FARM TO TABLE

Photography by KELLY MOORE CLARK Styled by TAYLOR BENNETT

ARTICLE BY DAN CHASON

Iremember the first time my grandson Kade went fishing with me. The bream and chinquapin were biting good and I was hoping this 5-year old wouldn’t quit before we got a good mess. I could not have been more wrong. Kade Gibson was and is a fishing machine. I saw very early that he not only had the desire but he had the drive to stay with them. I could fill up an encyclopedia with the questions he asks when we fish. He is like a sponge and there is no quit in him. He absolutely loves to fish. Not only is he a good fisherman, the boy is a predator when it comes to hunting. He gets it naturally from his dad, Nick and like most youngsters, you will find him right there with his father from the start of season to the end. Whether it is chasing deer, ducks or small game this young man is a die hard. In his early years, he was all about trying to kill a “buck deer.” I put him in a stand with my son-in-law on a very cold afternoon hunt. I opted for another stand but told them there was a nice 8-pointer coming to the stand they were hunting every evening at dark.

Sure enough, right at dark I heard a shot and the familiar bullet strike. When I got to the stand, Kade was bouncing off the walls. Laying there about 50 yards away was Kade’s first “buck deer.” A nice mature 8-pointer. When I asked Kade how he took that deer, the answer was classic Kade. The 8 year old (at the time) said, “Papaw, it was really cold. So I got down by the heater to warm up. And I thought, this would be the time to ask for help. So I closed my eyes and asked Jesus to send me a buck. I looked up and nothing. So it was getting almost dark and I got back down by the heater but this time I folded my hands and closed my eyes and said, ‘Please Jesus.... send me a buck.’ Papaw, I looked up and there he was.” I told Kade that in the future he was hunting with me. He could pray and I would hunt.

As is the case with most youngsters, they are pulled in a lot of directions. Kade is a gifted baseball and football player. For quite a while it was school ball, team ball, travel ball, tournaments and such that took much of his off time and led to a lot of missed fishing trips. That is until the bass bug bit him. Kade started asking me about bait casting reels after having his line broke and reel malfunctions with a spin cast rig. So I gathered up some gear and we practiced. He and his brother John Thomas placed targets in the yard and practiced pitching, flipping and casting. Kade stuck with it. Soon he was at my house going through tackle and with it came the thousands of questions of what to throw. The advantage we have is we live on the same private lake which is exceptional for bass fishing. Kade started with a frog and was soon sending me photos of his catch. If you are looking for Kade, just go down the banks of our lake and you will find him. He expanded his horizons and soon learned how to fish a whacky styled worm, a Texas rigged worm and his favorite top water lures. And then his luck changed. His cousin Eli and family moved next door to Kade.

Eli Corley is a remarkable young man. You rarely see him locked into a video game or goofing off. Whether with one of his grandfathers or home, this young man is not afraid to work. I rarely go by his house that he isn’t on the business end of a weed eater or helping his mom straighten up outside. Our first trip together, Eli was fired up. I told him we were going after crappie and told him to leave the bass fishing gear at home. Our discussions showed me a young man who was also a student of fishing and his knowledge and ability really surprised me. I think if Eli had his choice, he would go pro tomorrow and fish for a living. He, like his cousin, is eat up with it.

One day I was at the house and heard someone outside and there was Eli and Kade. They had a minnow bucket and some other gear but no rod and reels. I was a little perplexed and asked what they were planning. “Papaw, we need some shiners. We are going over to the spillway and set a trotline for catfish.” Kade was fired up as this was his first time trying this method and I loaded them up with gear and advise and off they went.

