Mike was a great friend and supporter of the Louisiana and U.S. rice industries.  "Mike was one of the first journalists to interview me after I became affiliated with USA Rice," said Betsy Ward, president and CEO of USA Rice.  "He was a true professional and an outstanding broadcaster.  Mike was very knowledgeable about, and a passionate supporter of, the rice industry.  He will be missed."

 

A memorial service in Mike's honor is scheduled on Saturday, March 14 from 8-11 a.m., at Baker Funeral Home, 6401 Groom Road in Baker.  In lieu of flowers, the Danna family has asked that contributions be made to a Louisiana State University scholarship to be established in Mike's name.  Donations for the scholarship can be made online at www.lsufoundation.org or via check payable to LSU Foundation, in memory of Mike Danna in the notation line, and mailed to LSU Foundation, 3838 West Lakeshore Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70808 or to Cancer Services of Greater Baton Rouge, www.cancerservices.org.

JENNINGS, LA -- The same folks who host the Yellow Rails and Rice Festival each fall have organized a new festival, called "Waders in Working Wetlands: Shorebird Extravaganza," that highlights the springtime abundance of bird life in the rice-crawfish agricultural areas of southwest Louisiana.

 

The new festival is scheduled for April 29 - May 3 and based on the Shorebird Blitz, an "all-out shorebird count" in Louisiana's southwest rice-growing region, first held in May 2010.

 

USA Rice Federation has joined 46 other organizations in support of the festival, including Ducks Unlimited.  Registration is online and includes a choice of field trips, socials, and workshops.

 

"The Yellow Rails Festival is a great showcase for the harmonious relationship between working ricelands and wildlife habitat," said festival co-founder and Chairman of the Louisiana Rice Promotion Board Kevin Berken.  "The Shorebird Extravaganza will complement our fall festival by providing birders the opportunity to see many additional species not present during late fall.  In the spring, the birds will be singing and in gorgeous breeding plumage."

 

Berken continued, "Many species of birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles take advantage of the wetland habitat created by rice farmers, making rice a unique agricultural crop where food production and conservation go hand in hand."

 

Birding conservation and rice lands are attracting more and more attention lately.  In addition to being a part of the national USA Rice-Ducks Unlimited Regional Conservation Partnership Program, Louisiana recently received $1.2 million of its own from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service to help fund three state conservation programs that work on rice, waterfowl, water quantity, quality, and sustainability.

 

"Festivals like ours draw public attention to the good conservation work already being undertaken by rice growers, and serve as proof positive to legislators and regulators that rice lands have enormous value beyond the commercial agriculture aspects," added Berken.

 

Contact:  Deborah Willenborg (703) 236-1444