L. A. F.
F. Email: laffadupre@yahoo.com
Website:www.laffnet.org
A Publication of the Louisiana
Association of Fairs and Festivals Al Dupré, Jr., Editor
April 2004 Edition
President’s Message
Well Spring has sprung, the flowers are blooming and the Fairs
and Festivals are in full swing. As unbelievable as it may seem another year of Fairs and
Festivals is in high gear. A weekend doesn't pass that somewhere in Louisiana there is a
Fair or Festival to attend. If not a Fair or Festival, let’s add all the pageants,
with all the loveliest ladies in Louisiana competing for a title. This past weekend I had
the honor of attending the Patterson Cypress Sawmill Pageant on Saturday, and spent the
Sunday in Thibodaux with my great friends of the Thibodaux Fireman's Fair choosing their
beautiful queen. My heartfelt thanks go out to the judges, I could have never chosen just
one queen, the decision would have been too hard, but someone has to do it. Now that the
Convention is behind us, and the new year gets into full swing, I want to encourage each
and every member of LAFF to visit the other festivals and fairs around the state. Let your
friends from other events know you enjoy working with them at convention, but also enjoy
the diverse culture and food around our great state. You don't have to travel far in any
direction in our state to find a reason to celebrate and enjoy good food and music.
The Convention was a great success, thanks to all of you who
attended and especially to all the Fairs and Festivals who offered their help in so many
ways. If I started thanking each individually, I would surely miss one and I don't want to
hurt any feelings of the GREATEST PEOPLE in Louisiana. So on behalf of the Executive
Board, the Directors and the members, THANK YOU, ONE AND ALL FOR THE GREAT HELP AND
SUPPORT.
I was advised that Mr. Johnny Louviere has been ill, and
immediately after leaving the hospital, appeared at the Swamp-pop fest and car show. Way
to go Johnny, I don't follow doctors orders too well either. Johnny, take care and listen
to your nurse, or she will make it tough on you. To all members who have had any illnesses
please get better soon, your event and your LAFF family needs you well, so we can enjoy
many more years to come.
To the queens of all the Fairs and Festivals, a big THANK YOU,
for the terrific job you are doing for your event and especially for tourism in our great
state. You are one of our greatest assets in promoting Louisiana and your event area.
I can offer my assistance to any event, as a judge (pageant or
food), a janitor, a cook, an escort for the queens, whatever you need, just let me know
at: laffpres04@cox.net. Or call me at (504) 328-5686, I'm here to serve you, so just call
or e-mail. Until next month, Keep the sun shining, your face smiling, the rain away and
your event prosperous.
S/Warren Deemer - President
Vice President’s Message
Hello: It is great that Spring is rapidly arriving. Things really
get going this time of year and I have started to prepare for next year's convention
because before we know it, it will be here.
On February 21st , we had the
pleasure of attending the Courir de Mardi Gras pageant in Church Point. Meme Doucet did an
excellent job and congratulations to her new queens. On February 28th, I served
as an auditor for the Black Heritage Festival queens' pageant in Lake Charles. Cynthia
McAffee had a tremendous production and had a full house for the entire day. Mrs. McAffee
is to be commended for a job well done.
On Saturday, April 6th, Janet
and I assisted with door admissions for the Petite LaPin pageant in Iowa. Faye Bergeron
was the new director and had 117 children for the day's pageantry. What a crew! Faye did a
great job for the Iowa Rabbit Festival.
On Sunday, April 7th, we
traveled to Ponchatoula to judge the children's pageant for the Strawberry Festival. Would
you believe 176 children! Jeff Wright served as director for this event along with
numerous volunteers from the Strawberry Festival. Great job Jeff. It really is tremendous
to see so many children participating in the pageants sponsored by fairs and festivals. It
is a lot of hard work but lots of fun too.
On Saturday night, April 13th,
we attended the Iowa Rabbit Festival's Miss Bunny Pageant. Faye Vest had 11 contestants
and lots of visiting royalty. Congratulations go to their new queen, Miss Brooke Racca of
Lake Charles. It was great to see Zandra Smith of the West Louisiana Forestry Festival and
Angelique Bernard from the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival as two of the judges. They had
a hard job with 11 great ladies. The Iowa Rabbit Festival is going to be held March 19-21st
and they have a great group of entertainment lined up.
