By Greg Hilburn
The Shreveport Times
Gracie Pepper said she felt her father's presence on stage with her when she was crowned Louisiana Farm Bureau queen less than three months after Lafourche Parish Det. Sgt. Nicholas Pepper was killed in the line of duty.
"My mom (Christie) said, 'Your daddy's on this stage working overtime,'" said Pepper, her voice cracking again recalling Saturday's pageant as part of the annual Louisiana Farm Bureau Convention in New Orleans. "We cried together."