Chackbay resident Quenton Fontenot grew up just outside of Baton Rouge. His father's from Ville Platte and his mother's from New Orleans.

Basically, he's a "good south Louisiana hybrid," he joked.

Because of his south Louisiana roots, Fontenot felt a strong calling to highlight the effects of coastal restoration and the culture of the region that groomed him.

So he became a professor of biological sciences at Nicholls State University, a position he's held for the past 14 years.

Just as devoted as he is to studying ecology, he's equally as committed to preserving the history and culture of south Louisiana.

For the past three years, Fontenot has played accordion with the Cajun Music Preservation Society, an organization dedicated to promoting, preserving and enhancing the awareness and appreciation of traditional Cajun music within the southeast Louisiana region.

"The connection I have with traditional Cajun music and land is that as we lose our land, we lose our culture. We're working hard as scientists to preserve land and ecology, and I'm working hard as a citizen to preserve our culture," he said.

When he's not studying the effects of land loss and how it applies to fish, he's at The Venetian Food and Spirits in Thibodaux every other Wednesday jamming with the Cajun Music Preservation Society crew.

He also helps organize the Louisiana Swamp Stomp Festival, an annual music fest that features traditional Cajun music. 

This year's Swamp Stomp will be Nov. 5 at the Bayou Lafourche Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, 4484 La. 1, Raceland.

This is the first time it's being held off Nicholls' campus and in the fall. Before, every fest was held in March.

Due to budget cuts, Fontenot said the university couldn't continue to host the festival.

Thanks to a grant from the Bayou Lafourche Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, festival organizers were able to secure a new location.

"They knew that swamp stomp would be good for the parish and area and target people to the region," Fontenot said.

The fest will start at 11 a.m. and admission is free. Spahr's Seafood, Alumni Grill and The Venetian Food and Spirits will provide food, and four traditional Cajun music bands will perform. 

There will also be a farmer's market where people will sell their fresh foods.

Food and art are certainly some of the Swamp Stomp's main features, but Cajun music is its main reason for being.

"At some of the major area fests, I couldn't find traditional Cajun music. So we're trying to make it publicly available for people to hear," Fontenot said. "We know it’s not for everybody, but for those who love it, they really love it. To see the look on people’s faces is a big deal."

Fontenot realizes that some people can't differentiate between Zydeco, swamp pop and Cajun music. 

"It's so hard to describe what the difference is and I've stopped (trying to explain,)" he said. "For us down here, we know the difference."

The 45th annual Louisiana Gumbo Festival in Chackbay, which attracts thousands of people, was capped Sunday with a parade. The three-day festival supports the Chackbay Volunteer Fire Deparment, which last year saw a profit of $109,693.77.