Another chance of reign

Tara Fontenot of Basile was crowned 2018 Evangeline Parish Farm Bureau Queen at the 66th Annual Evangeline Parish Farm Bureau Meeting and Queen’s Contests on March 5 after reigning as queen over the past year.
“I am very excited to be able to keep my crown for another year,” she said. “I plan to work even harder to spread the word about the importance of agriculture. I am also excited to compete at the Louisiana Farm Bureau Pageant again. I want to spread the word that awesome Evangeline Parish is an amazing place to call home.”
Fontenot, 17, is the daughter of Scotty and Tammy Fontenot of Duralde. Her paternal grandparents are J.D. and Dianna Fontenot of Duralde. Her maternal grandmother is Jane Sneed and maternal great-grandmother is Rita “Pie” Racca both of Jennings.
She attends Basile High School where she was a 2018 Evangeline Parish Top Gun Student, 2017 Homecoming Queen, 2017 Senior Homecoming Maid, 2015 Sophomore Homecoming Maid, Freshman Class President, Sophomore Class Secretary, Junior Class President, 2016 4-H Vice President, and 2016 FFA President
She has also been a Junior Leader for four years, on the livestock team for three years, in 4-H for eight years, in FBLA for three years, in Fellowship for Christian Athletes for three years, and in Beta Club for three years. Athletically, Fontenot has been a cheerleader for four years, 2017-2018 Varsity Cheer Captain, 2017 All-American nominee, javelin thrower for three years, and basketball player for two years.
“I am not only a senior at Basile High School, but I’m also a student at the LSU-E Academy,” Fontenot said. “I am currently taking 15 college credits for this semester. When I graduate from high school, I will already be college sophomore. This Fall, I will attend McNeese State University to pursue a degree in Ag Business. Then I plan to work toward an MBA. After I complete my education, I hope to find a job as a crop consultant or to become a grain marketing specialist.”
Outside of school, Fontenot is a member of the Annunciation Church in Duralde where she is an alter server and a CCD teacher’s helper.
Fontenot’s hobbies include painting, woodworking, helping on the farm, and taking care of livestock.
Fontenot has competed in other pageants, and she was Junior Deb Miss Basile. “I was very excited and enjoyed representing my title,” she said as Junior Deb Miss Basile. “Then last year, I was chosen to be the 2017 Evangeline Farm Bureau Queen. This was a dream come true for me. I have wanted this title since I was three-years-old. Then I went and competed for the state crown where I made lasting friends and enjoyed being around other girls who respect farmers and their way of life.”
As queen last year, Fontenot said, “One of my most memorable moments was meeting Joe Mapes who is a lobbyist for the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation. I didn’t know how much work goes into working with politicians to help them see the importance of certain bills affecting farmers. This can be anything from conservation to exporting our crops to other countries. It was awesome to meet Mr. Mapes and talk about the things impacting agriculture.”
She continued, “I have been able to meet so many other new and wonderful people. I have also learned so much about agriculture than I even imagined. Agriculture is a part of everything we eat, drink, wear, and even the homes we live in. So, people need to be made aware that agriculture affects almost everything we do, and I hope to help make people mindful of the choices and sacrifices that our farmers make.
During the meeting, Evangeline Parish Farm Bureau President Scotty Fontenot served as emcee and presented his President’s Report. Richard Fontenot, Evangeline Parish Treasurer, gave his Treasurer’s Report and a Legislative Report. A third Fontenot, Winston, presented members with the Insurance Report as well introduced the office staff including new agent Nasen Soileau. Presenting the Nominating Committee Report was Tom Ardoin, who recognized the 2017 board members. A motion on the floor was made to replace Jody D Fontenot with Robert Brunet and replace Ted Soileau with John Lucas Pitre.