The Real Deal: Finding True Southern Hospitality at Louisiana Perch Feed & Supply

You know, sometimes you go looking for one thing, and you end up finding something you didn’t even realize you were missing.

I was on a mission for milk. Not just any milk, but that Jarrell Bro’s Raw Milk everyone’s been talking about. The kind of local product that gets people talking for a reason.

My quest led me from Longville to a place called Louisiana Perch Feed & Supply. For those who know the backroads, it’s just across the Beauregard/Allen parish line in Allen Parish, about halfway between Sugartown and Dry Creek. I figured I’d be in and out. Just another errand. I was wrong.

The store itself feels grounded, authentic. It’s a hardware store, a feed supply, a place of purpose. As I walked in, the owner, Kyle, was finishing up with another customer. And then he did something you don’t see much anymore. He didn’t just nod from behind the counter. He rushed out from around it, wiped his hand on his jeans, and introduced himself with a firm handshake, looking me square in the eye and asking how he could help. It’s a small thing, I suppose. But it’s not. It’s the kind of thing that tells you you’re in the right place.

I told him I was there for the milk, and he walked me over to the case. He didn’t just point. He took the time to explain the difference between the two kinds they carry, giving me the honest insight I needed to choose the right one for my family. Here’s a man who believes in the products he sells. He’s not just moving units; he’s providing solutions.

I browsed a bit more, finding a few other things I needed. You can tell a lot about a place by what it keeps on its shelves. Around here, it’s feed of all kinds—prices written right on a whiteboard for anyone to see—hay, and tools that are meant to be used. It’s a place built on trust and utility.

When I was ready to check out, Kyle didn’t just ring me up. He saw I had my hands full and helped carry my items to the car, without me even thinking to ask. It was out there, in the quiet of the parking lot, that the real lesson of the day landed. We were just making small talk when he mentioned he wasn’t originally from here.

And that’s what stuck with me.

His humility, his absolute commitment to serving the person right in front of him… it felt like the deepest form of southern hospitality I’d ever experienced. Yet, he wasn’t “from here.” It makes you think. Maybe being a local isn’t about where your roots are buried. Maybe it’s about the effort you make, the community you choose to build, and the decency you show to your neighbors, whether you’ve known them for a lifetime or for five minutes.

I went to Sugartown for a gallon of milk. I left with a full-blown lesson in character and a renewed appreciation for the genuine, hardworking people who are the true backbone of our communities. In a world that often feels disconnected, it’s good to be reminded of what’s real. You can find it at Louisiana Perch Feed & Supply.