ULM President Carrie Castille is "hat's off" to the Warhawks football team that defeated Arkansas State to become Rice Bowl Champions
Oct 01, 2025
CROWLEY & MONROE, LA – This past weekend, the last in National Rice Month, included several events, some tried and true and one that revives an old tradition in a new rivalry.
In Crowley, at the 88th International Rice Festival (IRF) Rice and Gravy Cook Off, IRF Farmer of the Year Eric Unkel competed for the coveted prize of best rice and gravy dish against a host of teams, all while promoting the annual donation to Second Harvest Food Banks of southwest Louisiana. Crowley Mayor Chad Monceaux joined Unkel at the presentation made possible by Falcon Rice Mill, Farmers Rice Mill, Supreme Rice Mill, and the Louisiana Rice Growers Association (LARGA).
At the same time in Monroe, representatives from Kennedy Rice Mill and the NELA Rice Growers Association gathered on the field of Malone Stadium on the campus of the University of Louisiana – Monroe during the ULM versus Arkansas State (ASU) football game, to present the annual donation of rice to Louisiana’s Food Banks. The donation was part of several activities at the game, dubbed “the Rice Bowl,” that included tailgating in “The Grove,” where rice farmer John Owen and his sons, Bob and Patrick, along with 4Sisters Rice served up top-notch rice dishes for all to partake.
“The Rice Bowl” rivalry, a tradition begun years ago, had faded as the original conference and team schedules changed, but was reignited with the help of ULM President Dr. Carrie Castille and Dr. Brendan Kelly, president of ASU, to celebrate the connection of the rice industry to the two universities and their respective rice producing regions. The trophy, filled with an arrangement of rice, was presented to the winning team following the game. This year, the ULM Warhawks snapped a 15-game losing streak to ASU, defeating the Red Wolves 28-16, to take the Rice Bowl Championship for the first time in what is destined to be a growing tradition for years to come between the two programs.
“Big thanks Dr. Castille and all of the ULM staff that helped put this weekend’s events together, as well as the collaboration and support of the Kennedy and 4Sisters Rice family and the Owen family for all their efforts in making this possible,” said USA Rice’s Kane Webb who attended the game and helped coordinate the festivities.
The “Rice Bowl” will move to Jonesboro, Arkansas, for next year’s contest, as ASU will host ULM on their home field at Centennial Bank Stadium.