Changes

==Interest in agriculture==

==Interest in agriculture==

In 2000, Thompson was named chairman of the House Agriculture Committee.<ref>"Rep. Thompson to Head Agriculture Committee". Legis.state.la.us, accessed January 5, 2009. In 2003, he authored the "Master Farmer" program, which the legislature approved without dissent. The program was developed by the Louisiana State University Agriculture Center and sponsored by the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation. It is an environmental education program designed to help farmers and ranchers identify and adopt best management practices to improve water quality in lakes, streams and bayous. It involves classroom instruction, field days and implementation of farm-specific conservation plans to maximize productivity while minimizing environmental impacts. Thompson's model program has been proposed for national acceptance.<ref>"Master Farmer program cited as good example for nation", November 12, 2004". deltafarmpress.com, accessed January 2, 2010.</ref>

In 2000, Thompson was named chairman of the House Agriculture Committee.<ref>"Rep. Thompson to Head Agriculture Committee". Legis.state.la.us, accessed January 5, 2009. In 2003, he authored the "Master Farmer" program, which the legislature approved without dissent. The program was developed by the Louisiana State University Agriculture Center and sponsored by the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation. It is an environmental education program designed to help farmers and ranchers identify and adopt best management practices to improve water quality in lakes, streams and bayous. It involves classroom instruction, field days and implementation of farm-specific conservation plans to maximize productivity while minimizing environmental impacts. Thompson's model program has been proposed for national acceptance.<ref>"Master Farmer program cited as good example for nation," November 12, 2004". deltafarmpress.com, accessed January 2, 2010.</ref>

==Poverty Point==

==Poverty Point==

==Other political developments==

==Other political developments==

In 1996, Thompson ran for the open Fifth District seat in the United States House of Representatives. He polled 50,144 votes (28 percent) and went into a general election with the Republican ophthalmologist John Cooksey of Monroe, who led in the jungle primary with 60,853 ballots (34 percent). Former U.S. Representative Clyde Cecil Holloway (1943-2016) of Rapides Parish trailed in third place with 48,226 (27 percent).[11] Holloway then endorsed Cooksey, who defeated Thompson by a comfortable margin. Cooksey received 135,990 votes (58 percent) to the more liberal Thompson's 97,363 (42 percent).[12] Cooksey served three terms before leaving the U.S. House early in 2003. Cooksey's campaign manager, Lee Fletcher, was thereafter named as his chief of staff. Fletcher tried to win the House seat himself in 2002 but lost to Democrat (later Republican) [[Rodney Alexande]]r.

In 1996, Thompson ran for the open Fifth District seat in the United States House of Representatives. He polled 50,144 votes (28 percent) and went into a general election with the Republican ophthalmologist John Cooksey of Monroe, who led in the jungle primary with 60,853 ballots (34 percent). Former U.S. Representative Clyde Cecil Holloway (1943-2016) of Rapides Parish trailed in third place with 48,226 (27 percent).<ref>Louisiana election returns, September 21, 1996," Sos.louisiana.gov., accessed January 2, 2009.</ref> Holloway then endorsed Cooksey, who defeated Thompson by a comfortable margin. Cooksey received 135,990 votes (58 percent) to the more liberal Thompson's 97,363 (42 percent).<ref>Louisiana election returns, November 5, 1996, Sos.louisiana.gov, accessed  January 2, 2009.</ref> Cooksey served three terms before leaving the U.S. House early in 2003. Cooksey's campaign manager, [[Lee Fletcher]], was thereafter named as his chief of staff. Fletcher tried to win the House seat himself in 2002 but lost to Democrat (later Republican) [[Rodney Alexander]].

Though he is a Democrat, Thompson broke party ranks in the 2003 gubernatorial primary to support [[Republican Party|Republican]] candidate Huntington "Hunt"  Downer of Houma in Terrebonne Parish, a former state House Speaker, who finished sixth in the balloting though he had the support of a cross-section of state legislators from both parties.

Though he is a Democrat, Thompson broke party ranks in the 2003 gubernatorial primary to support [[Republican Party|Republican]] candidate Huntington "Hunt"  Downer of Houma in Terrebonne Parish, a former state House Speaker, who finished sixth in the balloting though he had the support of a cross-section of state legislators from both parties.

In 2005, Francis Thompson was inducted into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame in Winnfield.[13] He was unopposed for reelecton to the Senate in 2015.

In 2005, Francis Thompson was inducted into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame in Winnfield.<ref>New inductions, Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame," Cityofwinnfield.com., accessed August 22, 2009.</ref>[13] He was unopposed for reelecton to the Senate in 2015.

In 2017, Thompson successfully introduced legislation to name the Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts in [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]] in honor of the late state Representative Jimmy D. Long, who was among those instrumental in establishment of the institution through Long's chairmanship of the House Education Committee.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ksla.com/story/35592915/house-approves-renaming-louisiana-school-for-math-science-and-the-arts/|title=House approves renaming Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts|publisher=KSA-TV|date=June 5, 2017|accessdate=July 19, 2019}}</ref>

In 2017, Thompson successfully introduced legislation to name the Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts in [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]] in honor of the late state Representative Jimmy D. Long, who was among those instrumental in establishment of the institution through Long's chairmanship of the House Education Committee.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ksla.com/story/35592915/house-approves-renaming-louisiana-school-for-math-science-and-the-arts/|title=House approves renaming Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts|publisher=KSA-TV|date=June 5, 2017|accessdate=July 19, 2019}}</ref>

==References==

==References==

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