Landry Takes USA Rice Federation National Rice Month Scholarship Grand Prize

LAS VEGAS, December 4, 2006 — The USA Rice Federation today awarded the National Rice Month Scholarship grand prize to Sarah Landry, 17, of Rayne, LA. USA Rice President and CEO Stuart Proctor presented the $5,000 scholarship to Landry here at the USA Rice Outlook Conference.

“Each year we present scholarships to students who put a tremendous amount of hard work and pride into their National Rice Month promotions,” Proctor said. “We’re pleased to honor Sarah Landry with the 2006 grand prize and our congratulations and appreciation for her outstanding efforts to promote U.S. rice and the rice industry.”

To vie for a scholarship, eligible high school juniors and seniors in rice-growing communities must run a promotion during September National Rice Month with U.S.-grown rice as the central theme.

Landry took top honors with a campaign centered on “Rice is Life!” Her promotional activities highlighted rice’s importance to the economy as well as rice’s nutritional value.

Landry worked with area businesses, organizations and the media to promote rice throughout September. She set up educational displays at public libraries, local events, 4-H meetings and in three private-school cafeterias to promote National Rice Month and to highlight rice’s importance to the community.

Landry conducted a rice sampling at a local supermarket to highlight the versatility of rice to consumers. Her guest column on “Rice is Life” appeared in Louisiana Farm & Ranch and several area newspapers. Landry created a rice brochure to use at appearances and speaking engagements, which included a rice-education booth at Rayne’s 34th Annual Frog Festival and RV-club gatherings at which Landry addressed more than 650 campers.

For more information on National Rice Month, visit the USA Rice Federation’s Web site at www.usarice.com.

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Photo and caption available at the USA Rice image library.

CONTACTS: Randy Jemison, (337) 738-7009, rjemison@usarice.com and Chuck Wilson, (870) 673-7541, cwilson@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.