Each year the American Iris Society (AIS) judges to award the Award of Merit (AM) to a group of irises. Eligibility for the AM beings the second year after the iris variety has recieved the Honorable Mention Award (HM), and eligibility continues for three years.
The AM is one of the AIS’s most coveted awards and is given each year to a limited number of iris varieties in each of the classifications of iris.*
Louisiana Iris Award of Merit (runnerups in the voting included)
| Year | Award | Votes | Cultivar | Hybridizer | HM | Debaillon |
| 2003 | AM | 31 | Lone Star | F. Campbell | 2001 | |
| 2003 | AM | 28 | Atchafalaya | F. Campbell | 2000 | |
| 2003 | AM | 28 | Whistling Dixie | M. Dunn | 1999 | |
| 2003 | Runnersup | 26 | Jazz Hot | H. Pryor | 2000 | |
| 2003 | Runnersup | 23 | Beale Street | K. Vaughn | 2001 | |
| 2003 | Runnersup | 23 | Creole Rhapsody | J. Mertzweiller | 2001 | |
| 2003 | Runnersup | 23 | Plantation Belle | M. Dunn | 1999 | |
| 2002 | AM | 38 | Hot and Spicy | H. Pryor | 2000 | 2004 |
| 2002 | AM | 34 | Red Velvet Elvis | K. Vaughn | 2000 | 2005 |
| 2002 | AM | 29 | Rich Jewel | R. Morgan | 1999 | |
| 2002 | Runnersup | 28 | Plantation Belle | M. Dunn | 1999 | |
| 2002 | Runnersup | 26 | Acadiana Sunset | R. Goula | 1998 | |
| 2001 | AM | 47 | Professor Fritchie | J. Mertzweiller | 1998 | |
| 2001 | AM | 40 | Cajun Sunset | M. Granger | 1997 | 2003* |
| 2001 | AM | 25 | Kentucky Cajun | S. Norris | 1999 | |
| 2001 | Runnersup | 23 | Cotton Plantation | M. Dunn | 1997 | |
| 2001 | Runnersup | 21 | Acadiana Sunset | R. Goula | 1998 | |
| 2000 | AM | 37 | Professor Marta Marie | J. Mertzweiller | 1996 | |
| 2000 | AM | 30 | Aunt Shirley | J. Mertzweiller | 1996 | |
| 2000 | Runnersup | 23 | Professor Fritchie | J. Mertzweiller | 1998 | |
| 2000 | Runnersup | 22 | Far and Away | M. Dunn | 1996 | |
| 1999 | AM | 36 | Praline Festival | D. Haymon | 1995 | |
| 1999 | AM | 24 | Geisha Eyes | C. Arny | 1996 | |
| 1999 | Runnersup | 23 | Professor Marta Marie | J. Mertzweiller | 1996 | |
| 1999 | Runnersup | 22 | Rokki Rockwell | D. Haymon | 1995 | |
| 1998 | AM | 34 | Cajun Sunrise | J. Mertzweiller | 1994 | 2000 |
| 1998 | AM | 34 | Extraordinaire | M. Dunn | 1995 | 2002 |
| 1998 | Runnersup | 31 | Geisha Eyes | C. Arny | 1996 | |
| 1998 | Runnersup | 28 | Professor Marta Marie | J. Mertzweiller | 1996 | |
| 1997 | AM | 42 | Professor Neil | J. Mertzweiller | 1995 | 1999 |
| 1997 | AM | 35 | Cajun Cookery | B. Hager | 1994 | |
| 1997 | Runnersup | 31 | Praline Festival | D. Haymon | 1995 | 2001 |
| 1997 | Runnersup | 31 | Professor Barbara | J. Mertzweiller | 1995 | |
| 1996 | AM | 80 | Cherry Cup | R. Morgan | 1993 | |
| 1996 | AM | 44 | C’est Fantastique | M. Dunn | 1994 | |
| 1996 | Runnersup | 40 | Cajun Cookery | B. Hager | 1994 | |
| 1996 | Runnersup | 37 | Just Helene | J. Mertzweiller | 1994 | |
| 1995 | AM | 70 | Bayou Mystique | M. Dunn | 1993 | 1998 |
| 1995 | AM | 53 | Coup D’etat | M. Dunn | 1993 | |
| 1995 | Runnersup | 50 | Cherry Cup | R. Morgan | 1993 | |
| 1995 | Runnersup | 43 | Wild Cajun | H. Rowlan | 1993 | |
| 1995 | Runnersup | 33 | Waverly Pink | E. Lineberger | 1991 | |
| 1994 | AM | 60 | C’est Bonne | M. Dunn | 1990 | |
| 1994 | AM | 49 | Ashley Michelle | J. Mertzweiller | 1991 | |
| 1994 | Runnersup | 44 | Waverly Pink | E. Lineberger | 1991 | |
| 1994 | Runnersup | 41 | Professor Sigmond | J. Mertzweiller | 1990 | |
| 1994 | Runnersup | 39 | Delta Belle | M. Dunn | 1990 | |
| 1993 | AM | 37 | Voodoo Magic | H. Rowlan | 1991 | 1997 |
| 1993 | AM | 32 | Professor Jim | J. Mertzweiller | 1989 | 1996 |
| 1993 | Runnersup | 31 | Tomato Bisque | R. Morgan | 1989 | |