We are looking forward to attending many
more events as the year goes on. If you need anything, just give us a call. We will be
crisscrossing Louisiana as we explore events statewide and make new friends along the way.
Remember, the board will meet April 3rd
at the Patterson Cypress Sawmill Festival and it is open to anyone who would like to
attend. If you would like to help with the convention or the Queen of Queens Pageant in
any way, get in touch with us. No offers of help will be turned down.
Polish up your dancing shoes, grab your top
hat and plan on "STEPPING OUT WITH LAFF" at the 2005 Convention and Pageant
February 17th thru 20th at the Radisson Hotel in Baton Rouge.
May the sun shine bright on your event,
S/Rob Piraro - Vice President
337-478-2355 - email:
Past President’s Message
Happy Spring and Happy Easter to everyone! Hasn’t the
weather been grand? Let’s hope that it cooperates with all of our fairs and
festivals!
When you become a "has-been" as I have, you tend to
forget important things, such as deadlines. So – I missed the last newsletter! My
most sincere thanks and appreciation go out to all the fairs and festivals that welcomed
my entourage and I this past year. My year as LAFF President was truly a humbling and
rewarding experience!
Congratulations to Convention Chairman Warren Deemer and all of
his committees for a great Louisiana Hoedown Convention in February! Congratulations also
to our newly crowned Misguided Queen Lucy Leather (also known as Gale Luquette). I KNOW he
will represent us well!
On February 28th, Neal, Warren and I were among the
judges for the Louisiana Crawfish Festival Pageant in Chalmette. As usual, we were treated
royally by coordinators Anne Katherine Lené and Millie Manning Harris. On March 20th,
Gale, Neal and I were the judges at the Patterson Cypress Sawmill Festival Pageant. We
were treated better than royalty (if that’s possible) by Linda Jennings, /David
Bourdier and their committee. We also had a great time being transported down the bayou by
Dutch on a party barge, especially learning a little history of the area. I also judged
for the babies through 13-year-olds in Patterson on March 21st.
If anyone has any "old wives’ remedies" or any
suggestions for arthritis, please e-mail me or call me. Mine has settled in my neck
something fierce and won’t let loose! That’s what it is when you become a
"has-been!"
If you need any help with your fair or festival, be it judging a
pageant or other type of contest or just needing any assistance in general, please feel
free to e-mail at: or call me at: 337-893-6328. I am more than willing to offer any help
that I can.
Good luck with all of your events,
S/Barbara T. Horaist - Past President
Secretary’s Message
I am enjoying
settling in working for you, sending out information on our events, answering inquiries
for membership and putting together the newsletter. Please make the information in the
newsletter available to your fair/festival members. If you need any help with your fair or
festival, especially in judging a pageant or other type of contest or just needing any
assistance in general, please send an e-mail to: or call me at: 985-447-4658 or
800-520-5233 or write: 2402 Elizabeth Street, Thibodaux, LA 70301-3953. Remember. The new
essay for 2005 convention will be "Life and Style of the 1930's in Louisiana."
The next board meeting
will be held in Patterson Cypress Sawmill Civic Center on April 3, 2004. I look forward to
seeing everyone in Patterson April 3rd.
On a personal note, as a sixteen-year member of this great
association, I have observed Curtis Hue, work literally daily, for LAFF as past
president/secretary. I want to thank Curtis Hue for his service to this organization. I
especially thank him for all the time he is giving to me as I assume the duties of
secretary.
S/Al Dupré
Secretary
News from District #3
I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself, my
name is Dennis Mouton, I was recently elected to be your Louisiana Fairs and Festivals
District 3 Director. I look forward to meeting members of your organization during your
Festival. I enjoy traveling throughout the state of Louisiana visiting fairs and
festivals. I will make a point to attend your board meeting so I can introduce myself to
your entire board of Directors and members of your association. You can contact me to let
me know when you hold your meeting so I can attend. I would also like to extend my
assistance with your festival helping your organization in any capacity you may need help
with. (Selling items at your fair, judging pageants, judging pie contest, helping sell
tickets at the door. Etc.).
