Meryl Kennedy of Kennedy Rice Mill

Meryl Kennedy is the CEO of Kennedy Rice Mill, LLC and the founder of 4Sisters Rice. She was recently appointed Vice Chairman of the USA Rice Miller’s Board and is the first woman to ever hold the prestigious position.

The youngest of four daughters, I was born and raised in a small rural village in North East Louisiana called Mer Rouge. After completing my degree in International Affairs from the University of Georgia, I had planned on attending graduate school in London. However, my father with some very “smooth” negotiation skills convinced me to return home and assist him with the family rice business. Our family agribusiness includes rice drying, grain storage, grain marketing, land management, real estate and rice milling. From the very beginning, I was put into a swim or sink situation. My father was older and, in his words, “You are going to make it, or we are going to sell the business.” This put extreme pressure on me not only to succeed but to continue his legacy, and ultimately found my company, 4Sisters Rice.