News Release Distributed 02/28/14

BATON ROUGE, La. – The 13th class of the LSU AgCenter’s Agricultural Leadership Development program completed its two-year course of study with graduation February 22 at Nottoway Plantation in White Castle as AgCenter administrators recognized 24 leaders in agriculture production and ag-related industries from around the state.

“This is an outstanding group of agricultural leaders,” said program director Bobby Soileau. “The knowledge and skills they have attained will make them more effective leaders in the future.”

Soileau said the Ag Leadership program prepares men and women who are established in their communities and dedicated to the agriculture industry to take leadership roles on issues that affect Louisiana agriculture at local, national and global levels.

Class 11 alumna Jenni Peterman, of Alexandria, addressed the group from a graduate’s perspective. She is the vice president of the alumni association Agricultural Leaders of Louisiana and a cotton and grain producer. She told the class about her experience with the program and what it has meant to her since graduating.

Offering the class response was George Crawford Jr., of Independence. A forester for Soterra, he talked about his experiences with his fellow class members in the program.

Diplomas and leadership pins were presented to each graduate by Associate Vice Chancellor Phil Elzer and Soileau.

The two-year curriculum included classroom seminars on the LSU AgCenter campus plus travel seminars to Washington, D.C., California and an intensive two-week tour of agriculture in Panama, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

Graduates of Class XIII and their home towns are:

Derek Albert St., Martinville

George Crawford Jr., Independence

Tommy Crooks, Colfax

Randy Fair, Mansfield

Brandon Gravois, Hester

Theresia Lavergne, Prairieville

Kristin McLaren, Mandeville

Barret Olivier, Opelousas

Chris Patout, Jeanerette

Simeon Patout, Youngsville

Ashley Peters, Winnsboro

Jeremy Raley, Monroe

Katie Ramagos, White Castle

Ed Reeves Jr., Plaquemine

Joey Register, Logansport

A.J. Sabine, Port Allen

Guillermo Scaglia, Jeanerette

Mardell Sibley, Opelousas

Bobby Skeen Jr., Monroe

Ross Thibodeaux, Midland

Josh Vines West, Monroe

Drew Wiggers, Winnsboro

Donnie Wooley, Many

Ryan Yerby, Colfax


Rick Bogren