Meet the Melsheimers!

Farmer Chuck was raised in Plaquemine, LA.  His family owned a land and cattle business.  He graduated from LSU with an Animal Science degree and moved to southwest LA to make it on his own.  He purchased 100 acres of land on the Allen - Beauregard Parish line and started his herd of cattle.  Chuck is the wheel that keeps the farm going, the hay baled and the animals fed!

Jackie was raised in Grant, LA on a commercial cattle farm.  She’s a real cowgal, having competed in high school rodeo events!  Jackie graduated from McNeese State University with an Elementary Education degree. Her father worked on the farm, and her mother was a teacher. Jackie says, “I grew up just like my kids are growing up, minus the watermelon growing, fruit stand, and maze!”  Jackie teaches 6th grade English Language Arts at East Beauregard High School. 

Chuck and Jackie’s Story

“In 1997 we got married and moved onto the 100 acres that Chuck had purchased 6 months earlier. In 1999 we built our house on the 80 acres we purchased next, and in March of 2000 our twins, Allison and Christopher were born.

In April of 2000 we bought 111 acres. In March of 2000 at the same time our babies were born was also the very first time we planted watermelons. Our babies have grown in the last nine years, just like our business.

In 2000 we sold our watermelons and the end of our driveway. In 2001 we bought the land where our business is from my dad and sold our watermelons off of a trailer under the only tree there. In 2002, we built our stand and have continued to make improvements to it.  We have about 250 cross-bred cattle scattered on our three large pieces of land.”

Gulf Coast Native Sheep

We have about 100 Gulf Coast Native sheep, the largest flock of this type of sheep in Louisiana.  We bought the foundation flock of Dempsy Perkins after he passed away. (Go to www.gulfcoastsheepbreeders.org and click on the Dempsy memorial. It will give you the info for the sheep.) We had bought some sheep from Mr. Dempsy though the years and before he died he told his wife, Mrs. Brenda, if she ever had to sell the sheep he wanted Chuck to have them. It was a huge honor.