From Crawfish to Cajun Music: Living in the South engages Prairieville Middle Students

Prairieville Middle School hosted their annual Living in the South event for seventh grade students on Friday, May 8, 2026. At the event, students were given the opportunity to hear about different areas of our culture from across our great state. The event also provided opportunities for students to participate in career awareness activities by hearing from a variety of speakers on careers specific to Louisiana.

Author Yvette Landry (www.yvettelandry.com) was one of the new speakers featured at this year’s event, and she quickly became a student favorite. Ms. Landry shared the history and culture of the Cajuns, entertained students by playing the accordion, and read an excerpt from her book, The Wild Girl of Catahoula. A Grammy-nominated musician as well as an author, she brought Louisiana culture to life through both storytelling and music. Annabelle Meador said, “My favorite presenter that I saw during Living in the South was the author Yvette Landry. I aspire to be an author so it was really cool to see a very successful one from Louisiana, and it was really cool the way she played the Cajun instruments for us. I enjoyed hearing about her life and stories from Cajun culture.” Harper Crain agreed, stating, “I absolutely loved her! I fully expected her class to be boring, but I was shocked. She played REALLY cool instruments and played some amazing songs. She had a beautiful voice and wrote some pretty awesome books, too!”

Living in the South also featured several historical speakers, including Casey Cleveland, who taught students about the Siege of Port Hudson and the site’s importance during the Civil War. Chris Achee, a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, spoke about the history of West Florida and how it became part of Louisiana. Additional members of the organization (Derrick Spell, Paul Bledsoe, Brad Richard, and Eddie Vaughn) and Savannah Hackler of the Daughters of the American Revolution shared information about the founding of the United States and presented a Patriot’s Chest featuring historical artifacts and educational materials. Their talk included information about the Louisiana soldiers who fought alongside Gálvez in the American Revolution. “I am incredibly grateful to the Sons of the American Revolution for helping bring history to life for our students during Living in the South. Their presentations gave students the opportunity to connect classroom learning with real stories, artifacts, and people who are passionate about preserving our nation’s history,” said Mrs. Brooke Todd, a seventh grade social studies teacher at Prairieville Middle School. Prairieville Middle School is also grateful for support from the Daughters of the American Revolution, whose grant funding helped sponsor several of the event’s speakers and educational experiences.

Students also had the opportunity to learn from a few high school students serving as State Wetlands Ambassadors through 4-H. Beau Normand really enjoyed this station, stating, “They were funny and let us do the demonstration.” Blaize Coco, Hailee Daigle, and Libby Coco shared information about Louisiana’s rapidly

changing coastline and the importance of protecting coastal wetlands and barrier islands. Through a hands-on activity, students explored how barrier islands help reduce storm surge and protect communities during hurricanes. Students also learned about the importance of honey bees from Jason and Madison White. Their presentation focused on how honey bees develop, produce honeycombs, and contribute to the environment through pollination. Students were especially interested in hearing about the process of safely extracting and relocating bee colonies, as well as the important role honey bees play in Louisiana’s ecosystems and agriculture.

Students experienced a wide variety of hands-on STEM and science activities during Living in the South as well. Patrick and Tyler Theriot, a father-and-son hot air balloon team, brought their balloon, Confetti, and explained the science behind hot air ballooning. Students learned that the balloon is inflated using a gas-powered fan and attached to a basket equipped with two burners that use propane gas to create heat. As the air inside the balloon’s envelope heats up, the balloon becomes lighter than the surrounding air and lifts off the ground. Their presentation gave students a firsthand look at the engineering and physics involved in flight. Another popular activity was presented by CF Industries, led by Thomas Guillot, Glenn Zeringue, Robert Wegener, and Evin Pousson. Students worked together to design and build Lego towers capable of surviving simulated natural disasters. Large blowers replicated hurricane-force winds. The tallest structure able to withstand both challenges was declared the winner, encouraging students to think critically about engineering, design, and structural stability. Elyse Dupuy said, “I liked these presenters because they taught us the importance of building buildings correctly. If we did not build our Lego tower right then it would fall in a hurricane.” Rowen Juban also enjoyed this presentation, stating, “They demonstrated the concept of engineering and teamwork as we worked together to make a structure that went through a series of tests. The tallest one standing after the tests was titled the winner and was given a measuring tape representing the teamwork and engineering skills of that group.”

Returning speakers included former Prairieville Middle students Cameron Gautreau, the executive chef at Proverbial Wine Bistro who treated students to Bananas Foster, and Jack Simmons, a Sports Turf Specialist for LSU, who shared insights into the maintenance, preparation, and painting of the university’s athletic fields. Seventh grader Layla Donaldson said, “I really liked the spray paint. I liked how it was hands on and everybody was able to be a part of it. It also left a really cool design on the grass that everybody in the school could see. It was a really cool experience overall. And, for people who had never spray painted, they got to experience this first hand with someone that does it for a living.”

Also returning were Lindsay Seely from Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries and representatives from BREC’s Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center, who brought several native wildlife species for students to observe and interact with firsthand.  Student Jonathan Dedon said, “Trent with all the animals from Bluebonnet Swamp was really nice and fun to listen to. He had lots of cool reptiles and different animals to talk about. I hope he returns next year!”

Representatives from the Ascension Chamber of Commerce also participated in Living in the South by speaking with students about careers and workforce opportunities available throughout Ascension Parish. Their presentation highlighted a variety of local career paths, educational opportunities, and industries that are continuing to grow in the region. Students learned about the different steps they can take to prepare for future careers, including technical training, college pathways, certifications, and hands-on experience, while gaining a better understanding of the many opportunities available right here in their own community.

“One of the best parts of this event is watching students make real-world connections,” said Mrs. Amy Jarreau, Living in the South coordinator and seventh grade teacher at PVM. “It gives them the opportunity to see how Louisiana’s history, culture, and industries continue to shape the world around them today, while also helping them understand the people and events that came before us.”

In addition to learning a lot about Louisiana, students get a special Louisiana treat of boiled crawfish and jambalaya. A special thank you and shout out to T-Waynes for cooking the delicious mudbugs and the 

Prairieville High School Booster Club who provided the jambalaya for our students and Mr. Kyle Kinberger who entertained them with the history of the dish while cooking!

Seventh grade teachers at Prairieville Middle School organize the Living in the South event annually as a way to enrich student learning and passion for our state and local area. The event is funded by proceeds from a cookbook fundraiser and t-shirt sales. The cookbooks are created from student-submitted recipes and their family favorites. A special thank you to the administration, Principal Matthew Geraci and Assistant Principal Sandi Gautreau, who allow this event to take place year after year, and all the teachers and parent volunteers that help make this event possible.

 

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