Good news for Winn in this new year came late last week when it was announced that Speaker of the House Phillip DeVillier named Winnfield’s Rep. Jack McFarland, Dist. 13 (R), to serve as chairman of the House Committee of Appropriations, a four-year appointment.
McFarland is beginning his third term as representative for District 13. For the past four years, he has served as a member on the House Committee of Appropriations. He also served on the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget as well as the Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture and Rural Development Committee.
“I’m thankful for this opportunity to serve the Louisiana House of Representatives as chairman of Appropriations,” McFarland told the Journal. “I appreciate the trust and confidence Speaker DeVillier has demonstrated by appointing me to this position.”
He believes that under the Republican leadership of Gov. Jeff Landry and Speaker DeVillier, the House will see “a more unified Republican delegation with a coordinated set of goals and messages,” he said in a statement to the Southern Strategy Group. “It’s a common sense strategy for success. A Republican super-majority can accomplish a lot for the voters who sent us to Baton Rouge if we pull in the same direction.”
Asked by the Journal about his priorities in this new term, the answer came “insurance and infrastructure.” Louisiana will not be able to keep its people and businesses here if they cannot afford to live and work here due to high insurance costs, he indicated. McFarland added that Baton Rouge needs to make it a priority to eliminate the state’s backlog of infrastructure projects. Rural Louisiana is particularly hard-hit by this problem.
The owner of McFarland Timber and past president of the Louisiana Logging Council came onto the political horizon in 2007 when he was elected to the Winn Parish Police Jury, representing District 4. He served as president of the parish lawmakers for both of his terms of office (eight years) before his 2015 election to the House of Representatives.
Jackson McFarland places the official House of Representatives pin on his father as part of the swearing-in ceremony at the Baton Rouge capitol on January 8. 
Rep. Jack McFarland takes his oath of office January 8 in the chamber of the Louisiana House for his next term for District 13. He will serve as chairman of the House Committee of Appropriations. 
Father and son, Jack and Jackson McFarland enjoy a moment in House chamber January 8