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(Note: Earlier history via
written documentation is not available. Founding
information and earlier history is from verbal accountings
from those that participated.)
Cameron, Louisiana
The idea for the Louisiana
Fur and Wildlife Festival in Cameron was originated in 1955
by the late Congressman T. A. Thompson who represented the
area.
On a challenge from the
Congressman in Cambridge, Maryland, Representative Thompson
sent fifty-two year old Leon Hebert, a 25 year trapper, from
Cameron to the National Outdoor Show to compete in the
National Fur Skinning Contest. Mr. Hebert placed fifth in
the nation that year. (Leon Hebert won the Louisiana title
at the first annual Fur and Wildlife Festival on December
2-3, 1955 by skinning five muskrats in 53 3/5 seconds,
nosing out John Broussard by five seconds.)
A small group of people met
during the summer of 1955 in the old Police Jury meeting
room in the Cameron Courthouse Building (where the Sheriff's
tax office is now located), to make plans for the first
festival. Whitney Stine was the chairman of the meeting and
enthusiastically endorsed having the festival. Many
community organizations were represented at this meeting.
Those attending included: Whitney Stine - Cameron Lion's
Club, Edward Swindell, Sr. - Cameron Lion's Club, Hadley
Fontenot - County Agent, Alvin Dyson - State Representative,
Ray Burleigh - Cameron Lion's Club, Joe O'Donnell -Cameron
Lion's Club, Mrs. Iva Free - Home Demonstration Agent,
Roberta Rogers - Home Demonstration Club, Geneva Griffith -
Home Demonstration Club (retired from festival duties in
January 2004, after 48 years of volunteer service) and Sam
Tarlton - Lake Charles Television and Radio Station.
From this grassroots group of
organizers came one of the oldest, most successful
festivals, the Louisiana Fur & Wildlife Festival.
In spite of the bitter cold
weather in December of 1955, and operating on a "shoestring"
budget the festival was a huge success. Funding was
provided by the Cameron Parish Police Jury and private
donations.
J. B. Jones, Jr. served as
master of ceremonies for the program which was the festival
climax. The program was presided over by Hadley Fontonet,
Festival President 1955.
Miss Vida Bess Brown, a
seventeen year old beauty from Abbeville, was crowned "Miss
Outdoor of Louisiana" by Ted O'Neal, Chief of the Fur and
Bottoms Division of the Louisiana Wildlife Commission. She
was presented with a nutria stole, a bouquet of roses by the
Cameron Service Garage, and an expense paid trip to the
National Outdoors Show in Cambridge, Maryland.
The Cambridge, Maryland
National Outdoor Show became a "Sister Festival" with the
Cameron Festival and the two exchanged fur skinners and
festival queens each year. The tradition of exchanging
festival representatives continues to the present time.
Miss Meredith Giles (Montie)
was named "Cameron Parish Queen" and won the title from a
field of 34 contestants. She was crowned by Hadley
Fontenot.
Ted O'Neal told the audience
(a Cameron Elementary full house) that night, that "Nutria
skins are saving what would have been a vanishing fur
industry for this area." He also pointed out that in the
previous year Cameron Parish trappers netted $400,000.
Eleven year old J. A. Miller
captured the Louisiana Junior Duck Calling contest that
year. In years to come he grew to become the World Champion
Fur Skinner, following in the footsteps of his father
Fletcher, and teaching his daughter Selika the art with her
becoming the Women's Champion. His wife, Mary Jane Miller,
held the Local and National Women's title many times.
The second annual festival
was held on January 11-12, 1957 and $5000.00 in cash and
trips were awarded along with fur coats to the Fur Queen
contestants.
Nancy Precht (Nunez) was
crowned Fur Queen by Louisiana Representative Alvin Dyson.
She represented the festival at the Mardi Gras Ball in
Washington, D.C. where she was presented to Vice-President
and Mrs. Nixon. This tradition continues to the present
time. Her crown bearer was Lurchell Fontenot (Whittler) and
her flower girl was Cheri Kay Griffith (Giblin).
In a report by visiting news
media that year it stated, "Little in size, about 2500,
Cameron likes to do things in a big way -- Fur fashion,
shows, parades, water carnival, pirogue races, trap and trap
shooting, duck calling, skinning, a parade and Miss Fur
Queen contest, and the town was filled up, and estimated
7000 people."
The annual Fur Festival
Parade was always a high point of the festival, always held
at 2:00 P.M. on Saturday, starting from the west end and
traveling through town to the east, on Highway La. 27-82.
