The Ville Platte Rotary Club today (Tuesday) heard from Richard Fontenot, local farmer and a representative with the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation. Fontenot is a fourth generation farmer in the Vidrine area. He told club members that Agriculture is important to our economy in Evangeline Parish to the tune of some 96 million dollars. Some seventy percent of his crop is being exported to other countries. Through his volunteer work with Farm Bureau, Fontenot is a strong advocate for agriculture. One area that passed the state legislature is "Truth in Labeling" He asked club members "Is Cauliflower rice a rice product? Would you eat plant based shrimp or plant based beef? We want our shoppers and restaurant clients to know if they are buying La. Beef and Louisiana crawfish". The last few years have been tough for Louisiana producers with floods and hurricanes that has impacted the rice crop. He commented that the tariffs against China will hurt producers in the interim but in the end will be better for everyone. Fontenot said the soybean crop has been rated fair to average. Fontenot commended Evangeline Supt. of Schools Darwan Lazard and his staff for supporting giving students the opportunity to become engaged in agricultural professions. Rotarian Barbara Buroker was in charge of the program. Club President Nicole Wenger announced that the Club Fall Social is planned for October 22.