By Lauren Cheramie
The Advocate
Whether she learns how to shuck an oyster, bag and boil crawfish, fix a mean pot of rice, milk a cow, hold an alligator or when to pick a strawberry, a Louisiana festival queen acquires unique skills, experiences and opportunities through her unconventional position.
Being a festival queen isn’t the typical 9-to-5-job, but those who have worn the array of Louisiana's festival crowns say the positions afford the best seat in the house to interact with the state's different cultures, traditions and foods.