Louisiana's top young farm couple overcame hurricane, drought as sixth generation producers

Aaron and Jamie Lee have faced hurricanes and drought during their young married life on the Vermilion Parish family farm.

But the young couple, now raising their 15-month-old son Aaron Jr. (A.J.), said the fertile land and rich way of life are the very things that also sustain them as they carry on as sixth generation farmers producing cattle, crawfish, rice and sugarcane.

And this week the Lees were named Louisiana's top young farming couple of 2024 at the Farm Bureau Convention in New Orleans, the organization's top honor.

"It's always been a passion and way of life where the good always outweighs the bad," said Aaron Lee in an interview with USA Today Network.

In addition to her on-farm role, Jamie Lee is also a teacher incorporating the Farm Bureau's Ag in the Classroom program for her students.

"My biggest role in advocating for agriculture is that of an ag teacher," she said. "Being a farm wife and ag teacher allows me to bring a personal message on why production agriculture is so important in today’s world. I'm able to bring stories, and sometimes even soil, from home to help my students gain an understanding of agriculture in their area.”

Jamie Lee said she and her husband are focused on sustaining their family's land as it sustains them.

"What we're doing here hasn't changed - keeping the land healthy by using as few resources as possible," she said.

One of Aaron's fondest memories growing up on the farm was waking up early to ride in the tractors with his father, something his own son is now experiencing.

"It makes me even more determined to carry on so he has something to build on," Aaron said.

"A.J. is going to be the seventh generation to work in the field with his dad and to me there is nothing more special than that," Jamie said.

Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Louisiana's top young farm couple overcame hurricane, drought as sixth generation producers