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Blue Boullion of Kaplan is the 2017 Cattle Festival Cattleman of the Year.
The 69th Louisiana Cattle Festival will take place Oct. 13-15 in downtown Abbeville.
Boullion will be among those recognized at this year’s Honoree Banquet at Magdalen Place in Abbeville, Thursday evening, Oct. 12, at 6 p.m. Tickets are available, for $15 each, from any festival member or by calling (337) 652-0646.
Blue’s lifelong involvement with the cattle industry began with helping on his grandfather’s beef and dairy farm. By the time he was 16 he was hiring out as a cowboy for several cattle ranchers in the parish. Blue graduated from Kaplan High in 1965 and in 1969 bought a one ton pickup truck and 32-foot trailer and began Blue’s Cattle Hauling. It would be the start of a life of service to the cattle industry.
Blue began hauling cattle for Dominique’s Stockyard in 1972 and credits Jack Heflin, who was a manager at Dominique’s at the time, with helping him gain contacts in and knowledge of the cattle business. In 1977 he became part owner of the Vermilion Livestock Sale Barn. He was a ranch manager for Randall Greene and owned a small cattle herd from the mid 70’s to 1985 on rented pasture. In 1981 he worked for the Louisiana Brand Commission as an investigator. In 1985 and for 27 years thereafter he worked for USDA as a Veterinary Technician. Blue worked at the height of the Brucellosis epidemic and during his tenure Louisiana went from a Class C to a Class Free State. He assisted in and encouraged the vaccination of 1000’s and 1000’s of heifers. It was common for Blue to call ranchers in his area and remind them to vaccinate their heifers.
Because of Blue’s work with Brucellosis in our area, he was well respected by USDA and he was put in charge of planning and logistics for epidemics around the country. He worked on Brucellosis in Florida, pseudorabies in swine in Iowa, cattle tuberculosis in California and New Castle’s disease in poultry in California.
For 42 years, Blue served on the Board of Directors for the Vermilion Parish Cattlemen’s Association. He was a valued member serving on many committees and offering valuable input into decisions made. His mentoring of younger board members and young ranchers in the parish was a hallmark of his time on the board. His vast contacts and experiences helped many young ranchers with proper management and marketing. It was his desire to help the industry in Vermilion Parish and young ranchers in particular that motivated Blue’s long term on the board.
Blue is married to Joan Broussard Boullion. He has two children, Todd Boullion and Kristi Hebert, two step-children Gerrett and Seth Gastal, and six grandchildren Mia, Slade, Whitney, Kailie, Jake and Elie.
Because of Blue Boullion’s service and dedication to the cattle industry, his knowledge and mentorship of numerous ranchers it is without reservation that the Louisiana Cattle Festival name him the 2017 Cattleman of the Year.

The Louisiana Cattle Festival 2017 Festival Ambassador is Mrs. Simone Cavalier.
Simone is a native and current resident of Abbeville. Simone is married to her high school sweetheart, Francis Cavalier, and together have a 2 year old son named Bentley. Simone is a graduate of Abbeville High School, as well as a graduate of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Simone is currently employed by Sensible Meals in which she pilots the company’s ambassadors as the top leading Nutrition Coach.
Though growing up in Intracoastal City, Simone was no stranger to the festival; Simone, her family, and friends attended the festival annually to enjoy the grand parade and different festival attractions. One specific attraction was the water fights on Sunday’s Family Day in which her father would participate as a Seventh Ward volunteer firefighter. Over the years, Simone witnessed the pride of the association’s members as they put on the festival and knew she wanted to be a part of her hometown festival that held so many of her fondest memories. Seven years ago, Simone pursued her interest in the Louisiana Cattle Festival and became a member, followed by being elected onto the board a year later. Simone currently manages all of the festival’s social media pages and is the Queen’s Coordinator.

