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This Week In Louisiana Agriculture is a weekly show created to connect Louisiana farmers, ranchers, and fishermen with consumers across Louisiana and around the world. Each week, we’ll share the show here and take a look behind-the-scenes of This Week In Louisiana Agriculture, one of the longest-running television programs in Louisiana.
Welcome to LFBF Convention
{KRISTEN}
HI. I'M KRISTEN OAKS-WHITE.
{AVERY}
AND I'M AVERY DAVIDSON.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS WEEK IN LOUISIANA AGRICULTURE. THE ONLY T-V SHOW BRINGING LOUISIANA FARMERS AND CONSUMERS TOGETHER EVERY WEEK.
Harper Convention Wrap-up (short)
{AVERY}
AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'RE AT THE SITE OF THE 101ST ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE LOUISIANA FARM BUREAU FEDERATION. THE STATE'S LARGEST GENERAL FARM ORGANIZATION HELD ITS MEETING IN NEW ORLEANS AT THE MARRIOTT HOTEL ON CANAL AND BY ALL MEASURES WAS A RESOUNDING SUCCESS.
{KRISTEN}
MORE THAN 1,500 FARMERS AND THEIR FAMILIES CAME TO THE CRESCENT CITY FOR A WEEKEND OF TOP AGRICULTURE PRIORITIES AND NO SMALL AMOUNT OF FUN. LOUISIANA FARM BUREAU PRESIDENT JIM HARPER SAYS THE NUMBER OF DIGNITARIES AT THE CONVENTION, INCLUDING STATE AND NATIONAL POLITICIANS, HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPACT FARM BUREAU HAS IN ADVOCATING FOR THE PEOPLE WHO FEED AND CLOTHE US.
Jim Harper, SOT:
"It tells me that they value what we think and who we represent. I read several article in the Advocate about our forum and what was said. We were glad to get Attorney General Jeff Landry here this morning to say a few comments and I was really pleased that Senator John Kennedy took time from his busy schedule to address us at our general assembly."
Gubernatorial Forum PKG
{KRISTEN}
ONE OF THE SPECIAL HIGHLIGHTS OF THE CONVENTION WAS THIS YEAR'S GUBERNATORIAL FORUM.
{AVERY}
THE PRIMARY ELECTION IS OCTOBER 14TH AND ALL SEVEN ANNOUNCED CANDIDATES SEEKING TO BE LOUISIANA'S NEXT GOVERNOR MADE THEIR WAY TO SPEAK WITH LOUISIANA'S FARMERS AND RANCHERS.
Gubernatorial Forum PKG
{VO}
THE GUBERNATORIAL FORUM IS NOT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS EVERY YEAR AT THE LOUISIANA FARM BUREAU ANNUAL CONVENTION, BUT IT IS A HIGHLIGHT WHEN IT DOES. SENIOR CAPITOL REPORTER GREG HILBURN WITH THE U-S-A TODAY NETWORK SERVED AS MODERATOR FOR THE SIX PARTICIPATING CANDIDATES. ALL SIX WENT ON RECORD TO SAY THEY WOULD PROTECT AGRICULTURAL TAX EXEMPTIONS AND ENSURE AGRICULTURE IS REPRESENTED ON THE L-S-U BOARD OF SUPERVISOR S. INDEPENDENT HUNTER LUNDY, REPUBLICAN TREASURER JOHN SCHRODER, REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE RICHARD NELSON, REPUBLICAN SENATOR SHARON HEWITT, DEMOCRAT AND RETIRED SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION SHAWN WILSON, AND REPUBLICAN AND FORMER PRESIDENT AND C-E-O OF THE LOUISIANA ASSOCIATION OF BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY STEPHEN WAGUESPACK SAT TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THE STATE'S FARMERS AND RANCHERS. EACH HAS DIFFERENT IDEAS ON HOW TO EXPAND THE STATE'S ECONOMY THROUGH AGRICULTURE.
