2024 Pioneer Farmer of the Year

HOMER KIKER

Homer Kiker, 2024 Pioneer Farmer of the Year

Homer Kiker was born to C. A. “Red” Kiker and Ferrell Wingate Kiker. He is a lifelong resident of Fannett Texas, only leaving the area when he enlisted in the Marine Corps. He is a descendant of John Jay French who planted the first rice seed in Jefferson County and Daniel Wingate who planted the first successful commercial rice crop in Jefferson County.

After returning home from the Marines, Homer farmed alongside his father and continued to farm for 38 years. In 1964 The Progressive Farmer magazine named his family the 1964 Farm Family of the Year. After retiring from farming, he worked for Jefferson County Precinct 3, retiring earlier this year at the age of 85.

He married the late Anita Ramos Kiker, and they had one son, Glenn Kiker, and two grandchildren, Ferrell Kiker Dubois and Stone Kiker. Homer was the Fannett Labelle Volunteer Fire Department Chief for 18 years. During that time the fire department was responsible for the parking lot duties at the Texas Rice Festival.

His son, Glenn is the current Texas Rice Festival President, and his father, C. A. “Red” Kiker, was the first Pioneer Farmer of the Year in 1983. Homer would like to thank the Texas Rice Festival for honoring him as this year’s Pioneer Farmer of the Year.