Erath – A Mass of Christian Burial for Mr. Vories Joseph Stoute, lovingly known as “Potch”, 85, was held at 4:00 pm on Monday, October 9, 2017 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church with Fr. Andre Metrejean officiated
Interment was follow at Our Lady of Lourdes Mausoleum.
A native and lifelong resident of Erath, Mr. Stoute died at 1:04 am on Friday, October 6, 2017 at Lafayette General Medical Center.
Stoute was born on September 13, 1932. He was the fourth child of Eli and Theola Stoute. Vories Stoute took part in five major sports at Erath High School and was prominent in three: basketball, football, and softball. Stoute began playing basketball in the seventh grade, played Jr. Varsity as an eighth grader, and played Varsity as a freshman. He lettered his last four years and served as team captain in 1949, 1950, and 1951. Stoute was all tournament five times. In fast pitch softball, he played first base, centerfield, and pitcher. In 1947-48, the team went all the way to the state semi-finals. He was a member of the first six man football team at Erath High that suited out in 1949. In the first year they won six games.
Vories played running back and left halfback positions. Stoute served as captain till he graduated in 1951. After graduating high school he married his high school sweetheart, Delores Simon.
He was co-owner of Le Magasin, a landmark gift shop in Erath in the 1970’s. He was also employed with the Vermilion Parish School Board as a bus driver and was recognized for 40 years of service.
His love of the Erath community and Vermilion Parish was evident in all that he did. He remained active in youth recreation throughout his life. He worked at the Eganeet Teen Center and skating rink in the 1960’s along with his wife.
They hosted many dances, plays, and events to raise money for the youth programs. He was instrumental in promoting Vermilion Parish tourism, served with the Knights of Columbus, was a Troop Leader for Troop 82 of the Boy Scouts for several years, served as an umpire for Erath Little League, served as Grand Marshall of the Erath 4th of July Celebration and also built floats for the Erath 4th of July Celebrationfor float riders each year. One of his proudest moments was being named King for a local Mardi Gras Krewe, the Krewe of Vermilion named Vories King Vermilion II. He was inducted into the Erath High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 1986 for all his athletic accomplishments.
The eternal story teller, Stoute always had an audience for his stories about Erath history, its schools and early sports in the 1940’s and 1950’s. He loved to tell stories as much as the people of Erath loved to hear them. He loved being outdoors, working in his garden, planting flowers and decorating the yard for holidays. His gentle, kind nature drew people to him. His greatest joy was putting a smile on someone else’s face. He had a gift of making people feel like they had known him for years, even if you met him just once on the street of Erath you became a friend for life. Everyone that met him, loved him.After retiring as a bus driver for over 40 years of service he volunteered at Dozier Elementary for many years to stay connected to the youth of our town. He would read books, tell stories of olden days, dress up as characters for special occasions, and bring treats to the children.
Friends and family were the cornerstone of Stoute’s life and he lived for his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. At family gatherings, he always planned fun games and activities for the family. He loved to cook and bake for friends and neighbors, especially for their monthly card games. He loved having company at his home to have his fig tarts or a piece of blueberry pie. Yes, friends and family were so important to him, love the people around you was his moto.
Stoute is survived by a son, Timothy P. Stoute of Erath; two daughters, Hope S. Hebert and her husband Sean of Youngsville and Kassey S. LeBlanc and her husband Tim of Baytown, TX; six grandchildren, Bailey Hebert, Camryn Hebert, Avery-Grace Hebert, Donovan Stoute, Kasie Simon, and Nicole LeBlanc; and five great grandchildren, Draigen Stoute, Khoda Stoute, Anistyn Gary, Kyndal Simon and Payton Leblanc.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Delores Simon Stoute; his parents, Eli and Theola Stoute; two brothers, Dalton Stoute and Weston Stoute; a sister, Thelma Menard; and two grandchildren, Heather LeBlanc and Michelle LeBlanc.
The family would like to thank the staff at Lafayette General Medical Center along with the wonderful sitters who lovingly cared for Mr. Stoute.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital via donrs@stjude.org.
David Funeral Home of Erath at 209 E. Putnam St. (337)937-0405 will be handling the arrangements.

PATTERSON - The North Vermilion Patriots were three minutes away from upsetting the Patterson Lumberjacks.
NV was leading 21-20 with 3:30 to play, but the lead was short. After Patterson cut the lead to one point, the Lumberjacks did a successful on-side kick.
Patterson got the ball and then went down and scored the game winning touchdown with just over as minute to go in the game.
Patterson outscored NV 14-0 in the final quarter.
Malik Criner, who has yet to rush for under 140 yards this season, had 193 yards on 21 carries and scored twice.
On NV’s first drive of the game, Creed Rudd scored on a 13 yard run.
Criner had a 48-yard TD score in the third period and a 11 yard TD run in the finals second of the third period.
The Patriots attempted to pass the football. Garrett Becker was 4 of 9 for 74 yards and an interception.
Rudd had two catches for 39 yards. He also had two carries for 39 yards.
The Patriots (4-2, 0-1) entertain Erath (0-6) on Friday.

Berwick......55
Erath...........19

The Erath Bobcats dropped a homecoming game to Berwick on Friday.
Berwick quarterback Mitchell Sanford was 11 of 26 passing for 317 yards. He also ran for 87 yards.
He threw two TD passes to LSU commitment Kenan Jones for 20 and 31 yards.
The bad luck bug does not want to away for Erath.
The Bobcats switched to spread offense two games ago because of new quarterback Cameron Landry. Landry would get hurt in the second quarter, so EHS switched back to the I-formation offense.
Landry did throw a TD pass to Matt Domingues. His back up, Luke LeBlanc came in and threw TD passes to Luke Frederick (6 and 35 yards).