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
June 2004 Edition
PRESIDENT’s
MESSAGE:
This
past month has not been the greatest for the fairs and festivals. Seems like we said, we could sure use a little
rain to just settle all the dust. I just
didn’t realize how much dust we had to settle. We
traveled to Chalmette, Louisiana for the Tomato Festival and Pageant, where I was honored
to be a judge for their pageant. The weather
was just great most of the day, but at 8:00 p.m., the skies opened and the area flooded. But the pageant continued, since it was inside,
and the Tomato Festival crowned their new Queen to a fanfare of Thunder and a Lightning
show, the pageant directors won’t tell me how they arranged the show, but it was
great. The Tomato Festival Group should be
commended for the hospitality they showed us. The
next morning we ventured to Breaux Bridge for the Crawfish Festival. The BBCFA was more than hospitable, they even told
us where to walk and how far to go before needing boots.
The weather hit them hard both Friday and Saturday, but they still worked
under the less than perfect conditions to put on a great show. Their Queen and the BBCFA crew didn’t let a
little bad weather dampen their fun, and they were all over making sure everyone in
attendance had a great time. I wish to
thank the BBCFA for the great time they showed us while juggling multiple duties
because of the weather conditions. On the way from Breaux Bridge, I also visited the
Little Red Church Festival who also experienced torrential rains on their activities. I didn’t want to interrupt the work of the
committee, so I just made my rounds and ran from the rain.
I do hope that the rain stops soon. We
need good weather to have some good times and for the festivals and fairs to be
profitable.
The
plans for the 2005 convention are rolling along well.
Rob Piraro, our Convention Coordinator, is working hard to make the upcoming
convention a great learning experience and a fun time for all. Please be sure that you have renewed your
membership for the 2004 LAFF year. Also,
forward all information on your next fair and festival dates to our Secretary Al Dupré,
so we can begin updating our events calendar and also for the Fair and Festivals guide for
2005.
If
you haven’t had the opportunity to check out our web page, please do so. This web page has changed dramatically, and
I’m sure you will find it easier to navigate. Check
it out, our web page team is doing a great job on keeping it up to date and we need your
input to keep it that way. The web address is
www.laffnet.org . If you would like to put your festival
queens picture in the Queens Section, please send by e-mail in a jpg or gif format to our
web-masters’ address that is on the site.
As
you travel during the summer, I hope that you will visit the Fairs and Festivals
throughout the state. Stop by, say hello and
let them know that you also belong to the LAFF family.
I’m sure they would appreciate it.
Congratulations to our LAFF Queen of Queens
of 1993, Michelle Thompson Mudd, who was chosen as Mrs. Louisiana America on Saturday May 15, 2004. Michelle
competed with 16 other lovely ladies for the title. I
had the honor of being a judge for this competition, and believe me it wasn’t easy. Louisiana should be proud of the lovely married women of our
state who were well represented at this competition.
Michelle, we look forward to the nationally televised Mrs. America Pageant
in August from California. The
entire state and especially your LAFF family will be pulling for you to bring home the
crown. Again congratulations to Michelle
Thompson Mudd, Mrs. Louisiana America.
On a personal note, I have been delayed again for my
surgery, but they tell me it will happen soon, just when is anybody’s guess. But, I’m proud to announce the arrival of my
First Grandson, Hunter Jude Deemer, making his debut on April 29, 2004, at 5:42
p.m.
Mother and baby are doing fine, Dad is doing great and Granny Deemer
hasn’t come down from the clouds yet. He
looks just like his grandfather, the lucky little guy.
If I can assist your fair or festival in any way,
please contact me. I am available to judge pageants, food, or even emcee your
pageants. Finally, if you feel I can make an important contact that you need let me
know. Call me at (504) 328-5686, fax me at (504) 328-5686 *51, or e-mail me at: laffpres04@cox.net.
