Polk County Farm Bureau Pioneers

J. E. Seamans
Pioneer Award winner in 1997. Mr. Seamans was born in Chester and moved to Livingston when he was 9. He is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a Master's degree in Education. Mr. Seamans dedicated 35 years to public education. In 1942, he started a long, productive and active career as a Vocational Agriculture teacher at Livingston High School.

In 1969 , after 27 years of service, he retired from education. Being active and involved in agriculture, he started selling insurance for the Texas Fam Bureau in Livingston. Mr. Seamans retired again and moved back to Chester. He is the founder of the Trinity-Neches FFA and 4-H Livestock Show. The show is now over 60 years strong and getting better each year. Polk County Farm Bureau sponsors the showmanship awards and presents the J. E. Seamans Scholarship to a deserving ag student at the close of each year's show.

Lorene H. Stevens
Pioneer Award winner in 2003. Lorene joined the Polk County Farm Bureau in 1952. She was appointed the secretary-treasurer and served in that capacity until she retired in 1995. Before there was a county office, all the records were kept in her home, including all receipts–even when stamps were three cents each. She was the only female on the board, so she kept all the board members on their toes and urged them to be the best board members they could be. Lorene bribed the men with the best desserts any board meeting could ever have. She was a Home Demonstration Agent, Home Economics teacher, Texas 4-H Club specialist, and U.S. Department of Agriculture Home Economics specialist, serving two years in Jordan and three years in Libya.

Lorene was an Eastern Star Worthy Matron, member of DAR, Altrusa International, Business and Professional Women's Club, National Association of Federal Retired Empoyees, and AARP. She was an active member of First Methodist Church, a board member, treasurer of the church and active in UMW.