Dear Editor,

I am writing this letter to thank the people that helped put on our 20th Viande Boucanee beauty pageants. This festival and these pageants are put on and the money is kept locally and used for people that are in need throughout the parish. Thanks to everyone that participated and came to the celebration.

First, I would like to thank Mayor Jennifer Vidrine and the City of Ville Platte for sponsoring our pageant. It is a big help to work with someone so generous. She attended the pageant and presented each visiting queen with a pin of the city. She does this every year. This year, we gave her and her secretary, Hilda Edwards, a Smoked Meat Festival pin. Thanks again Mayor Jennifer and a special thanks to Hilda Edwards for fixing our baskets for our judges.

Evangeline Bank’s Kathy LaFleur fixes our diti bags. I always count on her and she always comes through. Thanks Kathy. Evangeline Bank always donates our banners for the Teen Miss and Ms. queens. Thank you Evangeline Bank.

Camille and Sonya from the Ville Platte Chamber of Commerce donated the red diti bags. Brenda Saucier from Whitney Bank added to those diti bags. Thanks.

Because of the price of gas and our judges coming from so far, St. Romaine Gas and Oil donated gas cards to each one of our judges and the MCs. That was a big help.

Ms. Anita came in and decorated the stage and the back drop for us. Then, after the pageant, she came and took it down. Who could ask for more? What a nice lady. What would we do without her? She is such a sweet lady. Thanks again.

Coca-Cola in Lafayette donated the drinks used at our tea. Wow! Thanks.

Bayley LeJeune and her friend, Candice Melara, were our MCs. They did an excellent job, especially since the mic did not work because of all the wires from the TV filming crew. April Mothes and Kim Foreman registered at the door. Felicity Soileau and Victoria Charlie collected at the door. A big thank you to all of them.

Theresa Fontenot worked so hard. She cooked crawfish fettuccine for all the judges and the working crew. She also made a salad and bread. Yum yum. Her daughter, Sharon, and her daughters, Caroline and Sarah, helped. I mean they helped with everything. Thank you girls.

Samantha was responsible for picking up the door prizes and ironing all of those chair covers. She had a big job. Thank you Samantha. She also wrote and printed our program and did an excellent job. You know if you do something well once, then it becomes a job.

A very special thanks to my other half, or should I say my better half, my husband, Donald, for helping. He picks up ice, soda, hauls decorations and sets up table and chairs. He sells soda, chips, T-shirts, pins and cookbooks. He does this on Sunday and again on Thursday and he does not complain too much. Thanks Donald. My son-in-law Will worked the concession stand with him and he also borrowed a camper for the festival. Thanks Will.

Lydia Rhodes is in charge of tallying the scores on Sunday night. She has been in charge of this since the first festival and she has done an excellent job. Ronella Fontneot helped her on Sunday. Thank you. On Thursday, Lydia had very little help but she did it once again.

Amanda Thille was a great help all week. She was wherever we needed help and it was greatly appreciated. Thanks Amanda.

We can’t forget J.D. Soileau for coming to the pageant and helping us crown the queens and presenting each of them with a check to be used for travel. J.D. is a lifelong member of the Vietnam Veterans, Chapter 632. He is also president of the chapter. He served time in Vietnam and was also wounded. We all thank him for what he has done for us. He has also earned and received the Man of the Year award from the Ville Platte Chamber of Commerce. Thanks again J.D.

Theresa, Samantha and Sharon were in charge of getting door prizes. They called and picked up gifts from Slap ya Mama, Papa Gators, Jack Miller’s, Kary’s Roux, Cajun Smokehouse, Industrial Supply, Perkala, Citizens Bank, Ace Hardware, Family Hair Care and Saye’s Office Supply. Thanks again to all of the sponsors.

Eric Gil at State Farm donated the bears. I remembered them again this year. Yes, the kid’s loved them. We are going to want some more next year.

They went above and beyond. Thumbs up to those workers and to the sponsors. The pageant was a success because of them.

Advertising was done by KVPI and the Gazette. They all did an excellent job. Heather from the Gazette not only prints the ads, but comes to the pageant and takes the pictures to put in the paper. Thank you Heather. Becky from KVPI was able to keep you informed. Thanks Becky.

The Miss Queens were the MCs on Thursday night. The Teen Queen came late because of dance line practice. It’s like I told her, school comes first.

I almost forgot to thank our police chief, Neal Lartigue. He saw to it that we got two prisoners to help put the chairs and tables out. They brought them and picked them up. Thanks a bunch. This made our job easier.

Looking forward to next year. It isn’t too early to begin planning.

Peggy LeJeune,

pageant director,

Le Festival de la Viande Boucanee