I would like to thank everyone for supporting me at the
convention this past February. I was given the opportunity to again meet with association
members of different festivals and I also met new members. It was great visiting with
everyone. The convention is always a great place to gather, but also a time to obtain new
information about festivals and fairs throughout the state of Louisiana.
Upcoming Festivals in the district:
Festival Ray*La*ne* is Saturday April 3rd .
Baby Pageant for Church Point Buggy Festival is Sunday April 4th
Etouffee Festival is April 22nd - 25th
Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival is April 30th - May 2nd
Again I look forward to meeting with members of your association,
and hope to visit with you soon. You can call me on my cell (337) 316-0597 or Home (337)
937-0691, or e-mail me at or mail me information that you would like to have placed in the
LAFF newsletter.
I look forward to serving you for the next three years as your
District 3 Director.
S/Dennis Mouton
News From I.A.F.E.
Industry Morns Loss of "Bill" Wilkerson
William Ralph "Bill" Wilkerson, III, chair of Haas
& Wilkerson Insurance, passed away in his home Feb. 7th. Memorial services
were held at Village Presbyterian Church in Pine Village, Kansas. Wilkerson, a lifelong
Kansas City resident was born May 21, 1945. He was a graduate of the University of Kansas.
He served in the U.S. Army reserve and then joined the family firm of Haas & Wilkerson
Insurance, where he rose to CEO. Wilkerson is survived by his wife, Patti, two daughters,
two sons and a sister. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions
be sent to the Heart of America United Way, 1080 Washington Street, Kansas City, MO. 64105
Events to visit in April
April 1 - 4
Patterson Cypress Sawmill Festival - Patterson
April 2 - 4
Boggy Bayou Festival — Pine Prairie
April 2 - 4
Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival - Ponchatoula
April 3
Franklin Parish Catfish Festival - Winnsboro
April 3
Southdown Marketplace — Houma
April 3
Grant Parish Dogwood Festival – Pollock
April 3 - 4
Potpurri Festival ----- Westwego
April 8 - 10
Louisiana Railroad Days Festival - DeQuincy
April 15 - 18
French Quarter Festival ---- New Orleans
April 16 - 18
Niblett’s Bluff Park Festival - Vinton
April 17 - 18
Bayou Teche Bear Fest. – Morgan City
April 21 - 25
Festival International de Louisiane - Lafayette
April 22 - 25
Etouffee Festival ----- Arnaudville
April 23 - 25
Westlake Family Fun & Food Festival
Westlake
April 23 - 25
Simmesport Atchafalaya River Festival
Simmesport
April 23 - 25
Family Fun Festival ----- Larose
April 23 - 25
Independence Italian Festival — Independence
April 23 - 25
St. Joan of Arc Spring Festival –LaPlace
April 25
CFMA Acadiana Charter Chapter Festival
Eunice
April 27 - May 9
Contraband Days Festival ---- Lake Charles
April 29 - May 2
Thibodaux Firemen’s Fair ---- Thibodaux
April 30 - May 2
Little Red Church Food & Fun Festival
Destrehan
April 30 - May 2
Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival - Breaux Bridge
Look what’s happening in May
April 29 - May 9
Contraband Days Festival
Lake Charles
April 29 - May 2
Thibodaux Firemen’s Fair - Thibodaux
April 30 - May 2
Little Red Church Food & Fun Festival
Destrehan
April 30 - May 2
Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival - Breaux Bridge
May 1
Celebration of Herbs and Garden--Sunset
May 1 - 3
Sacred Heart Fun Fest - Baldwin
May 2
Cajun French Music Association - Eunice
May 6 - 9
Cochon de Lait Festival - Mansura
May 7 - 8
Zwolle Loggers & Forestry Festival - Zwolle
May 8
Poke Salad Festival - Blanchard
May 13 - 15
Starks Mayhaw Festival - Starks
May 28 - 30
Jambalaya Festival - Gonzales
Happy Easter
Everyone!