{SOT}
(Lundy: "I said it takes education to resolve poverty and crime so we can put all three of them together and we can create an economic environment and we can use our forest products, the AG, to just do that. Bring that business here. There's no reason we should even be compared to Mississippi. Our culture, our education, our intelligence, our people, far exceed those in other southern states."
Hewitt "we need more lumber processing in the Florida parishes. I live in Slidell. I'm very aware of that. But we have to give people a reason to come to Louisiana. The first thing that people want is a trained workforce. And so, yes, we have to be able to provide those skills that they need to be successful in the agriculture business.
That includes STEM. I've been a huge advocate of STEM throughout my legislative career. The AG business is becoming very, very high tech and we need to make sure that we have those technology skills here in our state to provide opportunities."
Waguespack: "You also need a workforce and that's why I truly want to go in and really drill down into that high school redesign and implement in there the training and the technical training that we need to give our kids ready so they can come out and be a qualified worker.
Because right now you're so dependent on seasonal workers, we need to provide you more options and have high schools really double down on ag and technical training. So you have that workforce. "
Wilson: "Without having an educated, trained and prepared workforce, which may not necessarily be a college degree. You won't be able to have companies come in and make those investments.
We have to make it attractive. We've got natural resources here across the state and we need to build on those resources."
Schroder "I want to start with the business that we have here. I want to recruit the people we have here and the business we have here and get out of their way, give them the resources they need to do what they need to do. Before we start talking outside our state, because I live in St. Tammany Parish, I'm from New Orleans.
You know why? My business has been successful in St. Tammany Parish? We've got good schools, got very low crime, and the citizens hold their politicians accountable."
Nelson "I spent a lot of time in the legislature trying to get rid of the income tax, trying to rebuild a structure that is throws out 100 years of Huey Long style government that concentrates all the money and power in Baton Rouge, puts it back in local communities like Texas and Florida, the states that are really succeeding.
I think if we build that structure, businesses will come here. We don't have to give them handouts. We don't have to pay them. Give them tax credits in order to come here. That's the game we played for the last hundred years of Let's pay people to come and date us. It's not a good idea. It doesn't work.")
{VO}
REPUBLICAN LOUISIANA ATTORNEY GENERAL JEFF LANDRY IS ALSO RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR. HE SPOKE BEFORE THE LOUISIANA FARM BUREAU VOTING DELEGATES.
{SOT}
(Landry "every four years, eight years, we get a governor's race day. Those folks come up here, they give you the same song and dance, tell you all kind of great things that are going to sell you all kind of cotton candy.
You get a bad bill of goods to tell. You bring all kind of great industries into this state. We're going to be good. Your life is going to be better. That's a lie. I mean, think about it. If crime, we've got three cities that are the top ten most dangerous cities in the country. If our educational system is so dismal that 74% of third graders can't read and 80% eighth graders can't do basic math.
I'm not. I've even gotten to our roads and our bridges. You see, think you think, honest to God, we can go out there and attract businesses into the state? No.")
Gubernatorial Forum PKG
{AVERY}
I INTERVIEWED ALL SEVEN OF THE CANDIDATES HERE ON TWILA. WE'VE MADE A SPECIAL PLAYLIST ON YOUTUBE WITH ALL OF THEIR INTERVIEWS. YOU'LL FIND A LINK ON OUR WEBSITE TWILA-T-V DOT ORG.
Sugar Conference PKG
{AVERY}
OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, THE PRICE OF SUGAR HAS BEEN CLIMBING.
{KRISTEN}
HOW LONG THAT WILL LAST AND WHERE THE PRICE IS GOING WAS A BIG TOPIC OF CONVERSATION DURING THE LOUISIANA FARM BUREAU SUGAR ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING AT THIS YEAR'S CONVENTION. TWILA'S NEIL MELANCON TELLS US WHILE SUGAR IS STRONG, THERE ARE CHALLENGES AHEAD.
