More behind the stories
Before last Friday, I had never stepped foot on a farm.
Not a livestock farm. Not a cattle operation. Honestly, not even anything close to it.
As a communications intern from the heart of Baton Rouge, I’ve spent the past several months learning about agriculture from afar—writing about it, creating content and helping share the stories of Louisiana’s farmers and ranchers.
Read MoreIn south Louisiana, crawfish season is often associated with good times—backyard boils, laughter and tables piled high with steaming mudbugs.
But long before crawfish make it to the table, there’s a different story playing out.
Read MoreThis week, I was reminded that the real heart of Thanksgiving isn’t found on a table—it’s found in giving something of yourself to someone who needs it. I didn’t expect one day in a soup kitchen to change me, but it revealed a joy I didn’t even realize I was missing. And in that moment, I understood what farmers and ranchers have always known: the best harvest in life comes from what you give.
Read MoreThere’s something about the smell of beef sizzling on a grill that just feels like home.
At the Louisiana State Fair, that smell leads you straight to one place — the Louisiana Cattlemen’s Kitchen.
It’s fall in Louisiana, which means two things: the weather might dip below 90, and I’m officially knee-deep in pumpkins.
Read MoreWow, what a wonderful experience and opportunity it was for the young people who attended the Louisiana 4-H Goes to Ireland trip. I am very thankful to have been a part of this group and to serve as a chaperone for such a special trip.
Read MoreAfter nearly two weeks here in Ireland, the trip is coming to an end. The kids, parents, and chaperones are all waiting for their respective flights back to Louisiana and are eager to see their friends and families again. So am I. It’s been a whirlwind trip, and Karl and I are incredibly lucky to have been a part of it. I genuinely don’t think I could have done this trip without him. His technical know-how is envious, and he’s so natural when interacting with strangers. I’d imagine most of our group was sad to part ways with him.
Read MoreIt’s 7:32 a.m. in Dublin, Ireland. I’m sitting outside gate 417, waiting to board my flight to Newark, New Jersey—by myself. As adventures would have it, Josh ended up on a different flight through Washington, D.C., which is now super delayed, and I feel terrible for him.
This morning, I rode to the airport on the bus with the group. There were sleepy eyes—some even fully closed for a few extra minutes of rest—as we met in the lobby at 5:10 (though I wandered in at 5:14). On the way, I chatted with a couple of the leaders about how excited we were to get back to our kids, our spouses, and our own beds. Some of the students echoed that same yearning for home, while others were sad to be leaving.
Read MoreLouisiana 4-H Goes to Ireland has been a trip filled with budding relationships, blooming flowers, and fresh perspectives. With just the right amount of rain to make the grass and flowers flourish, paired with new experiences, the buds of new knowledge are beginning to blossom within our group.
Read MoreGrowing up, I’ve always been a big animal lover. Our family always had cats and dogs, and my wife and I have an American Brown Dog™ named Wrigley. In fact, my wife says she fell in love with me because on our first date, I greeted her dog before I said hello to her. The vibrant green Irish countryside is flecked with brown coats of sheep, spotted with black and white patterns of cattle, and streaked with the grays, browns, and blacks of incredibly fast horses. Cows here also ‘moo’ with Irish accents, which is adorable.
Read MoreWhen we travel outside of the U.S., it’s typically a vacation and it’s hard not to think of this trip in the same way. With the amount of sightseeing in Dublin and The Cliffs of Moher, it is a reasonable description at times. Then there are visits to places like the Redmond Farm in County Wexford that remind us that this is so much more.
Read MoreWhen I fall, I fall hard— and I’ve fallen hard for Ireland. I mean, it’s difficult not to! Picturesque landscapes, charming people, cozy buildings, what’s not to love? When I first visited this country in 2014, I knew almost immediately that I’d return. When Louisiana 4-H offered us a seat on this trip, I literally jumped at the opportunity. This was not only a chance to visit again, but now as a reporter for TWILA, I’d get to capture and share that experience with our viewers.
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