Waguespack, Gravois, Falgoust honored by St. James sugarcane industry
The St. James Agricultural Tour committee named Herman Waguespack Jr of Thibodaux as the 59th recipient of the Kermit Coulon Sr. Outstanding Service Award.
Waguespack is the research director of the American Sugar Cane League and has served the Louisiana sugarcane industry for more than 36 years.
Waguespack received the award, which was for the 2020 year, at the St. James Parish Farmer Appreciation supper at the Westbank Reception Hall in Vacherie. The award is given to those who have provided exceptional service in research and education in the sugarcane industry.
For the 2021 calendar year, the committee honored LSU AgCenter sugarcane specialist Kenneth Gravois with the Coulon Outstanding Service Award. Gravois is the 60th recipient.
The award is named to honor Kermit Coulon Sr who worked more than 40 years with the with the LSU Cooperative Extension Service as an assistant county agent, county agent and district agent for the Louisiana cane belt region. He died in 2013.
Also, 93-year-old J. B. Falgoust was recognized with a lifetime achievement award for his “exceptional contributions in farming and finance for the sugarcane award. Because of COVID restriction, Falgoust did not attend and the honor was received by his sons, Mike and Chuck Falgoust.
Both Gravois and Waguespack have worked in the sugarcane variety breeding programs which has released more than 25 new commercial varieties designed for Louisiana’s unique growing conditions.
At the Iberia-St. Mary- Vermilion LSU AgCenter Sugarcane Field Day, retired agent Jimmy Flanagan was recognized with the Teche Area Sugarcane Production Career Service Award.
Also, at the Assumption Parish field day, grower Bobby Simoneaux recognized the Daniel Arcement with the U.B. Simoneaux Achievement Award and the Young Farmer Award to Dramon Davis.
In Lafourche-Terrebonne, Harold Callahan received the Sugarcane Field Day Award.