Sugar Conference PKG
OVERALL, THE SUGARCANE IS GROWING WELL THIS SEASON IN LOUISIANA. SO IS THE SUGAR INDUSTRY IN THE STATE. MEMBERS OF THE LFBF SUGAR ADVISORY COMMITTEE HEARD FROM EXPERTS AT THIS YEAR'S ANNUAL MEETING THAT THE RECORD PRICE OF SUGAR RIGHT NOW IS WELL SUPPORTED.
Frank Jenkins, President, JSG Commodities
"So there's very little weighing on domestic sugar prices right now.
The market has moved to historic highs. Prices have accelerated dramatically over the course of the last couple of years. And it really has been driven by world sugar prices moving up dramatically and the US being more dependent on imports and sugar"
THAT SAID, OUR DOMESTIC PRICE IS COMPLETELY TIED TO THE WORLD MARKET, WHERE THE OUTCOME OF INDIA'S MONSOON SEASON COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE AS OUR OWN HARVEST GETS CLOSER.
Jeff Dobrydney, VP, JSG Commodities
"Sugar prices... Prices at this stage at 12-year highs are something of an anomaly in terms of the total commodity picture. But in terms of the fundamental view in sugar, there's a reason for it. Typically, there's a macro element to the market, but now there's an El Nino effect. There's weather stories going on with major production areas across the globe."
A PERPETUAL DARK CLOU DON THE HORIZON IS A NEW WAGE RATE RULE THAT COULD ALMOST DOUBLE THE COST OF TRANSPORTATION. BY SOME ESTIMATES, LOUISIANA COULD BE ALMOST HALF OF THE TOTAL THE NEW RULE WOULD COST.
Katie Ramagos, Chair, LFBF Labor Advisory Cmte.
"The real change, you know, it was estimated to be nationwide, $100 million impact and 40% of that is Louisiana sugar cane alone. So I think that was grossly miscalculated whenever that rule change went into place and Louisiana farmers, you know, especially that that significant amount I mean that's almost $9 increase per hour on your workers that you have no control over.
So they're seriously looking at how they're going to be able to get their crops out of the field into the mills. And so that's the kind of change that, you know, you have no choice but to swallow it. But you're going to fight it in the in the process because it's just not something that you can sustain."
REPORTING FROM NEW ORLEANS, I'M NEIL MELANCON
Sugar Conference PKG
{KRISTEN}
THE DOMESTIC PRICE OF SUGAR HAS MOSTLY RANGED BETWEEN 40 AND 43 CENTS PER POUND THIS YEAR.
Farm Bill Sotpkg
{KRISTEN}
IN ADDITION TO THEIR BEING A GOVERNOR'S RACE THIS YEAR, THE NEXT FARM BILL IS SET TO EXPIRE IN SEPTEMBER.
{AVERY}
FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, THERE WAS A SPECIAL FARM BILL LUNCH TO LOOK DEEP INTO THE POLICY ISSUES SHAPING THIS MAJOR LEGISLATION DURING CONVENTION. JOBY YOUNG, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION, WAS ONE OF THE PANELISTS AT THE LUNCH. HE SAYS THERE'S BEEN GOOD PROGRESS ON THE BILL AND A WILLINGNESS IN BOTH PARTIES TO GET IT PASSED THIS YEAR.
Joby Young, AFBF Executive VP.
"Well, the priorities that we've we've advocated for and led on are passing a farm bill this year, passing a unified farm bill, protecting the the risk management programs and the safety net and looking at increased baseline reference prices.
Protect and voluntary conservations, conservation and things of that nature. We have over 60 priorities that are more detailed. Different titles and programs. But those are the big things, you know, getting a farm bill done this year, making sure it's the unified farm bill and in protecting the safety net that that's so important to a to a to our agriculture system.
But one thing that's always important, our farm bureau members, grass roots members taking part in this process. You have great staff at Louisiana Farm Bureau, the American Farm Bureau, across other commodity organizations that get up and go to work every morning and and talk with members, members of Congress and staff people about these programs and about the budget items and all those sorts of things.