Until next month, Please stay SAFE, DRY and above all
else, PROFITABLE.
s/Warren
Deemer
President
***********
Vice
President’s Message
As I write this message, I feel we need an Ark building
festival! As we travel across Louisiana, all
we are seeing is water, water and more water. I
know all this rain has drastically affected events and our hearts go out to all of you who
worked so hard only to have the skies open up over your event. Let’s all pray for some sunshine and blue
skies.
On April 17th, Janet and I had the privilege of
judging the Louisiana Corn Festival in Bunkie for the junior, Teen and Miss Divisions. Phyllis O’Quin and Denise McBride were
marvelous hosts and made our day very nice. Thank
you ladies for the true hospitality and Denise, the meal was wonderful.
On Friday night, April 23rd, we attended the
Westlake Family, Food and Fun Festival. We
visited with their newly crowned queen, Rachel Smith, daughter of Zandra Smith of
Leesville, and their director, Betsy Granger. We
also enjoyed bidding on several of their silent auction items.
On Saturday, April 24th, we headed up to
Arnaudville for the Etouffee Festival. We met
the Mayor of Arnaudville, Kathy Richard. We
also visited with their newly crowned royalty, Leslie Mouton (who’s your daddy!),
Dennis and Natalie. We enjoyed some wonderful
etouffee and prayed the rain would hold off for just a little while longer.
After we left Arnaudville, we headed further east to Independence
for the Italian Festival. They had a great
crowd in spite of the clouds. Their
hospitality was wonderful and we enjoyed talking with Andrew, Willie, and others on the
Board. We had a very nice afternoon listening
to good music, good friends, and good Italian food. Thank
you for making Janet and I feel so welcome.
On Saturday, May 8th, we attended Contraband
Days and listened to Gary Lewis and the Playboys with music that we remembered and loved
so much. They gave a very good concert and
the crowd was huge. Thank you Marlene for the
great seats and parking pass. After the
concert was the fireworks display on the lake. Talk about a
great show! This year the
fireworks were bigger and better than ever. We
really enjoyed it. We spoke with Marlene and
know that the rains affected Contraband Days as well.
Congratulations to their new queen, Kimberly Young.
Our hearts go out to Breaux Bridge Crawfish, Starks
Mayhaw, Thibodaux Firemen’s Fair, and everyone else who have had to deal with so much
rain this year.
We are making plans for Convention 2005 and your Queen of
Queen’s Packets have been mailed out. If
your Pageant Director did not receive one, please let us hear from you.
As always, if you need help with anything besides the
weather, please let us know. Your Board is
here to help in any way possible.
The next LAFF Board meeting will be held July 24th
at the Washington Parish Fairgrounds in Franklinton.
This is an open meeting so if you want to see how your Board conducts LAFF
business, please attend.
Praying for some blue skies and bright sunshine,
I am your Vice President
s/Rob Piraro
*********************************
SECRETARY’s REPORT
I want to thank
the great folks of the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival for the courtesy extended to Mona
and me. Even though they had some great
challenges with the weather, they still took time to visit.
We had a good time and some great food at the event. While attending this event, also had a chance to
visit with Dennis Mouton, on duty as District #3 Director, Kaye Landner, visiting District
#4 Director, Gus Mitchell of Mitchell Brothers Carnival and folks from the Louisiana Gumbo
Festival.
The same weather
that came down on Breaux Bridge was a challenge for the Thibodaux Firemen, but with
strong community support, the event was not a “washout”.
Want a write up
of your event, information about your pageant (or queen), or other LAFF related news in
your newsletter? Submit your information to
me at laffadupre@yahoo.com
or 2402 Elizabeth Street, Thibodaux 70301. I need
the information by the 20th of the month for the next newsletter.
Please check the
web site for new postings. In addition, we
are asking for your event to submit a picture of your queen for the web site….www.laffnet.org
s/ Al Dupré
Secretary
*********
District #3 Director
Congratulations
to the newly crowned District 3 Queens.
Sausage Festival Queen
I……….Kristen Abshire
CMFA
Acadiana Chapter Queen
(Eunice)………………..Adrienne Middlebrooks
Just
a reminder about the District 3 Workshop which
will be held on Saturday July 31, 2004 in Rayne, La.
at the Greenroom located behind the Rayne Civic Center. The workshop will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00
p.m. Lunch will be served (free of charge). At the workshop we will discuss seven topics.
