VERMILION PARISH — A splash of yellow pops out through the rice and crawfish fields is drawing families from across Acadiana, and even from out of state, to a hidden gem in Vermilion Parish: a sunflower field that began as a high school senior’s photo backdrop and grew into a community tradition with a charitable mission.

In 2018, Catherine Romain asked her parents for senior pictures in a sunflower field. Her father, a local farmer, surprised her by planting a sunflower field after seeing her pictures. She then set a mission to raise funds for St. Jude to become a St. Jude Hero, with a goal of $600. She would cut the flowers and make mason jar arrangements to sell. Eventually, after leaving for college out of state, the Romaine family continues to plant it annually, allowing the public t

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