Erath sugar cane farmer Charles Guidry enjoys career in sugarcane after reaching goal of owning on business

Charles Guidry has enjoyed an incredible career as a sugarcane farmer.
Along with his wife of 41 years, Wanda, he credits that to two things: receiving an education and eventually having the ability to be his own boss.
Guidry, who operates Charles Guidry Farm, recently spoke to members of the Rotary Club of Abbeville. Guidry, one of nine children in his family, told club members about the advice his father gave him that set him on his path.
“My dad told me that once you get an education,” Guidry said, “you can do just about anything that you want to do. I did that.”
Guidry, a Vermilion Parish native, attended Herod Elementary School and Herod High School in Abbeville before transferring to Paul Breaux High School in Lafayette. After graduating from high school in 1964, Guidry enrolled at Grambling State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 1968. Guidry eventually earned his master’s degree in education from Texas Southern University in Houston in ‘73. He received an honorary doctorate degree in business from Grambling in 2015.
Guidry entered the U.S. Army and served in Vietnam after being drafted in ‘69. During his service, Guidry received the Bronze Star Medal and the Air Medal for meritorious achievement in aerial flight. He also earned the Army Commendation medal for meritorious achievement.
After an honorable discharge from the Army, Guidry entered the classroom as a teacher. His stops included Herod Elementary and Edgar Martin Middle School in Lafayette. Guidry wanted something more, something he always wanted, and eventually stepped away from the classroom.
“I left the education field to pursue my lifelong ambition of operating a large farm enterprise,” Guidry told Rotarians. “My main goal was to own a business. I invested my money, not in stocks and bonds, but in farm land and equipment.”
What started with 50 to 60 acres has grown to more than 4,000 acres in Vermilion and Lafayette Parishes. His operation includes numerous tractors and employees.
“When you own your own business,” Guidry said, “it does something to you. It changes your life. You control your destiny, and you change your income. Once your income changes, you can do more.
“That’s just what I did.”