and organizations who are devoted to their success — companies like Horizon Ag that are committed to advancing the way you grow rice.

With this year’s awards, we look forward to once again acknowledging individuals who have truly made a difference because of their hard work, persistence and devotion. Those recognized for their outstanding achievements will receive:  The Rice Industry Award, which honors a person who has proven to be innovative in his or her role in this industry.  The Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes a person who has dedicated his or her life to the viability of the U.S. rice industry.  The Rice Farmer of the Year Award, which is given to a farmer who has shown determination, innovation or dedication to growing the crop.

The 2017 Rice Industry Award winners can stand proudly with the award winners who have gone before them and, on behalf of Horizon Ag, we sincerely congratulate each one.

Finally, we appreciate the rice farmers who continue to allow Horizon Ag to be successful by trusting in and supporting our brand and offerings. At the end of the day, Horizon Ag partners with farmers to ensure they have the tools and technology on hand to be more successful all season, every season. Because when rice farmers succeed, our industry succeeds with them.

George Washington is quoted as saying, “The harder the conflict, the greater the triumph.” We look forward to celebrating those triumphs at the 2017 USA Rice Outlook Conference and to a bright future for the U.S. rice industry.

Tim Walker Horizon Ag General Manager

©2017 Horizon Ag, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

2006

1996

Leroy & Chris Isbell, England, Ark. 1997

Charles Berry, Tunica, Miss.

John Denison, Iowa, La. Paul Haidusek, Devers, Texas Errol Lounsberry, Vermilion Parish, La. Charley Mathews Jr., Marysville, Calif.

Patrick Mullen, Des Arc, Ark. Fred Tanner, Bernie, Mo. 1998

Tommy Andrus, Moorhead, Miss.

Don Bransford, Colusa, Calif.

Larry Devillier Jr., Winnie, Texas Dennis Robison, Poplar Bluff, Mo. Gary Sebree, Stuttgart, Ark. Linda Zaunbrecher, Gueydon, La. 1999

Ken Collins, Biggs, Calif.

James “Jimmy” Hoppe, Fenton, La. Charles Parker Johnson, Neelyville, Mo. Abbott Myers, Dundee, Miss.

Lowell George “L.G.” Raun Jr., El Campo, Texas Martin Walt Jr., Dumas, Ark. 2000

John B. Alter, DeWitt, Ark. R. Ernest Girouard Jr., Kaplan, La. Bill Griffith, Boyle, Miss.

Ken Minton, Dexter, Mo. Michael Rue, Marysville, Calif.

J.D. “Des” Woods, Katy, Texas 2001

Rice Farmer of the Year: Larry and Candice Davis, Bolivar County, Miss.

Rice Industry Award: Jack Williams, UC Cooperative Extension Rice Lifetime Achievement Award: David LaCour, Vermilion Parish, La. 2002

Rice Farmer of the Year: Tommy Ray Oliver, Stuttgart, Ark. Rice Industry Award: Howard Cormier, LSU AgCenter, Abbeville, La. Rice Lifetime Achievement Award: Leland L. Carle, Stuttgart, Ark. 2003

Rice Farmer of the Year: David Monroe Smith Jr., Jonesboro, Ark. Rice Industry Award: Dr. Johnny Saichuk, LSU AgCenter, Crowley, La. Rice Lifetime Achievement Award: Lundberg Brothers, Richvale, Calif.

2004

Rice Farmer of the Year: Clarence Berken, Lake Arthur, La. Rice Industry Award: Dr. Joe Street, Stoneville, Miss.

Rice Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. Steve Linscombe, Crowley, La. 2008

Rice Farmer of the Year: Milton LaMalfa, Richvale, Calif.

Rice Industry Award: John Cummings, Fort Collins, Colo.

Rice Lifetime Achievement Award: Martin Ahrent, Corning, Ark. 2009

Rice Farmer of the Year: Curtis Berry, Robinsonville, Miss.

Rice Industry Award: John E. Broussard Jr., Fairfax, Va. Rice Lifetime Achievement Award: Carl Wayne Brothers, Stuttgart, Ark. 2010

Rice Farmer of the Year: Greg, C.J. and Jeff Durand, St. Martinville, La. Rice Industry Award: Dr. Richard J. Norman, Fayetteville, Ark. Rice Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. Elaine T. Champagne, New Orleans, La. 2011

Rice Farmer of the Year: Mark Wimpy, Jonesboro, Ark. Rice Industry Award: Dr. Rick Cartwright, Little Rock, Ark. Rice Lifetime Achievement Award: Jacko Garrett Jr., Danbury, Texas 2012

Rice Farmer of the Year: Jim Whitaker, McGehee, Ark. Rice Industry Award: Dr. Donald Groth, Rayne, La. Rice Lifetime Achievement Award: Jim Erdman, Colusa, Calif.

2013

Rice Farmer of the Year: Joe Aguzzi, Cleveland, Miss.

Rice Industry Award: Dr. Eric Webster, Baton Rouge, La. Rice Lifetime Achievement Award: Elton Kennedy, Mer Rouge, La. 2014

Rice Farmer of the Year: Fred Zaunbrecher, Duson, La. Rice Industry Award: Dr. Kent McKenzie, Biggs, Calif.

Rice Lifetime Achievement Award: Marvin Baden, Stuttgart, Ark.

Rice Farmer of the Year: Dane Hebert, Maurice, La. Rice Industry Award: Dr. M.O. “Mo” Way, Texas A&M, Beaumont, Texas Rice Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. Joseph Musick, LSU AgCenter, Crowley, La.

2015

2005

2016

Rice Farmer of the Year: John Greer, Jonesboro, Ark. Rice Industry Award: Charles “Eddie” Eskew, Jennings, La. Rice Lifetime Achievement Award: Donald Bransford, Colusa, Calif.

Rice Farmer of the Year: Jerry Hoskyn, Stuttgart, Ark. Rice Industry Award: Keith Fontenot, Ville Platte, La. Rice Lifetime Achievement Award: Jimmy Hoppe, Fenton, La. Rice Farmer of the Year: Richard Fontenot, Ville Platte, La. Rice Industry Award: Dr. Steve Linscombe, Crowley, La. Rice Lifetime Achievement Award: Gary Sebree, Stuttgart, Ark.