Celebrating the hard work and dedication that are traditions in the Louisiana rice industry
Oct 17, 2023
CROWLEY, LA – This past weekend, the International Rice Festival held its 86th Annual Queen and Honoree’s Ball to kick off the week of the festival and honor those in the local rice industry presiding over this year’s festivities.
Audrey Spencer, a lifelong educator and resident of Crowley, will serve as the Children’s Parade Grand Marshall on Friday afternoon, and Christine and Dwayne Fulton, with Falcon Rice Mill of Crowley, will serve as the Grand Parade Marshalls for Saturday’s Parade. Christine and Dwayne returned to Crowley in 2009 and joined Christine’s brother Robbie Trahan and his wife Jennifer in becoming the third generation of their family to own and operate Falcon Rice Mill.
The 86th Junior Rice Farmer is Kynlee Fruge, a fifth-generation farmer and the 18-year-old daughter of Kellie and Troy Fruge of Acadia Parish who follows in her father’s footsteps as Troy was the 47th IRF Junior Farmer of the Year. Kynlee is a graduate of Basile High School and currently pursuing her degree in Agribusiness at McNeese State University. Joseph “Bubba” Morgan is the 2023 IRF Honoree. In 1997, he started Bubba Morgan Trucking, and has been hauling rice for growers in southwest Louisiana, Farmers Rice Mill, and Supreme Rice Mill for 46 years.
Julie and Christian Richard of Kaplan are this year’s Rice Farmers of the Year. This is the first time a husband-and-wife team have been honored as Farmer of the Year by the IRF. Both Julie and Christian are sixth generation farmers who manage and farm 5,600 acres of rice, crawfish, and soybeans. Known for their commitment to sustainability, the Richards have been recognized by USA Rice and the industry for their many contributions to the U.S. rice industry. Every year they host the annual Horizon Ag Rice Field Day as well as the Rice Leadership Development Alumni Crawfish Boil at their farm.