Wayne Zaunbrecher

USA Rice is deeply saddened by the passing of longtime Louisiana rice leader Wayne N. Zaunbrecher, 76, who died on Wednesday, June 17, 2015.   Mr. Zaunbrecher was a rice and cattle producer who worked with his brother Floyd on the family farm.  He served as treasurer of the Louisiana Rice Promotion Board and was on the Louisiana Rice Council Board of Directors.  A native of Gueydan, Louisiana, Mr. Zaunbrecher was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.  Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Linda Guidry Zaunbrecher, who serves on the USA Rice Producers' Group Board, daughters Alison and Andrea, and their families. 

Visitation will be at Vincent Funeral Home, 311 Fourth Street, Gueydan, Louisiana, 70542.  Visiting hours are 1 p.m. to 10 p.m., with a rosary at 7 p.m., on Thursday, June 18, and on Friday, June 19, from 9 a.m. until funeral services at a 3 p.m.  Mass of Christian Burial at St. Peter the Apostle Roman Catholic Church, 603 Main Street, Gueydan, Louisiana, 70542.  

Memorial donations can be made online or by check to the LSU Foundation at lsufoundation.org or to Vermilion Parish Farm Bureau for a scholarship fund.

USA Rice extends heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Wayne Zaunbrecher.

RFD-TV's Patrtick Gottsch (l) and Orion Samuelson

WASHINGTON, DC -- RFD-TV announced this week their intention to produce a series of live, one-hour televised town halls with presidential candidates to focus exclusively on issues important to the rural and agricultural communities.

"When we launched RFD-TV fifteen years ago we intended for it to serve the needs of rural America and to connect rural and urban audiences," said Patrick Gottsch, founder and president of RFD-TV and Rural Radio, at a press conference here.  "We're taking a major step towards reconnecting the rural and urban audiences with these town halls."

As the divide between rural and urban grows wider each year, and fewer people have an understanding of where their food comes from, and what it takes to grow it, the sessions could help bridge an important gap.

"I grew up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin milking cows, and my children always had farms to visit. My grandchildren do not have farms to visit," said Orion Samuelson a famed rural broadcaster who will host and moderate the town halls.   "I'm looking forward to discussing the politics of agriculture with the people who want to be President of the United States."

Gottsch and Samuelson said they see the town halls as an opportunity to educate candidates on rural issues as well as provide them an opportunity to share their vision with the engaged, voting rural audience.

"We're going to send the candidates a list of about 200 questions that may come up - we want a good dialogue - we're not trying to embarrass anyone," said Samuelson.  "We also hope to have a studio audience providing questions, and email questions from viewers at home too."

Gottsch said he doesn't want to ask any of the questions the urban media ask the candidates, but rather will focus on issues such as water use, immigration, animal rights, the use of pesticides and antibiotics in farming, and other vital rural issues.

"This seems like an excellent opportunity to spend quality time on very specific, nuts and bolts issues with men and women vying for the most important job in the world," said Michael Klein, vice president of communications for USA Rice.  "We're going to work with our friends at RFD-TV to try to get some rice specific questions in front of these candidates."

"Rural Town Hall" will be recorded at locations around in Iowa and at RFD-TV studios in Nashville and will premiere in July on Mondays at 8pm eastern and Thursdays at 10pm eastern.  RFD-TV can be seen on DirecTV (channel 345), DISH Network (channel 231), and through some other rural cable providers.  Check with your system provider or log on to RFDTV.com for more details.

Contact:  Deborah Willenborg (703) 236-1444