Twenty-two cattle producers and industry professionals graduated on May 4 from a Louisiana Master Cattleman course hosted in Farmerville by the LSU AgCenter. Front row, from left, Chad Towns, Shane Echols, Joe York, Teresa York, Velvet Bennett Roberts, Melanie Sampognaro, Norman Frederick, Jamie McCullin, Kurtis Peyton and Mike Belue. Back row, from left, Grant Walker, Brad Waller, Casey Towns, Oscar Tedeton, Lowery Walker, Janet Reed, Steve Walpole, Daniel O’Neal, Dan O’Neal, Joe Brown and Mike Hanks. Photo by Jason Holmes, LSU AgCenter News Release Distributed 05/18/15
FARMERVILLE, La. – Twenty-two cattle producers and industry professionals graduated on May 4 from a Louisiana Master Cattleman course hosted in Farmerville by the LSU AgCenter.
The Louisiana Master Cattleman Program is a commodity-specific program designed to help beef producers become more profitable and environmentally sustainable, said Jason Holmes, AgCenter agent in Union Parish and regional livestock specialist. The program, which covers all aspects of beef production, began in 2004.
“Our hope for these graduating individuals is they increase farm profitability while becoming proficient in beef cattle best management practices,” said Holmes, who organized the class.
Participants must complete 30 hours of classroom instruction on topics including animal health, beef quality assurance, pasture agronomy, weed management, ruminant nutrition, cattle handling, economics and marketing, reproduction, breeding and selection, and end product. Upon graduation, participants are named Master Cattle Producers.
Master Cattleman classes are hosted around the state by local AgCenter extension agents.
“Our graduates exemplify the commitment our livestock producers have towards producing an economical, safe and acceptable red meat product for consumers,” Holmes said.
The Louisiana beef industry in 2014 was valued at $894.8 million, with 433,050 cows and 7,379 producers, according to the AgCenter’s Ag Summary.
The new graduates are:
– J. Michael Belue, Ruston
– Joe Brown, Dubach
– Daniel Shane Echols, Ruston
– Norman Frederick, Dubach
– Mike Hanks, Dubach
– Jamie McCullin, Dubach
– Dan E. O’Neal III, Choudrant
– Daniel E. O’Neal IV, Choudrant
– Cecil Parker, Vidalia
– Kurtis Payton, Bastrop
– Janet P. Reed, Calhoun
– Velvet Bennett Roberts, Spearsville
– Melanie Sampognaro, Monroe
– Oscar Tedeton, Bernice
– Casey Towns, Marion
– Chad Towns, Marion
– G.H. Walker, West Monroe
– Lowery B. Walker II, Calhoun
– Bradley T. Waller, Ruston
– Steve Walpole, Ruston
– Joe York, Calhoun
– Teresa York, Calhoun
Olivia McClure