The
workshop is only one day, it is being held so we can all work together as festival
Representatives
to meet with other Festival organizations. Please
encourage your members to attend.
Upcoming
Events:
June 4 - La Cajun Culture and Music Club in Eunice, LA
June 4 - 6 - Church Point Buggy Festival
June 30 - July 4 - Erath Fourth of July Festival
Thanks,
s/Dennis
C. Mouton
D3D
District 6 Director
Greetings
to all my district 6 members.
Two
great events were held this month. The Loggers Festival in Zwolle
and the Cochon de Lait Festival in Mansura.
My wife
Jackie and I attended the Cochon de Lait festival on Friday and enjoyed some good food and
music. These folks in Mansura really put on a good show. While I was there I
also visited with Gus Mitchell of Mitchell Bros. at the carnival. It was good to
talk to Gus again.
On Saturday, May 8, 2004, I attended the Loggers festival in Zwolle.
I had a good time at this event and met the Queen and the festival president.
If you don't know a lot about the logging industries in north Louisiana, this is a good place to start. I was
also able to visit with Francis and Gray Harper of Dixie Concessions and Amusements.
They have a great setup and if you are looking for this type of entertainment they
can be reached at www.dixieconcessions.com and when ever possible try to use LAFF members
when booking your events. Thanks to Ann Etheridge for calling me and sending me the
logger’s festival information. I am sorry I did not get to see you on Saturday,
but I appreciate you thinking about me.
There
were two events held in April that I did not get to attend. The Grant Dogwood
Festival in Pollock and the Simmesport Atchahalaya River Festival in Simmesport. The Dogwood festival
was held the same day as the LAFF board meeting. The day I planed to attend the Atchahalaya River festival it rained. I am sorry I did not make
your events. I have attended these events in the past and they are a great place to
visit. I am here to help you if you need me. I am just a phone call or E-Mail
away.
I am
trying to schedule the remainder of the year. If you would like me to attend or help
with your event, sent me the dates and I will do my best to be there.
(318) 448-0085 home (318)
336-5226 work
paul.f.mcgee@MVK02.usace.army.mil
s/Paul McGee
District 6 Director
Can you assist?
Dixie Concessions & Amusements had a 1982 Chevy cube van stole
whiledoing a show in Westlake, La. The truck is white and has Dixie
Concessions & Amusements with the office phone number on each side in red. The
truck was used as a bunk house and ticket box. Items contained
in the truck were informational and directional signage for the
rides, lead lines and electrical distribution boxes, first aid
equipment and supplies. The truck was believed to have been stolen by Walter A.
"Bo" Davis Jr. If this truck or person should appear at your event, Francis
Harper would appreciate you contacting him at 318-419-1177.
EVENTS TO ATTEND
June 4 -
6
Church
Point Buggy Festival Church Point
June 5
La Cajun
Culture and Music Club Eunice
June 11 -
13
Louisiana Corn
Festival Bunkie
June 19 -
20
Swamp Pop
Music Festival Baton
Rouge
June 25 -
26
Smoked
Meat Festival Ville Platte
June 25 -
27
Bayou
Lacombe Crab Festival Lacombe
June 30 -
July 4
Erath 4th
of July Celebration Erath
July 2 -
4
Greater
Mandeville Seafood Festival
July 4
Let
Freedom Ring Festival Thibodaux
July 9 -
11
LA
Catfish Festival Luling
July 9 -
11
Washington Parish
Watermelon Festival
Franklinton
July 17 -
18
Cajun
French Music & Food Festival
Lake
Charles
July 25
Morse
Recreational Festival Morse
July 30 -
31
Louisiana
Watermelon Festival Farmerville
Remember our 2005 Convention Theme:
"Stepping Out with L.A.F.F."
Radisson Hotel
Baton Rouge
February 18 - 21, 2005
Make Your Plans to Attend
