MONROE, La. (AP) — The leader of Louisiana’s largest agriculture network is retiring from his position.
Ronnie Anderson, the longest-serving Farm Bureau state president in America, will retire this summer after 31 years, The News-Star reports.
After winning annual elections for three decades, Anderson said he won’t seek reelection during this year’s Louisiana Farm Bureau Convention in June.
“It’s the right time for me,” the 71-year-old leader told the newspaper. “You always want to leave a job when you feel like you’re still performing at a top level.”
The Louisiana Farm Bureau has been a powerful political force under Anderson, advocating for agricultural causes and influencing elections. The state organization grew from about 67,000 members in 1989 to more than 148,000 under Anderson’s watch.
Anderson grew up on a farm in East Feliciana Parish and returned to join the family business after college graduation. He quickly became active in the Farm Bureau and was elected parish president after his second meeting, which started his 51-year involvement with the organization.
