2005 Rice Award Winners Honored at USA Rice Outlook Luncheon

AUSTIN, TX, December 5, 2005 — The winners of the 2005 Rice Award: Charles ‘Eddie’ Eskew, Donald Bransford and John Greer, were honored here today at the USA Rice Outlook Conference for their significant contributions to the rice industry.

“There are many individuals who contribute to the success of the rice industry, but the accomplishment of these three men sets them apart as leaders,” USA Rice Federation President and CEO Stuart Proctor said. “The USA Rice Federation is pleased to be involved in honoring their work.”

The Rice Industry Award The Rice Industry Award, given to Eskew, who has worked as a county agent in Jefferson Davis Parish, LA, since 1980, honors his dedication, determination and innovation in the rice industry.

“Eddie did not mind working long hours, was always interested in learning more about rice and consistently kept the needs of his clientele foremost in his mind,” said Dr. Johnny Saichuk, Louisiana rice specialist. “He uses every opportunity he can to promote agriculture not just as an industry, but as a life style.”

“The most enjoyable part of my job as county agent is working with the farmers,” Eskew said. “We have some third and fourth generation rice farmers, so the industry is rooted deeply in the culture of this area. It’s fun to work in agriculture because of that rich tradition and the appreciation of farming.”

Lifetime Achievement Award Bransford, this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, has worked tirelessly for many years on behalf of California’s rice growers. In 1991, the National Marine Fisheries Service shut off water from the Sacramento River to the Glenn-Colusa Irrigation District (GCID) because of what was deemed “unacceptable impact” on the endangered Chinook salmon. Bransford found himself and his neighbors in the midst of a crisis that threatened to close down their farming operations permanently.

“Don’s leadership resulted in the construction of the largest fish screen ever constructed,” GCID’s General Manager Van Tenney said. The $76 million project took 10 years and tireless diplomacy, but literally saved a quarter of the state’s rice industry.

“This is the type of industry service you will never hear Don brag about,” Colusa County Farm Advisor Chris Greer said. “It’s important for the rice industry to have him represent us, but he does it without expecting any acknowledgement for the time or the effort.”

Rice Farmer of the Year Award The Rice Farmer of the Year award recipient John Greer has shown determination and innovation in growing his crop. Greer has been involved in rice seed production for 25 years and today, Cache River Valley Seed LLC purchases 100 percent of his crop. Greer grows about 1,700 acres of rice – yielding nearly 300,000 bushels each year, and leaves the majority of the remaining half of the farm fallow.

“John has spent his entire life working with the extension service, the seed industry, and chemical and fertilizer companies trying to make rice farming more efficient,” said Randy Woodard with Cache River Valley Seed LLC in Cash, AR. “Many of the practices that the University of Arkansas recommends today were first tried and proven on John’s farm.”

“I have found him to be innovative and dedicated to improving his production through implementation of new technology,” Arkansas rice specialist Chuck Wilson said.

Syngenta, Rice Farming magazine and the USA Rice Federation sponsor the Rice Awards.

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Photo caption: L-R: Syngenta sponsor with Eskew, Bransford, Greer and Rice Farming Editor Carroll Smith.

Contacts: Sarah Castleberry, (703) 236-1458, scastleberry@usarice.com

USA Rice Federation is the national advocate for all segments of the rice industry, conducting activities to influence government programs, developing and initiating programs to increase worldwide demand for U.S. rice, and providing other services to increase profitability for all industry segments.