Louisana Fir and Wildlife Festival Jamuary 13-14, 2012

Cameron, Louisiana has the honor of hosting this festival that has the honor of being "One of the Oldest and Coldest Festivals in Louisiana"

This year they will be honoring the Shrimping Industry. This festival is jamed packed full of things to do and to see.

All events will take place on the fairgrounds located at the Pat's of Cameron (across from the Cameron Parish School Board) in downtown Cameron. Sorry folks, but ice chests will not be allowed on the fairgrounds.

For a complete schedule of events http://lafurandwildlifefestival.com/schedule.htm

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.  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.