| 1993 | Runnersup | 30 | C’est Bonne | M. Dunn | 1990 | |
| 1993 | Runnersup | 29 | Satchmo | M. Dunn | 1989 | |
| 1992 | AM | 54 | Jeri | N. Bertinot | 1990 | 1994 |
| 1992 | AM | 46 | Sinfonieta | R. Raabe | 1990 | |
| 1992 | AM | 37 | Kay Nelson | M. Granger | 1990 | 1995 |
| 1992 | Runnersup | 33 | Professor Jim | J. Mertzweiller | 1989 | 1996 |
| 1992 | Runnersup | 33 | Tomato Bisque | R. Morgan | 1989 | |
| 1992 | Runnersup | 32 | Plantation Beau | M. Dunn | 1987 | |
| 1992 | Runnersup | 30 | Cajun Country | B. Hager | 1988 | |
| 1992 | Runnersup | 30 | C’est Bonne | M. Dunn | 1990 | |
| 1992 | Runnersup | 30 | Chateau Michelle | M. Dunn | 1988 | |
| 1991 | AM | 51 | Exquisite Lady | A. Owen | 1989 | |
| 1991 | AM | 41 | Frank Chowning | H. Rowlan | 1989 | 1993 |
| 1991 | AM | 36 | Mississippi Gambler | M. Dunn | 1987 | |
| 1991 | Runnersup | 32 | Professor Jim | J. Mertzweiller | 1989 | 1996 |
| 1991 | Runnersup | 31 | C’est Chic | M. Dunn | 1986 | |
| 1991 | Runnersup | 31 | Sea Wisp | H. Rowlan | 1987 | |
| 1990 | AM | 55 | Elusive Butterfly | J. Ghio | 1986 | |
| 1990 | AM | 43 | Ruth Sloan | R. Sloan | 1987 | |
| 1990 | AM | 39 | Red Echo | H. Rowlan | 1987 | |
| 1990 | Runnersup | 37 | Mississippi Gambler | M. Dunn | 1987 | |
| 1990 | Runnersup | 36 | Creole Queen | M. Dunn | 1988 | |
| 1990 | Runnersup | 33 | Plantation Beau | M. Dunn | 1987 | |
| 1989 | AM | 61 | Gulf Shores | M. Dunn | 1984 | |
| 1989 | AM | 41 | Delta Dove | M. Dunn | 1987 | |
| 1989 | AM | 38 | Sunny Episode | H. Rowlan | 1986 | |
| 1989 | Runnersup | 36 | Elusive Butterfly | J. Ghio | 1986 | |
| 1989 | Runnersup | 36 | Ruth Sloan | R. Sloan | 1987 | |
| 1989 | Runnersup | 30 | Crisp Lime | M. Dunn | 1985 | |
| 1988 | AM | 54 | Bajazzo | M. Dunn | 1983 | 1992 |
| 1988 | AM | 39 | Professor Paul | J. Mertzweiller | 1984 | |
| 1988 | AM | 37 | Buxom | M. Dunn | 1983 | |
| 1988 | Runnersup | 34 | Little Miss Sims | F. Chowning | 1983 | |
| 1988 | Runnersup | 32 | Elusive Butterfly | J. Ghio | 1986 | |
| 1988 | Runnersup | 31 | Gulf Shores | M. Dunn | 1984 | |
| 1987 | AM | 66 | Delta Dawn | M. Dunn | 1985 | |
| 1987 | AM | 64 | Rhett | M. Dunn | 1985 | 1991 |
| 1987 | AM | 47 | President Hedley | J. Mertzweiller | 1982 | |
| 1987 | Runnersup | 40 | Bajazzo | M. Dunn | 1983 | 1992 |
| 1987 | Runnersup | 38 | Valera | C. Arny | 1982 | |
| 1987 | Runnersup | 32 | Graceland | M. Dunn | 1982 | |
| 1987 | Runnersup | 29 | Little Miss Sims | F. Chowning | 1983 | |
| 1986 | AM | 49 | Black Gamecock | F. Chowning | 1982 | 1989 |
| 1986 | AM | 40 | Acadian Miss | C. Arny | 1982 | 1990 |
| 1986 | AM | 40 | Mary’s Charlie | M. Dunn | 1984 | |
| 1986 | Runnersup | 33 | Colorific | J. Mertzweiller | 1981 | |
| 1986 | Runnersup | 33 | Valera | C. Arny | 1982 | |
| 1986 | Runnersup | 32 | Shrimp Louis | B. Hager | 1981 | |
| 1986 | Runnersup | 31 | President Hedley | J. Mertzweiller | 1982 | |
| 1985 | AM | 63 | Count Pulaski | F. Chowning | 1982 | |
| 1985 | AM | 52 | C’est Magnifique | M. Dunn | 1982 | |
| 1985 | AM | 39 | Full Eclipse | B. Hager | 1980 | |
| 1985 | Runnersup | 37 | Black Gamecock | F. Chowning | 1982 | 1989 |
| 1985 | Runnersup | 35 | Acadian Miss | C. Arny | 1982 | 1990 |
| 1985 | Runnersup | 31 | President Hedley | J. Mertzweiller | 1982 |
*The Handbook for Judges and Show Officials, 2007, published by AIS.
**Cajun Sunset was voted the Award of Merit and the Debaillon Medal. The iris was not distributed or grown widely. Many members of the SLI feel that the AIS judges were confused by the similarities in name and thought they were voting for a previous Debaillon Medal winner, Cajun Sunrise