And and they do a great job with that and and really serve the Farm Bureau community well. But but the secret source of why Farm Bureau has been such a great advocacy organization over the years is that really, really deep involvement of grassroots members and doing things like contact and talking to their member of Congress, introduce and telling their story. Tell them how these programs that could be theoretical, some for somebody from a non-ag background, how they really affect a farm family, how they affect a farm business, and have those real world aspects to play out from rural communities all the way to the plates of folks in our urban and suburban centers."
{AVERY}
THE CURRENT FARM BILL WILL EXPIRE ON SEPTEMBER 30. AN EXTENSION OF THREE MONTHS TO A YEAR IS POSSIBLE, BUT WOULD CREATE SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH PRODUCERS AND FARM CREDIT INSTITUTIONS.
Rice Conf SotPkg
{AVERY}
ANOTHER ISSUE FARMERS ARE FACING FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL IS THE PUSH TOWARD SUSTAINABLE FARMING.
{KRISTEN}
THIS MOST RECENTLY COMES IN THE FORM OF CLIMATE-SMART INITIATIVES THAT REWARD FARMERS FOR ADOPTING GREENER PRACTICES. THAT WAS THE TOPIC OF DISCUSSION AMONG RICE FARMERS AT THE ONE-HUNDRED AND FIRST LOUISIANA FARM BUREAU CONVENTION.
Rice Conf SotPkg
"So, AWD, that stands for alternate wetting and drying. And what we're trying to do is allow the flood to subside all in the rice paddies so that we're creating alternating cycles of flooded and unflooded conditions. And in doing so, what we're trying to achieve is we're trying to allow for more rainfall capture. And we're also trying to break the methane emissions cycle in rice, which is a big contributor to the greenhouse gas emissions.
Furor irrigated rice is another technique that we've seen growers go to turn. They're going to it for different reasons, but it has those same climate smart benefits. You do have a reduction in water use compared to continuously flooding a field, and there is a portion of the field that remains unsaturated for the majority of the growing season. So you're getting those methane reductions as well."
Rice Conf SotPkg
{KRISTEN}
THESE KINDS OF MEETINGS HAPPEN WITH EACH COMMODITY AT CONVENTION. WE HAVE MORE COVERAGE FROM OTHER COMMODITY CONFERENCES ON OUR WEBSITE AT TWILA-TV-DOT-ORG.
Tease 1
{AVERY}
STILL TO COME ON TWILA...
WE'LL HAVE A LOOK AT ALL OF THE WINNERS AT THIS YEAR'S CONVENTION.
{KRISTEN}
PLUS, SEVERAL FARMS CELEBRATED 100 YEARS OF BEING IN OPERATION AT THE 101ST ANNUAL MEETING. THEIR STORIES, NEXT.
Awards VOSOT
{KRISTEN}
DURING THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST LOUISIANA FARM BUREAU CONVENTION, MEMBERS RECOGNIZE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF INDIVIDUAL FARMERS AND RANCHERS, FARM FAMILIES AND PARISH FARM BUREAUS EVERY YEAR.
{AVERY}
THE HIGHEST HONOR A PARISH FARM BUREAU CAN RECEIVE IS THE PRESIDENT'S AWARD....
{VO}
THIS YEAR MARKED AN UNPRECEDENTED FOURTH YEAR IN A ROW WIN FOR VERMILION PARISH. PARISH PRESIDENT BRIAN SIMON ACCEPTED THE AWARD FROM FARM BUREAU PRESIDENT JIM HARPER.
(SOT)
{KRISTEN}
THIS YEAR'S YOUNG FARMERS AND RANCHERS ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNERS ARE ROBERT AND RACHEL DUNCAN, FROM RAPIDES PARISH. THE DUNCANS GROW SOYBEANS, CATTLE AND FRESH CUT FLOWERS ON THEIR FARM IN BOYCE. THE COUPLE RECEIVES A 35-THOUSAND DOLLAR CASH AWARD, COURTESY OF THE SOUTHERN FARM BUREAU CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY. THEY ALSO RECEIVE AN ALL-EXPENSE PAID TRIP TO THE 2024 AMERICAN FARM BUREAU CONVENTION IN SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH AS WELL AS OTHER CASH PRIZES.
