Small But Mighty: The St. Tammany Farmer’s Sports Section Takes Third Place in Louisiana

The St. Tammany Farmer’s sports section received recognition as the third-best among all newspapers in the state at the Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s annual awards ceremony held on June 23 in Natchitoches. This is a significant achievement for the weekly newspaper, as it was judged in the Open Division, where all newspapers, regardless of staffing levels or circulation, were considered in one category.

The Farmer’s sister newspaper based in Baton Rouge, The Advocate, won first place for Best Sports Section, while the Shreveport Times placed second. Despite facing tough competition from larger and more well-known publications, The Farmer finished third overall.

Sports Editor Joseph Halm of The St. Tammany Farmer received individual recognition in five different categories. He finished second in Class II Prep Event for his coverage of the Archbishop Hannan volleyball team winning its third state volleyball title in four years. Halm also placed second in the Open Division Breaking News category for his article on the resignation of Pope John Paul II volleyball coach Danny Tullis following the tragic death of his son, Christian. Additionally, Halm earned third-place honors in Open Class Prep-Amateur Photography for his photograph of Northshore baseball’s Reese Jobert sliding into home after a wild pitch. These accolades contributed to Halm finishing third in Class II Prep Writer of the Year rankings.

The Louisiana Sports Writers Association awards are presented annually during their convention and induction festivities to celebrate outstanding writing and photography work across the state. These awards are judged by prominent journalists from across the U.S., making them highly respected within the industry. For those interested in subscribing to The St