THE 2020 LOUISIANA AGRICULTURE HALL OF DISTINCTION INDUCTEES HAVE BEEN SELECTED
The 7th annual Louisiana Agriculture Hall of Distinction honors this year’s inductees on Thursday, March 26. Ceremonies begin at 7 p.m. at L’Auberge Casino Hotel in Baton Rouge.
The Hall of Distinction recognizes those who have significantly contributed to the state’s agriculture community in farming, ranching, forestry, aquaculture, education and agribusiness. This year’s four inductees all made crucial contributions to Louisiana’s agriculture community: Dr. James P. Barnett, John Denison, Dr. Jon W. "Jay" Hardwick and Dr. Calvin P. Viator.
Tickets to the event will be available for purchase February 17, 2020.
2019 Inductees
Dr. Grady Coburn of Cheneyville, LA
George LaCour, Jr. of Morganza, LA
Jack Hamilton of Lake Providence, LA
(posthumous)
Linda Zaunbrecher of Gueydan, LA
Zaunbrecher, a native of Gueydan, was recognized as a pioneer for women serving as leaders in Louisiana agriculture, along with her work in establishing the Louisiana Farm Bureau Foundation. She is only the second woman to be inducted into the Hall of Distinction.
Coburn, of Cheneyville, serves as an independent agricultural consultant and researcher. Over the past 40 years, his insights have helped farmers throughout the state and around the country improve pest management and optimize profits.
A native of Lake Providence, Hamilton passed away in 2001. He was honored posthumously for his crucial innovations to cotton production and ginning, as well as his role in the formation of the Agricultural Corporation Self-Insurance Fund.
LaCour was honored for his expertise with sustainability and conservation in the cotton industry. He was a driving force in creating the Tri-Parish Gin in Pointe Coupee Parish, and he has traveled as far as China with his outreach work through the Cotton Research and Promotion Program.
The Hall of Distinction honors outstanding contributions to Louisiana agriculture in farming, ranching, forestry, aquaculture, education and agribusiness. The annual ceremony is presented by the Louisiana Radio Network in cooperation with the LSU AgCenter, the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, and the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation. Bayer serves as title sponsor and First South Farm Credit is the presenting sponsor.
For the 7th consecutive year, Bayer is the Title Sponsor of the Hall of Distinction.
Presenting Sponsor
Event Sponsor
About the Louisiana Agriculture Hall of Distinction
The Hall of Distinction is produced by the Louisiana Radio Network in cooperation with the LSU Ag Center, the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry and Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation. Started in 2013, the Hall of Distinction seeks to recognize those who have made an extraordinary contribution to Agri-business in the state of Louisiana.
Nominations are accepted each summer, and the selection process is completed by the end of the calendar year, with inductees named in early Spring.
You can learn more about the nomination process by clicking on the NOMINATIONS tab above.
The Hall of Distinction thanks all of it's sponsors for making this event possible.
2019 Inductees (l-r) Dr. Grady Coburn, Linda Zaunbrecher, Lee Hamilton Trichel accepted on behalf of her late father Jack Hamilton, and George LaCour, Jr.