Setting the bar high for sugar industry spokespersons

Pageantry was not something the University of Louisiana at Lafayette senior, Taylor Judice, had her sights set on adding to a busy schedule of college courses. Dance instructor, cheerleading coach and part-time employee for a law firm kept her busy, but she knew the opportunity was one she didn’t want to pass up.

“I live in the country and I’ve been surrounded by sugar cane my whole life,” Judice said. “Everyone (in the Teche Area) is connected whether by relatives or simply living here. I feel like sugar is one of those industries you have to choose what role to play. I wanted to advocate and represent the industry. I wanted to be an educator.”

Before being crowned Queen Sugar September 2017, Judice was crowned Miss Iberia in August giving her about four weeks to prepare for the pageant that would establish her as an ambassador for one of the largest industries in Iberia Parish.

“A lot of girls think they are too busy, it’s hard to run, but there is always time to make time,” she said.

The 2018 chemical engineering graduate set her sights on learning all she could about the sugar cane industry before the pageant process. The chemical reactions of refining sugar cane was brought up during one of her college chemical engineering courses that peeked her curiousity. She also has a brother-in-law, Nevin Landry, who is a fifth-generation sugar cane farmer.

She entered the Miss Iberia pageant because she knew it would lead to Queen Sugar and the opportunity to represent the industry. With only one pageant experience prior to last August, she was unsure about the result.

“For Miss Iberia I was pretty shocked. My mom (Bridget Ruiz Judice) was Mrs. Iberia in 1994 and my sister (Sloane Judice) had just given up Miss Teen Iberia,” Judice said. “Being older can be an advantage or disadvantage. I was up there, a senior in college and all the things you have to do for Miss Iberia and for Queen Sugar … .”

Judice spent a good deal of time in the sugar cane fields to learn about the industry and determined if she was going to try for the title, she was going to give 100 percent.

“I put a lot of time in knowing the industry and the politics. The industry is successful because of the Farm Bill and the sugar part embedded in the bill,” Judice said. “It’s farming but a lot more complex — especially chemicals. Before planting and after, farmers have to know about the chemicals needed for the crops, and fire regulations, dirt and mud on the roads. The farmers are very responsible, even getting seasonal workers from various countries. A lot of paperwork, housing and how many people they are allowed to hire. Most people don’t see it as complicated.”

Judice’s research on the Farm Bill, and even the recent changes, has given her a greater understanding of the industry and the part politics plays in growing cane.

“Our farmers run at zero tax dollars, it doesn’t cost the American taxpayer anything. American products often come with a higher price but that is because other countries aren’t regulated,” Judice said. “Quality comes with a cost and that’s important for people to know.”

Stepping Into the Business World

Judice said the experience of being in the pageant interviewing process as well as serving as ambassador for the sugar cane industry helped prepare her for the job where she now works and lives in the state capitol. Recently hired right out of college by a company that sells automation used in refineries of all kinds, she can directly see how being Queen Sugar prepared her for the new job. She was prepared for success.

“Before I started my reign, I contacted Mike Strain, (Commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry) to ask him how to be an ambassador for the industry,” Judice said. “I toured the Louisiana Sugar Refinery in Gramercy and multiple sugar mills.”

Without a background in sugar cane, Judice found her inquisitive nature, research and interaction with the farmers and industry workers to be the best education. As part of her role as Queen Sugar, she was able to interact with other commodity queens and could relate with everyday people easily to convey the things she learned as a novice. Now she is using the same skill set to tell her customers about the processes her employer uses to make their jobs easier.

One of the fun parts of the job as Queen Sugar, was an appearance at The Mystick Krewe of Louisianians Washington Mardi Gras events which included meeting Rep. Clay Higgins to learn first hand about the Farm Bill. She also was involved with numerous community events and area festivals. She will relinquish her crown as Miss Iberia next Sunday, Aug. 12.

Starting A New Crop

Finding young women to compete in pageants gets harder each year as pageant director Elizabeth Minvielle has learned year after year. The wife of a sugar cane farmer, she was drafted into the role that has brought great joy every year as she meets and coaches “outstanding young ladies” from Iberia Parish.

Although it is not necessary to start as a Little Miss Iberia, ages 9 to 11, the four age divisions of the Iberia Parish pageant system allows young girls and women to grow in confidence and personal skills that will prepare them for a lifetime of interacting with others. Syndi Terradot will retire her crown next week which she said gave her the confidence to become one of the top 15 in the Miss Teen America pageant this summer. Read more about her victory today in The Daily Iberian’s A-section profile.

The sugar cane industry employs people from many cultural and ethnic groups and the pageant is not limited by race. The age categories begin with ages 9 to 11 for the Little Miss Division, ages 11 to 14 for Jr. Miss Division, ages 15 to 17 for Teen Miss Division and ages 18 to 22 for Miss Iberia which competes in September for Queen Sugar during the annual Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival. Requirements for each age group vary as well as location of residence.

To learn more about the pageant scheduled for Aug. 12 at the Cyr-Gates Community Center in New Iberia City Park, visit the Miss Iberia, Junior and Teen Miss Iberia Facebook page or this story at Iberianet.com. For inquiries or to register call the pageant director, Elizabeth Minvielle at 380-2392.