The youngest of four daughters, Meryl was born and raised in the rural village of Mer Rouge, Louisiana, consisting of less than five hundred people.  Meryl attended the University of Georgia where she completed a degree in International Affairs with a minor in Spanish.  Declining the opportunity to attend Oxford University, Meryl chose instead to return home to assist her father and continue the family rice business.  The Kennedy Family Agribusiness includes rice farming, drying, milling, and distribution, grain storage, grain marketing, land management, and real estate.

At the age of 21, Meryl successfully oversaw the start-up and development of Kennedy Rice Mill, LLC (aka., KRM) located in Mer Rouge, Louisiana.  KRM is a state-of-the art facility and represents one of the few new rice mills built in the United States in the last quarter-century. Envisioning the need to bring sustainably grown and organic products into the retail rice market, Meryl and her family decided to launch their own branded rice products.  As President and Owner, she successfully engineered its’ implementation currently packaging organic and sustainably grown products for KRM’s KenChaux & 4Sisters brands.  KRM has received several awards by local and state organizations. In 2018, the Bastrop-Morehouse Chamber of Commerce presented KRM with the “Business Innovative Leadership Award”.  Kennedy Rice Mill, LLC was recently recognized by Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI) as having outstanding achievement among Louisiana manufacturers, being named 2019 “Manufacturer of the Year” in the small business category.

 

In 2016, to save a failing business in her local community, Meryl took over the assets of a cookie dough manufacturing company.  Today, she is the managing Co-Owner and CEO of Neighbors, LLC in West Monroe, Louisiana.  Neighbors is a leading manufacturer/producer of specialized cookie dough for fundraising, private label, and co-manufacturing partners.  Neighbors has proudly accepted several awards from local and state organizations.  Nominated by the City of West Monroe’s Mayor, Neighbors was recently presented with Louisiana Economic Development’s “Lantern Award”, recognizing manufacturers in Northeast Louisiana.  Neighbors was also recognized by the Ouachita Chamber of Commerce for making significant contributions to the Ouachita Parish economy through capital improvements, expansion, job creation, and community involvement, receiving the “Thomas H. Scott” Large Business of the Year Award.

 

Meryl and her husband, Peyton Farr, reside in Mer Rouge with their two small children, Elton and Kennedy.  In her spare time, she enjoys mentoring young women pursuing careers in agriculture and speaking to local civic organizations. Most of all, she values traveling with her family and spending time with close friends. 

 

Personal Leadership Experience & Honors 

The Monroe Chamber of Commerce, Northeast Louisiana Young Professionals

Northeast Louisiana “Top 20 under 40” Young Professional, 2014

Morehouse Economic Development Corporation

Entrepreneur of the Year Award, October 2012

USA Rice Federation

The Rice Foundation Board of Directors, 2019 – Present 

USA Rice Board of Directors, 2019 – Present

USA Rice Council Board of Directors, 2019 – Present

USA Rice Executive Committee, 2019 – Present

Rice Millers Association Board of Directors, 2013 – Present

USA Rice PAC Committee Board of Directors, 2013 – Present

USA Rice Millers Association Governmental Relations Committee, 2013 – Present

Origin Bank

Advisory Board Member, June 2012 – Present 

ULM Foundation, Monroe, Louisiana

Board Member, January 2012 – December 2014

Northeast Louisiana Economic Alliance, Monroe, Louisiana

President, November 2011 – Present

United Way, Monroe, Louisiana

Member, December 2011 – Present

YPO, Louisiana Chapter

Member, March 2015 – Present 

Engagement Officer Chair, 2018 – 2019

YPO, Western US Regional Executive Committee Officer

Y Chair, 2018 – 2019

YPO Harvard 2015 – 2017

Entergy Louisiana

Advisory Board Member, January 2020 – January 2022

Louisiana Association of Business and Industry 

Board Member 2018 – Present 

Boys & Girls Club in Louisiana

Board Member 2019 – Present