Each civic organization would spend days and many hours
planning and making the beautiful floats and competing for
the honor of winning in the various categories. They were
usually constructed in the warehouses of the local menhaden
plants, mud houses, garages, or anywhere workers could get
out of the cold. Roland "Bolo" Trosclair was in charge of
the parade at that time. A long line of civic minded
citizens were to follow him over the years in charge of the
parade including Deil LaLande, Roland Trosclair, Jr., Hayes
"Pete" Picou, Jr., Oscar Reyes, II and Freddie Richard.
Fontonet continued to serve
the festival as President until he was transferred from
Cameron Parish in 1966. A concerted effort was made to find
someone to assume the leadership position. J. B. Jones,
Jr.agreed to take it with the condition that each phase and
contest of the festival be taken over by various community
members. Jones revamped the Board of Directors, bringing in
people from all over the parish to help out and the festival
grew even larger. He held the Presidential post until he
chose to give it up in 1980. Braxton Blake was elected
President. Mr. Blake held the office until 1988. Hayes
"Pete" Picou, Jr., was elected as President, replacing Mr.
Blake. Clifton Hebert was elected President, replacing Mr.
Picou after he retired from the office. Mr. Hebert serves
as President until the present.
Hadley Fontenot, J.B. Jones,
and Braxton Blake, serve as President Emeritus for the
festival.
A mascot for the festival was
chosen. A contest of the area school children determined
the name. The raccoon (mascot) was named Sha-oui and is a
big hit for children each year.
The 39th festival chose
Adrienne Picou as its 1995 Queen Fur XXVI. She was
presented a fur coat (donated by the La. Fur and Alligator
Council) by Joe Herring, Secretary of Louisiana Wildlife and
Fisheries Hayes "Pete"Picou served as President. Billy
Doxey served as King Fur XXVI representing the oyster
industry. The 1995 Miss Cameron Parish was Jennifer Leigh
Broadus representing the festival at the Outdoor Show in
Cambridge, Maryland. The 1995 Little Miss Cameron Parish was
Courtney Conner and Little Mr. Cameron Parish was Kaleb
Trahan. Sarah Ann Vaughn was the Jr. Miss Fur Queen.
Representative Randy Roach interview Miss Outdoors during
the Saturday Night Program.
The 40th festival was held
January 11-13, 1996 and honored the Mehaden Industry. It
has had great impact on local and state economics.
The 41st La. Fur and Wildlife
Festival honored the fur industry. A king was chosen from
this industry. Michelle Trosclair from Grand Chenier served
as the reigning Miss Cameron Parish and Marie DesOmeaux from
Abbeville is the 1996 La. Fur Queen. The parade was at
12:00 noon and it started on the east end of Cameron.
Hayes "Pete" Picou served as President.
The 42nd annual festival
honored the cattle industry. A king was chosen from that
industry. Hayes "Pete" Picou served as President. There
was a carnival on the fairgrounds, food booths, dances, and
outdoor events.
The 43rd annual festival
honored the oil industry. A king was chosen from that
industry. Hayes "Pete" Picou served as Past President.
After giving up his post, Mr. Picou was replaced by Clifton
Hebert as President. John LeBlanc replaced Eddie Benoit as
Director of the fair grounds. There was a carnival on the
fairgrounds, food booths, dances, and outdoor events.
The 44th annual festival
honored the shrimp industry. A king was chosen from that
industry. Clifton Hebert served as President. There was a
carnival on the fairgrounds, food booths, dances, and
outdoor events.
*The 45th annual festival,
January 11-13, 2001, honored the rice industry. Mervin
(Possum) Chesson was chosen from the rice industry and
crowned king on Friday, January 12, 2001. Miss Courtney
Tatman of St. Charles Parish was also crowned Fur Queen
2001. Shannon Surratt was crowned Miss Cameron 2001 on
Thursday 11, 2001. The Executive Officers include Clifton
Hebert, President; Freddie Richard, Vice-president; Sue
Mhire, Secretary; and Stephanie Rodrigue, Treasurer. In
addition to the Executive Officers, is a Board of Directors
that governs festival decisions. A group of over 200
community volunteers work to see that the festival is a
success. As is the past, a cookbook, featuring various
local recipes and information/pictures from last year's
festival will go on sale in January. Various pageants will
choose royalty to represent the festival for the upcoming
year. A carnival, parade, food booths, outdoor events, and
dances will complete the package. Saturday, January 6, 2001
began the selection of festival royalty. Miss Deb Fur Queen
is Christian McCall, Miss Teen Fur Queen is Cassandra
Trahan, and Jr. Miss Fur Queen is Ashley Kelly.