It is refreshing to see young people of today that are enthused by the outdoors. These Riverfield Academy students have a bright future ahead when it comes to fishing. My advice to parents is this: Take the time to give kids the tools to pursue something they are passionate about. When a kid shows an interest in fishing, try to identify what the skill level may be and work with them. Let them run the boat. Let them make some mistakes. Kade learned not only how to run a boat, but how to launch and safely navigate a boat in various conditions. The memories you make will not only last your lifetime but carries on a rich tradition that will be here long after we are gone. I am confident that you will see the names of Kade Gibson and Eli Corley on the leader board of fishing tournaments in the coming years. I am proud to be a part of the cultivation of their talent but mostly proud they include me in their desire to be the best.

I REMEMBER how disturbed I was when, as a high school junior, I received my report card and discovered that the grade posted for me in “French” was not commensurate with my test scores in that class. This happened very near the end of the school year, so there was not much time for me to confront my teacher and point out her “mistake.” When I approached her about my concern, she acknowledged that my grades on the tests and on the various other assignments related to her class were higher that what was reflected on my report card. She indicated that her action to lower my grade was tied with what she deemed was my inappropriate conduct in the classroom. I will readily acknowledge that I was sort of a class clown, but I did not think of my behavior was detrimental to us students learning the French language. Unfortunately, the teacher did not share my opinion – hence the lowering of my grade! So, what was I to do?

I begged her for a second chance, promising that the next year would reveal a different kind of student – if she would be charitable and give me a higher grade, I would be the ideal student the next year. She graciously accepted my promise and elevated my grade, although I suspect she had some doubts about just how well I would keep my commitment!

Doubtless all of us have found ourselves in situations that called for a second chance, and I expect that we all appreciated those times when were given a “do-over” pass. Perhaps our greatest need for this expression of grace is in our dealings with the Lord. How frequently do our actions merit His displeasure, yet how often does He show us mercy and give us that second chance.

A prime example of how gracious our God is can be seen in His dealings with Peter. Peter had vowed that, though all the other disciples might desert the Lord, he would have the Lord’s back even if it meant death for him. But when Jesus was arrested and taken before the Jewish authorities, Peter denied that he even knew the Lord. This must have been a big disappointment to the Savior. One who had declared his loyalty to the Lord, turned out to be spineless.

Despite Peter’s cowardly failure, Jesus, following His resurrection, confronted Peter and gave him a second chance. What happened on that occasion is recorded for us in the twenty-first chapter of John’s Gospel. Peter and several other disciples had been fishing all night with no success. Jesus called out from the shore and told them to cast their net on the right side of the boat. When they obeyed His instructions, the net was filled with so many fish that the fishermen could not pull it into the boat! When that happened, John

I WAS GIVEN A SECOND said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Peter jumped in the water & headed for CHANCE AND, BY GOD’S GRACE, the shore. The others followed and

I MADE THE MOST OF IT discovered that Jesus had prepared breakfast for them. It was after they had eaten that Jesus gave Peter his second chance. The Lord asked the disciple, (NIV) “Do you truly love me more than these?” Peter replied, “Yes, Lord. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Then Christ asked, “Do you truly love me?” Peter’s answer was the same: “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” Jesus spoke a third time to Peter, asking, “Do you love me?” Peter was hurt by this and responded, “Lord, you know all things. You know that I love you.” Jesus told him, “Feed my sheep.” Why was Peter hurt at this juncture? Was it because he had denied the Lord three times and Jesus questioned him three times? Perhaps, but I believe the answer lies elsewhere. In the first two questions, Jesus used the word for “love” that connotes a desire for the best for the one loved, even to the point of sacrifice on the part of the lover. Peter replied with a word for “love” that suggests “good” but is not nearly as strong as the word Jesus had used. In His final question, Jesus dropped down to the word Peter had used – did Peter love the Lord even that much? During the summer between my junior and senior years in high school, I became a Christian, and I do not doubt that my new relationship with the Lord was a tremendous help in keeping my promise to my French teacher. I was given a second chance and, by God’s grace, I made the most of it. When Jesus gives us a second chance, let us make the most of it – just like Peter did!

IF WE’VE LEARNED ANYTHING OVER THE PAST YEAR, IT’S this: Hope is powerful.

