News Release Distributed 02/14/11
Ben Legendre, professor and head of the LSU AgCenter Audubon Sugar Institute at St. Gabriel, has received the 2010-2011 President’s Award from the American Sugar Cane League.
The award has been presented each year since 1995 to a person who has done outstanding work in the sugarcane industry, according to Nanette Nickens, administrative assistant with the American Sugar Cane League in Thibodaux.
Legendre received a plaque from Greg Nolan, the outgoing president, at the 88th annual meeting of the American Sugar Cane League on Feb. 8 in Lafayette.
“Legendre has over 40 years of research and extension experience in state and federal organizations in the genetic improvement of sugarcane,” Nolan said.
Legendre has been honored with the Louisiana Agriculture Hall of Fame Award in 2010, LSU College of Agriculture Outstanding Alumni of the Year in 1998, King Sucrose in 2001, numerous field day awards and countless publications.
In addition to his work in Louisiana, Legendre has visited or accepted invitations to consult in 18 foreign countries on variety improvement, germplasm enhancement, cane and juice quality, cane deterioration and the use of chemical ripeners.
“This award came as a complete surprise to me,” Legendre said. “I am deeply humbled by being selected for this most prestigious award in that it came from the industry.”
Past recipients have been mainly from within the sugarcane industry.
“It was only the past two years that researchers were given this award,” Legendre said. “Last year’s recipient was Harold Birkett, professor at the Audubon Sugar Institute.”
Johnny Morgan