*The 46th annual festival,
January 10-12 2002 honored the duck hunting industry. Enos
"Buster" Sturlese was chosen and crowned on Friday January
11, 2002. Shannon Hinton was crowned Fur Queen 2002. Miss
Marlyn LeJeune was crowned Miss Cameron 2002 on Thursday
January 10, 2002. The Executive Officers include Clifton
Hebert, President: Freddie Richard, Vice President: Sue
Mhire, Secretary; and Sandra Smith, Treasurer. Saturday
January 4, 2002 began the festival with the crowning of Miss
Deb Fur Queen, Erika Pickett; Miss Teen Fur Queen, Dixie
Desonier; and Jr. Miss Fur Queen, Tara LeBlanc. On Thursday
January 10, 2002, Kent Doxey was crowned LiL Mr Cameron and
Jenna Duddleston was crowned LiL Miss Cameron.
*The 47th annual festival was
held on January 9-11 2003 and honored the alligator
industry. Charles Petifer was chosen and crowned as King Fur
on Friday January 10th. Tiffany Wing from Calcasieu Parish
was crowned La Fur Queen on Saturday January 11th. Trista
Semien was also crowned on Friday night as Miss Cameron
Parish 2003. Lil Miss Marlie Ellice Mudd, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Lance Mudd of Grand Lake was crowned on Thursday
night along with Lil Mr. Madison Jade Morales son of Mr. and
Mrs. Chris Morales also of Grand Lake.
*The 48th, and most exciting
of all festivals held, was one of nostalgia and
advancement. The festival grounds were filled to capacity
as crowds of festival goers enjoyed food, fun, and fur. The
festival kicked off with the opening Thursday night program
which yielded our newly crowned Lil' Mr. and Miss Cameron
Parish, Tyler Nunez and Abby Miller, both representing South
Cameron Elementary School. This year's King, Mr. Jimmy
Stoutes, was selected as King Fur 2004 because of his
unmatchable dedication to his lifelong career as an oyster
fisherman. Selected as Fur Queen 2004 was Miss Trista
Semien, representing Cameron Parish. And, Ashley Picou, a
senior from Grand Lake High School, was crowned Miss Cameron
Parish 2004 during the Friday night program. Mrs. Geneva
Griffith was honored for years of service to not only the
festival but Cameron Parish and its citizens.
*What sportsman could resist
a weekend of competition - Cameron style? Trap
shooting, retriever dog trials, duck and goose calling,
nutria and muskrat skinning, and oyster shucking contests
drew record numbers of participants and spectators alike.
As the 49th Annual Louisiana Fur and Wildlife Festival
kicked off on Thursday, January 6th, outdoor competitions
were not the only thoughts lingering with festival goers.
The festival has always been known for its lavish pageants.
Royalty crowned during this year's festival were:
Little Mr & Miss Cameron Parish - Luke Miller and Callie
Brevelle
Deb Miss Cameron - Jadah Primeaux
Teen Miss Cameron - Ericka Pickett
Junior Miss Cameron - Cami Savoie
Miss Cameron Parish - Ashley Kelly
2005 Fur King - James "JA" Miller
2005 Fur Queen - Cadi Brook Pedigo
The Executive Officers for
2005 include Johnny LeBlanc, President, Clifton Hebert, Vice
President: Freddie Richard, Vice President: Stephanie
Rogers, Secretary; and Sandra Smith, Treasurer.
*The 2006 celebration of the
Fur and Wildlife Festival was cancelled due to the
devastation of Hurricane Rita.
*The 50th annual
Fur and Wildlife Festival had the feeling of an old time
family reunion. It was held in Cameron on January 13th,
2007. After the devastation of Hurricane Rita, it was
wonderful to gather in Cameron and celebrate the Fur
Festival again. Participants enjoyed many of the same
activities that had brought them out to the fair ground in
past years. The newly crowned royalty reigned over the
festival in grand style. The year’s festival
representatives were:
Little Mr & Miss Cameron Parish – Coby Blake Benoit and
Jacee Camille Miltenberger
Deb Miss Cameron – Morgan Hardie
Teen Miss Cameron – Kristin Broussard
Junior Miss Cameron – Misty Lesueour
Miss Cameron Parish – Haley Willis
2005 Fur King –Rolland Primeaux
2005 Fur Queen – Kayla Lavergne |