Quickly and without warning, our communities faced challenges that none of us could have foreseen. Quarantines, back-to-back hurricanes, a nation deeply divided by tragic events, adapting to school, work, and relationships in a virtual world, and navigating all of this while enduring a constant fear of the unknown.

It was enough to buckle the knees of even the strongest among us, and yet, hope prevailed. It was the thing that helped us hold on. It promised us that when we were down, someone would be there to lift us up.

At The Center for Children and Families, we committed to being that someone for nearly 4,000 children across Louisiana and Mississippi last year. From our Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program to our Therapeutic Services Division or the Children’s Advocacy Center, each of our programs share a common mission: to promote safe, healthy environments through advocacy, counseling, education, and prevention. These are the things we do for every life we touch:

We Show Up: A CASA volunteer shows up for a child in foster care who has been through countless homes and schools, letting that child know that their voice matters. A family therapist shows up for a family in crisis, to be a listening ear and begin the healing process. A forensic interviewer will show up to give a child a much-needed safe place to tell their story just once without having to continually relive a traumatic event. When no one else will, we show up.

We See Value: When a child is treated as precious, full of potential and valuable, it is powerful. We communicate the worth of each person. A Family Support Specialist sees the value of a troubled teen as they help them find a purpose and future. A Forensic Interviewer honors the worth of each victim of sexual abuse as they hear their stories and help them heal. WeOfferHope: At the core of every interaction we have with clients, is an offering of hope. A family therapist offers the hope that change is possible. A CASA volunteer offers the hope of a safe, permanent home for a child. The CAC offers the hope that victims will be heard so that justice can be served. We cannot do it alone. Hope comes from a community ready to help.

Over the course of the pandemic, we saw a steady increase in requests for these services from our community partners. Despite statewide stay-home orders, we were committed to maintaining 100 percent operations— because abandoning families during their time of need was simply not an option. And most importantly, when we reached out for support, our communities rallied around us because they believed in the work we do and our ability to accomplish it.

As we come to the close of the first year of our Be the Hope campaign, we find ourselves incredibly grateful to each individual, business owner, and organization who joined us in the mission of offering hope to children and families who were hurting in our area. We are proud to say that our inaugural Be the Hope campaign raised over $40,000 for families in need. That’s over 400 children who were able to begin services with our agency this year; 400 lives changed by donors who shared our mission to be the hope for families who desperately needed a safe, healthy environment. Without fail, community has shown their support for our work with local children and families time and time again.

Looking ahead to community still picking up the pieces from a collective trauma, we are inviting you once again to enable us to come alongside these families. Our 2021/22 fundraising goal is to raise $50,000 to ensure that 500 more children will receive a first time visit from a CASA Volunteer, an assessment to begin healing through Therapeutic Services, or supportive care for victims of abuse at the CAC. And for our staff and volunteers, that’s 500 more opportunities to Be the Hope in a child’s story. For a commitment of as little as eight dollars a month, you can join our efforts to show up, see value, and offer hope to every family who needs our services. Your donation will go so much further than just a onetime gift. We believe that through this mission, not just one family, but generations to come will be impacted by the work being done today. Families will be healed, schools will be safer, and communities will thrive — all because we are in this battle together. This is the power of hope in people united around a common goal. It gives us strength and makes us unshakeable in the face of adversity.

At The Center for Children and Families, we will never stop delivering hope to the places that need it the most. We know that we cannot do it alone. And thanks to you, we won’t have to. Please join us on our mission today.

OWNED AND OPERATED BY HUSBAND AND WIFE TEAM, Brad and Cherri Elias, The Fish House of Sterlington, has been serving up southern comfort staples since 2008. While the duo may have started the business it has grown into a full-fledged family affair. Their eldest daughter Carli recently joined the ranks full time after resigning from teaching and marrying Lewis Hubbard, IV last August. Even their two younger children have grown up immersed in the business, as 21 year-old Carson, a senior at Louisiana Tech as well as 10 year-old Raylee, who has been known to put her name into the system, type in orders, seat customers, and clean tables.

