Wednesday, February 12, 2025

2024 Rice Outlook Conference Review

The annual Rice Awards were presented on Dec. 7 in Little Rock, Arkansas.

The 2024 Rice Awards honorees from left to right: Al Montna, Rice Lifetime Achievement Award; Dr. Jason Norsworthy, Rice Industry Award; and Michael Fruge, Rice Farmer of the Year.
Mike Sullivan (right) was recognized as the 2024 Distinguished Conservation Achievement Award winner by Leo LaGrande (left) after a 40-plus-year career with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. “This award recognizes exemplary leadership and significant conservation efforts that have benefited the U.S. rice industry, natural resources, waterfowl, and wildlife at local, state, and national levels,” said LaGrande.
The National Rice Month Scholarship grand prize winner was Helen Lan of the San Antonio area of Texas.
The Riceland Sustainability Team and its Carbon Ready Program received this year’s Rice Sustainability Award. Adam Shea, vice president of government affairs and sustainability at Riceland Foods, Inc., accepted the award with the Sustainability Team members, Austin Brown and Chandler Holcomb. “What an honor it is for our program to receive this recognition from our peers in the rice industry,” Shea said.
Front row, left to right: Logan Lemoine, Courteney Wall-Sisk, Lee Atwill. Back row, left to right: Jeff Burns, Max Alves, Wyatt Hardee (Connor Webster, not pictured).
Courtesy of USA Rice

New Rice Leadership Development Class Announced

Members of the 2025 Rice Leadership Development Class were announced recently during the annual Rice Awards Luncheon at this year’s USA Rice Outlook Conference. The class is comprised of seven rice industry professionals selected by a committee of agribusiness leaders.

“This is an excellent group that displays exceptional leadership potential,” said Rice Foundation Director Dr. Steve Linscombe.  “They also represent a mix of southern and west coast individuals which always makes for good class dynamics.”

The new rice producer class members are Max Alves, Woodland, California; Lee Atwill, Little Rock, Arkansas; Wyatt Hardee, Gueydan, Louisiana; Logan Lemoine, Cheneyville, Louisiana; and Courteney Wall-Sisk, Paragould, Arkansas.

The new industry-related class members are Jeff Burns, Stuttgart, Arkansas; and Connor Webster, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The Rice Leadership Development Program gives young men and women a comprehensive understanding of the U.S. rice industry, with an emphasis on personal development and communication training.  During a two-year period, class members attend four one-week sessions that are designed to strengthen their leadership skills.

John Deere Company, RiceTec, Inc., American Commodity Company, and Supreme Rice are sponsors of the Rice Leadership Development Program through a grant to The Rice Foundation, and USA Rice manages the program. 

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