The People Project:
Neenah Thomas
By Ashley & Andrew LeSaicherre | December 10, 2022
Meet Neenah Thomas!
Neenah grew up in Robert, Louisiana. She has an older brother and a younger sister. She graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas in 2002, then received her General Studies degree from Southeastern Louisiana University. She met her husband, Vernon, in 2002 when she was a senior in high school. She worked with his siblings, but never met him. His parents purchased her grandfather's property, and they met as a result of that! They got married in 2005, and had Lily (16), then Levi (14).
Since she was a child, Neenah has always loved horses. She did barrel racing as a kid, but it took a backseat when she was in high school and college. When Vernon and Neenah got married, they got some horses. They started a business, T Ranch, where they bred and trained horses. They were very busy in 2020, but had to put it on hold because they fostered and eventually adopted their son, Logan.
When Lily was in kindergarten, she became friends with a classmate. Through the years, the families became friends, and when her friend was ten years old, his mom was telling Neenah about how they were adopting his half brother. She then learned Lily's friend was adopted and learned about foster care and adoption firsthand through their story. She always had a strong feeling that she and Vernon needed to help a child and adopt. Once they completed their training in June, she received a call at the end of July about a baby in the NICU. They made the decision, without knowing any medical history, and brought him home on July 29, 2019. Through a slow process (especially due to COVID), they officially adopted Logan on February 1, 2021. Neenah is a strong advocate for foster care, and is proud to have been a part of it.
They are members of Crossbrand Cowboy Church. They have a rodeo ministry, providing low cost monthly rodeos for children.
They have 3 horses, Doc, Joker and John Wayne, a pony named Hershey, a boxer, Penny, and three cats, Ajax, Dixie and Oreo.
We want to thank Neenah for spending some time with us and letting us get to know about her life and her love of the area.
Q: What is your favorite restaurant in the area, and what do you like to get there?
A: Acme Oyster House. I order the roast beef poboy and a cup of seafood gumbo. The food there is awesome.
Q: What is your favorite childhood memory?
A: When I got my first horse! I begged my parents for a horse for awhile, and when I was 10 I got a horse named Destiny.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be? And why?
A: Somewhere in the Caribbean, the beach is my favorite place. The water is so pretty.
Q: What is your favorite movie? What is the first movie you remember seeing in the theater?
A: Lonesome Dove is my favorite. When I was in the first grade, my Dad took me to see The Ninja Turtles movie.
Q: Do you have a favorite book? What do you love about it?
A: Besides the Bible, Gone with the Wind. I love to read!
Q: What advice would you give a group of people?
A: The Bible is your best advice. You cannot go wrong with it.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
A: Visit the Grand Canyon.
Q: What is your favorite music or an artist or band that you would like to see?
A: I love country music. I would like to see Hank Williams, Jr. perform.
Q: What current or former business makes you the most nostalgic about the area?
A: The old mall in Hammond, Hammond Square Mall.
Q: If you could choose one person to go to lunch with that you’ve never met, who is it?
A: Jesus! And I would take him to Acme Oyster House.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique that you love about the area?
A: Our cool history. Our parish used to have many dairy farms, and you can still see some of them.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
A: I would like to see myself doing more with horses. Competing more, farther from home.
Q: What is something interesting that most people don’t know about you (even friends or family)?
A: When I was born, I was named Daneilia, but I never cared for it. When I was learning my name, I kept saying Nina, so that is what I went by. When I was in the fourth grade, my parents and I legally changed my name to Neenah. I had always spelled it Nina, but I saw it spelled Neenah, I liked it better and changed the spelling, also.
Q: What is a word or phrase that comes to mind when you think of the word “Home”?
A: My husband and kids.
Q: If you could have a full-time staff member that is fully paid for, what would that be? (Chef, housekeeper, driver, coach, personal trainer, etc.)
A: A chef! I hate cooking, but love to eat.
Q: If you had to choose one type of cuisine to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
A: Italian food!
Q: What do you do when you are alone in your car?
A: I am rarely alone, but when I am, I crank up the radio!
Q: What is the last gift you gave and received?
A: The last gift I gave was an early Christmas gift to Levi - a dirt bike. The last gift I received was a candy bar from Vernon. He brings me home little treats all the time.
Q: What are you known for?
A: Having and loving horses and Logan's story.
Q: What is your favorite 90s jam?
A: Anything by George Strait.
Q: If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why?
A: To fly, because I get road rage pretty bad.
Q: What are some of your hobbies?
A: Riding horses and reading historical fiction.
Q: What is your most commonly used emoji?
A: The eye roll one.
Q: What is something you are most proud of?
A: My kids.
Q: What two items would you take with you if you shipwrecked on a deserted island where food and water were taken care of?
A: Something to start a fire with, like matches, and a hammer and nails.
Q: If you won the lottery, what would you purchase or spend money on?
A: I would pay off our home, find a charity/tithe to church and get a new horse trailer. One that is like a fancy camper combined with a horse trailer.
Q: What do you want your legacy to be?
A: That I always did my best to let my kids know that they were unconditionally loved.
Neenah nominated Whitney Catalanatto
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