LA Swine Festival
The Louisiana Swine Festival, founded in
1966, is Basile's first and foremost cultural
event. The festival grew out of the Southwest
Louisiana Swine Association, which began
in 1963 with the express purpose of raising
and selling feeder pigs in the Basile area.
The association held feeder pig sales every
three months starting in May of 1964 at the
Basile Town Park Recreational Building
that is now commonly referred to as the Pig
Barn.
The success of the feeder pig sales grew into
future promotions of the industry. These
promotions, coupled with the interest in the
1960's of local businesses and individuals in
luring tourists into Basile and in promoting
our culture, eventually led to the
establishment of the Louisiana Swine
Festival Association.
The Festival Association was organized and
financed by selling $2.00 membership
certificates in August of 1966. A three
member committee compressed of Hosea
Hebert, Voorhies Moreau, and Joyce Fruge
were appointed to serve as interim officers
until the first regular election of officers was
held.
The honorees of the first Louisiana Swine
Festival were Queen Darla Gayle Smith of
Prairieville, King Eldon Manuel of Basile,
and Parade Grand Marshall, Edwin
Edwards, then Congressman from Crowley.
The first King Porky and Queen Petunia
were Stewart Ortego and Jade LaFleur both
of Basile.
The first Grand Champion Pork Cook was
Mrs. Allie Young of Basile. Winners of the
Greasy Pig Contest were Randy Fruge and
Corky Corkin.
The festival has continued to grow over the
past years and has been held annually with
the exception of 1974.
Immediately after the first festival, the
growth of the feeder pig industry in the
Basile area continued to grow. On May 4,
1967 the new Southwest Louisiana Swine
Producers Sale Building was opened at the
west end of Basile's Main Street. Thousands
of feeder pigs were sold there and Basile
became the heart of the Louisiana Swine
Industry until the closing of the sales in
September of 1974 due to lack of buyers and
sellers.
Even though swine producing is no longer a
major industry in Basile, the Swine Festival
has continued as a cultural and tourist
attraction in Basile, not only promoting the
swine industry, but also the Cajun culture
and the pride of Basile.
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