Pickle Wheat: “Follow the Grain” – A Legacy of Louisiana’s Swamp Heritage

Cheyenne “Pickle” Wheat, better known as “Pickle Wheat,” was born and raised in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, where swamp traditions run deep in her family’s roots. Growing up surrounded by skilled hunters, call-makers, and craftsmen, she was introduced early to a way of life closely tied to the wetlands—a heritage stretching back generations to some of the area’s original alligator hunters.

Her father gave her the nickname “Pickle” when she was little, playfully stretching her middle name, Nicole, until it sounded like “shiny pickle.” The name stuck, partly because of her childhood obsession with pickles—a snack she loved so much that it became a running family joke. Over time, the nickname became part of who she was, following her from childhood adventures on the bayou to her debut on Swamp People, where it has become known to fans across the country.

This article dives into Cheyenne’s upbringing, her family’s enduring traditions, and the skills passed down through generations, offering an inside look at the lifestyle that shaped her long before reality TV brought it to a wider audience.

Family Heritage and Legacy

Pickle’s lineage runs deep in the swamps of Louisiana. Her great-grandfather was among the state’s early alligator hunters, laying the foundation for a family tradition that continues to this day. Her grandfather, Richard “Pop” Wheat, built a reputation for crafting anything his hands could shape—turkey calls, longbows, knives, paddles, and even miniature steam engines—each one holding a piece of family history. As noted on Wheat’s Game Calls website, “In the early 1970’s Pop would find pieces of slate from an old abandoned fort in Shell Beach, Louisiana, cut them into squares, plane them to a certain…” – a testament to the family’s ingenuity and roots in Louisiana’s marshlands.

Speaking about her grandfather’s lasting influence, Cheyenne once shared a heartfelt tribute: “There’s so much to say about this man and the work he’s done over the years… He is the heart and soul of what we do. He’s the reason we ‘follow the grain.’” These words reflect the deep admiration and respect she feels for Pop, seamlessly tying his dedication, values, and craftsmanship to the family’s enduring way of life on the bayou.

Eddie Wheat, Cheyenne’s father, also learned traditional craftsmanship and developed a deep connection to the outdoors. Inspired by his great uncle, Too-Ta Mackles, Eddie grew up surrounded by duck calls, decoys, and stories of Plaquemines Parish’s rich hunting culture. Uncle Too-Ta carved duck calls from cypress scraps in a small Islenos settlement called “The Shell Pile,” leaving behind decoys still treasured today.

Eddie learned the art of call-making from his grandfather, one of the finest duck callers in lower St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parish, known for judging competitive duck-calling events. This heritage led Eddie and his wife Missie to establish Wheat’s Game Calls, where they continue crafting duck and turkey calls from locally harvested wood, following the long-standing family tradition and motto: “Follow the Grain.”

Missie Wheat, Cheyenne’s mother, is known for her love of outdoor living and time spent by the water. She often spoke of camping and fishing trips on houseboats, quiet evenings watching hummingbirds, and the joy of long days outdoors. Some of her fondest memories are the two-week camping trips she took with Cheyenne to Flint Creek, where they shared simple meals and enjoyed nature together. These moments reflect the family’s enduring connection to Louisiana’s bayous and the importance they place on time spent with loved ones in the outdoors.

Cheyenne and her brother James spent their early years working alongside their parents in Wheat’s Game Calls, helping shape duck and turkey calls, assisting in the family workshop, and learning the art of living close to the land. James, a skilled machinist, contributed to the family’s craftsmanship by helping with precision work, while Cheyenne learned the intricacies of wood selection, carving, and tuning calls, preparing her for a future deeply tied to the swamp lifestyle.

Pop Wheat’s Bow Making Legacy

Pop Wheat’s skill went far beyond duck and turkey calls. As Cheyenne shared in a heartfelt 2021 post, Pop’s attempts to make self-bows sometimes ended in unexpected ways, like the time he crafted a smaller bow after a limb snapped. He named it the “Ishi Bow,” in honor of the last known Yahi native of California, who had a unique bow-shooting style that helped his people survive for generations. To Cheyenne, holding one of her Pop’s handmade bows is holding history itself—a reminder of ancestral knowledge passed down through generations, meant to be shared and preserved.

Pop’s other lifelong dream began in 1961 while riding a Navy bus, when he envisioned one day harvesting a deer with a bow entirely crafted by his own hands. This dream became a personal mission spanning over 15 years of unwavering dedication. He carefully selected Osage Orange wood, renowned for its strength and resilience, then allowed the staves to season naturally over time. Each step was deliberate—stripping bark by hand, slowly shaping the limbs, carving the handle, and testing its balance and flexibility for countless hours. Many late nights were spent under a single shop light, adjusting the tiller to achieve the perfect 43-pound draw at 26 inches. Eventually, Pop fulfilled that vision, harvesting a white-tailed deer with his handmade Osage bow. Today, that bow rests as a revered family heirloom, symbolizing patience, artistry, and an unbreakable bond between man, nature, and tradition—a treasure destined to be passed on to his son.

Raised on the Bayou

Growing up in Louisiana’s wetlands, Cheyenne’s childhood was deeply rooted in the outdoors and the traditions of her family.

She spent countless hours in the swamps hunting with her father Eddie and brother James, learning to navigate the bayou, set lines, and live off the land. Their days started before sunrise and ended under the stars, filled with hard work, muddy boots, and the sounds of Louisiana’s wild landscape.

As she once recalled:

“I grew up frogging in a pirogue with my daddy and it was always one of my favorite summertime shenanigans. There’s something about being out on the water late at night that’s good for the soul. It’s probably just the smell of the mud that reminds me of being a kid. It’s definitely a different life we live down here, and I’m so happy and proud to have an opportunity to share things like this with y’all.”

Speaking about her upbringing and family heritage, she added in another interview:

“Growing up around Plaquemines Parish, everyone hunts and fishes down there. Most of my hunting growing up was with my dad and my brother … we were the three amigos. Alligator hunting was always kind of a part of growing up. I think when you’re around it your whole childhood you’re just used to it. I was bred into this lifestyle. My dad’s grandpa was well known for hunting and trapping alligators. I came from a long line.” (Source: louisianasportsman.com)

By the age of 24, Cheyenne had also gained work experience outside the family tradition, holding a job in a dentist’s office before continuing her long-standing dedication to Wheat’s Game Calls. Her brother James later pursued a career as a machinist at PBF in Chalmette, but the siblings’ shared foundation was always the swamp, hunting trips, and handcrafted calls taught by their parents.

Eventually, Cheyenne brought her lifelong skills and bayou heritage to a national audience through Swamp People. On the show, she showcases the life she has always lived—navigating Louisiana’s swamps, hunting gators, and preserving the traditions that have defined her family for generations.