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Hailee Ann Thomas
Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival queen
--Skeet's Photo Service

Thomas remembers reign, travels fondly

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the farewell address by outgoing Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival Queen Hailee Ann Thomas. She will crown her successor during the coronation court at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Morgan City Municipal Auditorium.
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” While there are many answers children would give, mine was the same since I sat on the auditorium stage in 2002. When I grew up all I wanted to be was queen of the Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival.
It seems like only yesterday I stood on stage and watched as my dream came true, when I was crowned the 79th Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival queen. I stood there as my name was called, tears falling, hands shaking and heart pounding. I didn’t quite know what this adventure had in store for me, but I knew it would be one of the best years of my life.
This year I was given the opportunity to travel to many cities all across this great state and learn about the commodities and industries that make Louisiana so unique, all while representing my hometown and the festival I love.
Along the way I tried raw sugarcane in New Iberia, modeled nutria fur down in Cameron, learned how to put a crawfish to sleep in Breaux Bridge, ate spaghetti faster than I ever thought I could in Independence, tried the sweetest strawberries in Ponchatoula, paraded with flowers in the streets of downtown New Orleans, ate the best gumbo in Bridge City, watched them light the way for Papa Noel down the mighty Mississippi in Lutcher, and so much more. Along the way, I have made memories and friendships that will last for the rest of my life.
The absolute highlight of this year was traveling to Washington, D.C., while representing the Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival at the Mystick Krewe of Louisianians Mardi Gras celebration. It was five days of touring, meeting many new people, celebrating and being treated like a true queen.
The last night, however, left the biggest impact on me. After hours of anticipation, I walked through the door in train and mantle and received the warmest of welcomes. The pride I felt for this festival at that moment was so overwhelming and I couldn’t help but cry the entire time I walked around the ballroom.
I feel like the luckiest girl in the entire world to have been given the opportunity to travel this year, but I could not have done it without my royal entourage. Mom, Nanny, Granny, Paige, Sarah, Brittany, and especially Charlie Ann. Thank you for being you, for sacrificing your weekends for me, and for always treating me like a queen. I’m the luckiest girl to have you for the rest of my life, and not just this year.
God has blessed me abundantly in this life he has allowed me to live. The love and pride I have for my hometown, the people and festival I represent is overwhelming.
It still hasn’t really set in that I was able to live my dreams, and I will forever be proud to have been the 79th Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival queen.
--By HAILEE ANN THOMAS
Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival queen
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Tickets for the coronation are $7 for adults and $5 for children. The ball follows at 9 p.m. Tickets for ball are $30 and purchasers must be 21. For tickets, contact the festival office at 985-385-0703.

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