Farmers Help Farmers Through Tough Times in Louisiana

Even with the crop harvested, all of the farmers in Louisiana said it is still unlikely they will even break even this year. But that is not stopping them from helping each other.

WEST CARROLL PARISH, La. (RFD-TV) — The day began in prayer before a convoy of combines rolled into the rice fields here in West Carroll Parish.

These farmers left their own work behind at the peak of harvest, not just to pray for Josh Ward, but also to show compassion and get his crop out of the field.

Ward was working on this disk two weeks earlier when a piece of metal flew into his left eye. Doctors are unsure if he’ll ever see out of that eye again. But as for now, he cannot drive or operate heavy machinery. It’s been tough on him having to sit home on the sidelines during this busy harvest season.

“I don’t know how anyone could get through this without faith,” Ward said. “It’s not about me, it’s about God showing people coming together. And it’s not about me right now.”

It was a fleet of combines, grain carts, and great friends who wanted to show Ward and his wife, Whitney, what a farming family looks like.

“Not a person out here that’s even going to make any money this year, the people that stepped out and the community,” said another local farmer, Rowdy Sanderson. “They always are amazing.”

Josh, who could not even come to the field and watch this faith in action, said he’ll never forget what they’ve done.

“Just to say thank you, but what I would want to hear…it means more than I could ever show,” Ward said.

In the end, it wasn’t just rice harvested in West Carroll Parish—it was proof of a faith-filled community, reaping love and compassion for one of their own.”

Tammi was raised on a cotton and soybean farm in Tallulah, Louisiana. In 1981, she became a TV news anchor and reporter at KNOE-TV in Monroe, Louisiana. She is also an anchor/reporter for RFD-TV and Rural Radio Channel 147 on Sirius XM at their Nashville news studio, where Tammi currently resides.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

The National Association of Agriculture Educators (NAAE) recently elected Bill Newsom, of Tennessee, as the organization’s new president.
Dr. Tim Boring with the Michigan Department of Agriculture shed light on the current challenges and opportunities impacting farmers across the State in a conversation with RFD-TV’s own Tammi Arender at the NASDA Annual Meeting this week in Wyoming.
Chefs Chris Carter and James Peisker believe we have the power to make the world a better place with every meal. Through Porter Road butcher, they are now turning this belief into reality.
It’s National Farmers Market Week! A time for local farmers and consumers across the U.S. to celebrate the growth, impact, and vital role of farmers markets in America’s food supply chain.
Rural Lifestyle & Entertainment Shows
How do you define Texas? It starts with wide open spaces. It’s a beautiful, enchanted land full of amazing people and places. Then there are the cities and towns—big and small—each with its own culture and way of life. When you add these things together, you have an incredible mix of personalities that make Texas what it is today.
“Somewhere West of Wall Street” is simply the most recent addition to the long list of noteworthy accomplishments by the Renaissance cowboy, singer-songwriter, poet, author, and show host Red Steagall. Join Red and his quarter horse, Grey Dog, as they explore the people, places, and stories of the American West.
“Texas Our Texas” – a magical place. A place of land and legend. A place like no other. People come here to touch it, to feel the passion, to soak it in and be a part of it. Hosted by Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller. Let’s ride!
SharkFarmer TV is the brainchild of Rob Sharkey, a 5th-generation farmer from Illinois. He shares the stories of incredible people in agriculture—both their successes and perhaps a few blunders along the way. You’ll see aerial footage of the field just as the drone crashes into a barn—and hear the story behind it all.
Hosted by Emmy Award-winning journalist Tanji Patton, “Goodtaste with Tanji” focuses on chefs and popular dishes from restaurants across the culinary spectrum, along with wines, cocktails, and spirits, too. As a travelogue, the show visits restaurants, diners, and eateries across the Lone Star State in fun and adventurous settings, plus the program occasionally travels to neighboring states like Louisiana and New Mexico. In addition, the show educates viewers on wine pairings and value buys available in current wine trends.