Louisiana Cattle Festival welcomes new royalty; Amelia Detraz of Kaplan named Queen

On Saturday, March 4 and Sunday, March 5, the Louisiana Cattle Festival and Fair Association proudly welcomed a new group of royalty to reign over the 73rd Louisiana Cattle Festival, scheduled for October of 2023.
The newly crowned kings and queens are tasked with promoting the festival during their year-long reign in addition to representing the festival and fair association, the state’s cattle industry, the City of Abbeville and Vermilion Parish.
The Louisiana Cattle Festival would like to congratulate the 2023 Louisiana Cattle Festival royalty, including Baby Cattle Queen, Effie Bergeron; Baby Cattle King, Colt Lemaire; Petite Cattle Queen, Tinsley Turnage; Deb Cattle Queen, Paisley Lajaunie; Junior Cattle Queen, Suri Romero; Teen Cattle Queen, Gracie Bourque; Ms. Cattle Queen, Joy Sanders; and the 73rd Louisiana Cattle Festival Queen, Amelia Detraz and Louisiana Cattle Festival King, Calvin LeBouef.
Amelia Detraz is the daughter of Gabrielle Detraz and the late Michael Detraz, Jr., and is a senior at Kaplan High School.
When asked what has the LA Cattle Festival Queen meant to her, Amelia Detraz replied, “I grew up within the cattle industry my whole life. My family raises cattle, and I show cattle myself and raise my heifer. Seeing that my hometown had a festival and queen that represented something I hold so close to my heart was amazing to me as a little girl. Now, it’s even more outstanding, being that I know the duties and responsibilities of being the LA Cattle Festival Queen and having the opportunity to represent such an impactful industry every day during my reign. I am truly living my childhood dream!”
Detraz is excited to reign alongside her 73rd LA Cattle Festival King, Calvin LeBouef; a 3rd generation cattle producer and native of Abbeville, La. Calvin LeBouef comes from a strong lineage in the cattle industry, having had productions in both beef and dairy cattle. LeBouef continues his industry involvement with an operation of Red Brahman, Hereford Bulls, Braford Bulls, and F1 program in addition to livestock hauling alongside his wife of 55 years, Lorraine LeBouef.
With true devotion to the cattle industry, LeBouef has served his community in various capacities, including Vermilion Parish Livestock Show as Ringman, weighing animals and helping countless kids for many years.
He has belonged to the Louisiana Department of Agriculture’s Livestock Brand Commission, Louisiana Farm Bureau state board and livestock division, Louisiana Cattlemen’s Association state board, the Vermilion Cattlemen’s Association board and officer at large, and has been a board member of the Louisiana Cattle Festival & Fair Association for over 40 years, including a voting member of the board during the Festival’s major shift from being the known as the Louisiana Dairy Festival to encompassing all of the industry as the Louisiana Cattle Festival in 1979. LeBouef has served as the LA Cattle Festival’s anchor in the cattle industry for decades; it is an esteemed honor to recognize LeBouef and his commitment to the cattle industry, the youth of Vermilion Parish.
The Louisiana Cattle Festival Association would like to sincerely thank each contestant, family member and friend, board and festival members, past LA Cattle Queens and volunteers for the support of all contestants, as well as the festival. Mark your calendars to attend the 73rd Louisiana Cattle Festival in the downtown streets of Abbeville in October 2023.