{SOT}
{AVERY}
LEAH MCLAIN OF VERMILION PARISH WON THE 2023 YOUNG FARMERS AND RANCHERS EXCELLENCE IN AGRICULTURE AWARD. THE AWARD RECOGNIZES LEADERSHIP AND INVOLVEMENT IN AGRICULTURE. MCLAIN RECEIVES SEVERAL PRIZES, INCLUDING A 75-HUNDRED DOLLAR CREDIT TOWARD THE PURCHASE OF AN A-T-V FROM LOUISIANA LAND BANK.
{KRISTEN}
SADIE MESHELL OF SABINE PARISH WAS NAMED THE OUTSTANDING YOUNG FARM WOMAN FOR 2023. MESHELL RECEIVED A $2,000 CASH AWARD, COMPLIMENTS OF THE LOUISIANA FARM BUREAU MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY, ALONG WITH OTHER CASH PRIZES.
{AVERY}
RAQUEL MANUEL OF EVANGELINE PARISH WON THIS YEAR'S DISCUSSION MEET. MANUEL RECEIVED A HOST OF PRIZES FOR HER VICTORY, INCLUDING A JOHN DEERE GATOR UTILITY VEHICLE, COURTESY OF THE SOUTHERN FARM BUREAU LIFE COMPANY, A TRIP TO COMPETE AT THE 2024 AMERICAN FARM BUREAU CONVENTION IN SALT LAKE CITY UTAH, AS WELL AS OTHER CASH PRIZES.
{KRISTEN}
KINZIE BRASSELL OF JEFF DAVIS PARISH TOOK HOME THE TOP PRIZE IN THE TALK MEET COMPETITION. IN HER SPEECH, BRASSELL DISCUSSED HOW CAN FARM BUREAU SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE TO ENSURE THE FUTURE OF AGRICULTURE.
{AVERY}
A HOST OF YOUNG TALENT WAS ON FULL DISPLAY THIS WEEK DURING THE 101ST ANNUAL LOUISIANA FARM BUREAU CONVENTION. FRANCIS MCCANN OF AVOYELLES PARISH PERFORMED HER WAY TO THE TOP PRIZE IN THE JUNIOR TALENT DIVISION WITH HER MEDLEY OF ARABESQUE AND THE CHALLENGE. VOCAL DUO LILY MIKULAS AND WALKER CHEEK OF RAPIDES PARISH SERENADED THE CROWD WITH A STUNNING SELECTION FROM THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, AND ALSO CAPTURED FIRST PLACE IN THE SENIOR DIVISION.
{KRISTEN}
THE CULMINATION OF THE FARM BUREAU CONVENTION IS THE CROWNING OF A NEW LOUISIANA FARM BUREAU QUEEN.
{SOT}
{KRISTEN}
GRACIE PEPPER OF LAFOURCHE PARISH WILL SERVE AS THE 2023 LOUISIANA FARM BUREAU QUEEN. SHE'LL TRAVEL THE STATE AND TO WASHINGTON, D-C REPRESENTING THE STATE'S LARGEST GENERAL FARM ORGANIZATION. FIRST RUNNER UP WAS ISABELLA HARDY OF JEFF DAVIS PARISH. SECOND RUNNER UP WAS CESILEE OLIVER OF CALCASIEU PARISH. AND ALL OF THE CONTESTANTS VOTED TANNER PECANTY OF FRANKLIN PARISH AS MISS CONGENIALITY.
{AVERY}
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THIS YEAR'S WINNERS AT CONVENTION. YOU CAN FIND LINKS TO VIDEOS, INCLUDING LIVE STREAMS OF THESE EVENTS ON OUR WEBSITE, TWILA-T-V DOT ORG.
Century Farm PKG
{AVERY}
BEING A FARMER EVERY DAY IS NO EASY TASK. SO, 100 YEARS OF FARMING IS A MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT.
