Flying high with Cajun Country Rice
Apr 23, 2024
LAFAYETTE, LA – Down in southwest Louisiana we know tailgating! And cooking rice dishes such as jambalaya while getting your pregame on is a tradition. But lest you think it’s only for college football, let’s set the record straight: we can and will tailgate before lots of other sports, including baseball, and rice is always a focal point of the festivities.
Friday, April 12, was Cajun Country Rice Day at the University of Louisiana – Lafayette (UL) for the first of a three-game baseball series versus Marshall University in the Sun Belt Conference. As part of the pregame rituals, tents and cooking equipment were set up all around the stadium. Fans were greeted at the gates by Jennifer and Robbie Trahan, co-owners of Falcon Rice Mill, the company that produces Cajun Country Rice.
Everyone entering the stadium received a free Cajun Country rice paddle, and offered advice to the Trahans, who were scheduled to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Robbie, who was on the UL golf team back in the day, was not allowed to take a pitching wedge to the mound, so passed the first pitch honors to Greg Harmon, a rice farmer from Acadia Parish, who also happens to be a former pitcher for the Ragin’ Cajuns!
“It was a perfect fit to have Greg come back to his old stomping grounds, take the mound once more, and throw a strike to start the game,” said Robbie. “We were happy to be able to support the team and UL athletic programs, and appreciated all the recognition Cajun Country Rice received at Cajun Field.”
During the game, lucky spectators were selected to participate in rice-related trivia games for prizes, guessing the favorite rice dishes of UL players, and cheering on the list of rice recipes on the outfield scoreboard jumbo screen.
All that rice in the air gave the Ragin’ Cajuns an extra boost of good complex carbs – they won the first game 3-1, and went on to sweep the series, winning Saturday 1-0 and Sunday 2-0 (both games were one hitters).