In addition to the Elias family, The Fish House includes many original staff members; it’s a running joke among the staff, that there should be a “wall of degrees” because few servers or employees ever want to leave once they join the family!

The business grew out of an idea Brad had while working as a grocery sales representative, servicing local restaurants. While making a loop next to Sterlington High School, he noticed a commercial space under construction. After getting the “inside scoop” on its prospective use, he pitched the idea of opening a restaurant to his wife, Cherri an Oak Grove native. Eager to relocate to the expanding town the Elias’s made the move to Sterlington!

Interestingly enough, the original plan for the restaurant had little to do with fish. Brad originally wanted to start a crawfish place, which would allow him to keep his day job while maintaining the restaurant seasonally. However, the building owners wanted a restaurant that could stay open year-round, so catfish was added to the menu and The Fish House was in business.

Boasting a diverse menu, the team at The Fish House promises, there is something for everyone. From appetizers such as the legendary fried green beans to their Craw Daddy’s Crawfish Tails or their hand breaded onion rings, your taste buds will thank you. Looking for something with some cajun flair and spice, the chicken and sausage gumbo or Cajun style boiled shrimp is sure to hit the spot. Select from your choice of po’boys, salads, and sandwiches featuring chicken, shrimp, crawfish, or catfish. And come crawfish season, you guessed it, The Fish House is sure to be your one stop shop.

For those seeking out less surf and more turf, their menu includes handcut 12oz ribeye steaks, that many of their regulars have compared to high end steakhouses in the Monroe area. In addition their burgers are all freshly processed ground chuck, handpattied and served on your choice of bun. These two items have become such popular menu items, Cherri jokingly asks herself whether they own a burger and steak joint or a fish house.

In the area for lunch? The Fish House offers daily lunch specials served from 11 AM-2 PM. Enjoy beef tips and rice on Tuesday, chicken, and dumplings on Wednesday, fried or grilled pork chops on Thursday, and bone in fried chicken on Friday, each coming with 2 sides and a drink. Our recommendation for a drink is the sweet tea, or as Carli refers to it, syrup in a cup. Speaking of drinks, for those in the over 21 crowd, be sure to check out their beer, wine, and cocktail menu, especially the Margaritas and Bloody Mary.

The Elias’s credit the growth of the restaurant to their customers. Their regulars are a testament to the restaurant trifecta-- location, food, and service. With customers traveling from all walks of life, and they come in dirty from the ball field, worn out from fishing or hunting, styling camouflage, or dressed up in work clothes, The Fish House is a ‘one size fits all’ deal and you’ll be welcomed with open arms. The Fish House truly is a business by families, for families, with a bounce house just outside for the littles when its sunny to special holiday visits from St. Nick, the Elias’s have take family friendly to a whole other level. The Fish House has been host to many gender reveals, birthdays, graduation parties, and engagement parties.

Though ultimately a place of fun for employees and customers alike, The Fish House family has had their share of hard times. 2020 proving to be a difficult year, especially for those in the restaurant industry. COVID-19 shuttering many businesses, fortunately for the Elias family and the people of Sterlington, The Fish House persevered. Cherri and several of the workers shared this sentiment, “That was when we truly understood the amount of support we had coming from the community. There were constant lines of cars waiting to come through our drivethru. It was incredible.” The community support did not go unnoticed and the Elias’s send their deepest thank you’s to those who did and continue to dine with them.

The Fish House has become a Sterlington staple, and the Elias’s have created lightning in a bottle, creating a welcoming space that functions more like a community center than a restaurant. Stop in, because once you try them you are sure to be hooked.

Located in 8823 US 165 #6, Monroe, LA, The Fish House is open Tuesday to Saturday between 11 AM to 9 PM. Stop by and check out their daily specials and be sure to follow on Facebook for more updates.