n Branch, where the fertile soil tells tales of centuries-old traditions, a family legacy is deeply intertwined with the cultivation of rice. The J.T. Meleck story in Acadia Parish begins in the early 19th century, with records indicating that John Meleck—the current owners’ ancestor—planted the first rice crop on the farm in 1896. However, recent discoveries in family archives hint at an even older history, dating back to the earlier 1800s, challenging the