{KRISTEN}
MULTI GENERATIONAL FARMS SPANNING A CENTURY WERE RECOGNIZED AT THIS YEAR'S 101ST FARM BUREAU CONVENTION. TWILAS TREVOR WILLIAMS TELLS US ABOUT THIS YEAR'S RECIPIENTS OF THE CENTURY FARM AWARDS.
Century Farm PKG
{ TREVOR }
WHEN YOU WALK INTO THIS ROOM , THE PEOPLE YOU SEE HERE HAVE HAD FAMILIES ON THE FARM FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS. EVERY YEAR, THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY , ALONG WITH THE LOUISIANA FARM BUREAU , AND OTHER SPONSORS , SELECT RECIPIENTS OF THE CENTURY FARM AWARD. COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY DR. MIKE STRAIN SAYS THE 8 FAMILIES BEING HONORED HERE BRING THE TOTAL STATEWIDE TO MORE THAN 80.
{ STRAIN }
" ITS ABOUT TRADITION , ITS ABOUT VALUE , ITS ABOUT PASSING THE FARM FROM ONE GENERATION TO ANOTHER. AND NOW WE HAVE MORE THAN 86 PEOPLE , 86 FARMS THAT HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED AS A CENTURY FARM.
{ TREVOR}
LILLIE ADAMS WILEY IS THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY. SHE SAYS EACH CENTURY FARM IS EXTRAORDINARY.
{LILLIE}
"LOUISIANA IS DEEPLY ROOTED IN AGRICULTURE AND BEING ABLE TO CONTINUE THE FARM THROUGHOUT ALL THE UPS AND DOWNS OF HISTORY IS QUITE SPECTACULAR."
{TREVOR}
FOR WILEY , GIVING THIS AWARD IS AN HONOR.
{LILLIE}
"IT IS A JOY TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THIS DESIGNATION TO OUR FARM FAMILIES SHOWCASING THEIR EFFORTS THROUGHOUT THE LAST 100 OR MORE YEARS."
{TREVOR}
IT DOESN'T STOP HERE ; STRAIN SAYS THE LEGACY OF THESE FARMS IS IN THE HANDS OF THE NEXT GENERATION.
{STRAIN}
"WE WANT THESE FARMS TO STAY IN PRODUCTION TO FEED LOUISIANA , TO FEED AMERICA , AND TO FEED THE WORLD."
{TREVOR}
IN NEW ORLEANS. IM TREVOR WILLIAMS FOR THIS WEEK IN LOUISIANA AGRICULTURE.
Century Farm PKG
{KRISTEN}
IF YOU THINK YOU QUALIFY TO BE A CENTURY FARM RECIPIENT, YOU CAN FIND THE APPLICATION FOR THE CENTURY FARM AWARDS ONLINE. WE'LL LINK YOU OVER TO IT ON OUR WEBSITE AT TWILATV.ORG.
Tease 2
{AVERY}
STILL TO COME ON TWILA...
HEAR FROM CONVENTION GOERS ON THEIR FAVORITE PARTS OF THEIR TIME IN NEW ORLEANS!
{KRISTEN}
STAY WITH US.
TWILA Boost - Convention Q&A - Members
{KRISTEN}
BEFORE CONVENTION WE HAD THE LOUISIANA FARM BUREAU STAFF CANDIDLY SHARE HOW THEY WERE PREPARING FOR THE BIG EVENT.
{AVERY}
IT WAS SUCH A HIT, WE DECIDED TO ASK SOME OF OUR MEMBERS THOSE SAME QUESTIONS AND A FEW MORE DURING THE CONVENTION. AND LET'S JUST SAY, THERE ANSWERS DID NOT DISAPPOINT. IN THIS WEEK'S TWILA BOOST, WE ARE GIVING YOU A COMICAL TAKE ON CONVENTION WEEK FROM OUR MEMBERS PERSPECTIVE.
"Come on, bring it on. Just bring it on. Yeah, I'm not a queen, so I can't even answer those impromptu questions. And I'm bad at it. So, yeah, don't laugh at me. Oh, this one's going to get me in trouble.
What does Twila stand for today and today in Louisiana? Agriculture or something like that? Oh, gosh.
I have no idea. I have no idea. I don't know. Teach women in Louisiana.
This week in Louisiana. So close.
Unpack, bag or live out of the luggage. Live out of the luggage. I have two suitcases and one with just nothing but shoes. One bag. But I'm not going to disclose how big the bag is. We brought our five kids. We came in two suitcases.
I packed zero bags, but somebody else packed my bags for me.
How many bags did you pack to? Like five.
If you could only bring three items to convention, what would it be? Tonic water, lime and vodka. Well, since I got three of my kids in here with me, we're going to say I got in my room. Three things I'd bring would be Ian, Olivia and Meredith.
What is your one convention? Must have a good meal.
My annual convention notes. That way I know where to be, when to be.
Who is your favorite TWILA anchor? Kristen. Sorry, Avery.
I'll say Avery Davidson. Kristen. Can I say everybody? So don't get in trouble.
I like talking to Mr. Neal. I'm gonna have to say.
Oh, my gosh. All of them, of course. But I love me some. I'm not going to name names. I can't. You know, I love Karl, but he's not an anchor on. There was a cameraman.
Most memorable convention definitely has to be. Last year at the centennial celebration, we had so much fun.
Team explore the city or stay at the hotel. That's a tough one because I like exploring the city, but staying at the hotel lately. Farm bureaus made a lot of fun, especially with the celebrations in the lobby.
What is your favorite convention snack? The chocolate milk?
I don't know. I love the I love the chocolate milk that's from the local dairy.
It's not really a snack, but the chocolate milk that is like over there.
What is your favorite convention snack?
Vodka tonic.
How many parish farm bureaus are there? I don't know. How many parish is there?
My favorite room with the Marriott, huh? The bar. I like the hospitality rooms. Mostly because of friends.
When was your first convention? Twenty two years ago. Holy mackerel. 1963. Probably 1972. 73. I was born in 1986, so probably around 1990. In 2013. Pretty sure I've been coming since I was like two. I think it's two."
Until Next time
{KRISTEN}
BEFORE WE LEAVE YOU, WE'D LIKE TO THANK A FEW GROUPS OF PEOPLE.. FIRST, THE STAFF HERE AT THE NEW ORLEANS MARRIOTT FOR HELPING THE CONVENTION RUN SMOOTHLY ALL WEEK.
{AVERY}
ALSO, OUR FELLOW LOUISIANA FARM BUREAU STAFF WHO WORK HARD TO PUT TOGETHER MEANINGFUL COMMODITY CONFERENCES, IMPORTANT BUSINESS MEETINGS, AND THE GREAT YOUTH EVENTS AND CONTESTS.
{KRISTEN}
AND OF COURSE, WE MUST THANK ALL OF THE VOLUNTEER LEADERS WHO TRAVEL FROM EVERY CORNER OF LOUISIANA TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS CONVENTION EACH YEAR. NONE OF THIS HAPPENS WITHOUT YOUR COMMITMENT TO MAKING FARM BUREAU THE LARGEST AND STRONGEST GENERAL FARM ORGANIZATION, SO THANK YOU!
{AVERY}
THAT DOES IT FOR THIS EDITION OF TWILA. OUR NEXT SHOW WILL BE BACK IN THE STUDIO. WE HOPE YOU HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY 4TH OF JULY.
{KRISTEN}
UNTIL THEN, YOU CAN WATCH ALL OF OUR STORIES ONLINE AT TWILA-TV DOT ORG AND BE SURE TO LIKE US ON FACEBOOK, FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM. YOU CAN ALSO FIND ALL OF THESE STORIES AND MORE ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL -- BE SURE TO SUBSCRIBE AND TURN ON THE NOTIFICATIONS SO YOU KNOW WHEN WE PUT OUT NEW CONTENT.
{AVERY}
FOR ALL OF US HERE AT TWILA, THANKS FOR JOINING US. WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN RIGHT HERE NEXT WEEK.