The Golden Meadow-Fourchon Tarpon Rodeo is back after a one-year hiatus due to the COVID pandemic. Rodeo organizers announced that the 2021 event will be held from July 1-3 in Fourchon behind Moran's Marina. Rodeo President Eddie Callais said he and his team are ready to host the event, and he assures everyone that the event will be hosted responsibly and safely. “We are excited to move forward with the 72nd Annual Golden Meadow-Fourchon Tarpon Rodeo while ensuring that it is done in accordance with all safety guidelines!" Callais said. "Both local residents and participants throughout the Gulf Coast are ready for this event as the pandemic restrictions have been eased over the last couple of months." The Admiral for this year's event is Mike Melancon. Mike is a resident of Cut Off, the son of the late "Johnny" Melancon, Sr., and Audrey Melancon. He is married to Annie Melancon and is the father of Vanessa, Lauren, Michelle, Johnette and Cameron, and the grandfather of 7 grandchildren. Mike is an avid outdoorsman – a man born and raised in Lafourche. He is also a successful businessman. He and his family built Offshore Liftboats, which has served our community for decades. The rodeo is deeply entrenched in the Melancon family's history. Mike's father was the rodeo's 51st admiral in 1997, and his brother, John Jr., served as admiral in 2012. The family partnered with the rodeo a few years ago with the Offshore Liftboats Blue Collar Scholarship, which is awarded by rodeo officials and the Melancon family to a South Lafourche High School graduating senior that is not pursuing a university education. The recipient may use the scholarship to buy tools and supplies to begin a new career immediately after high school or to assist with vocational school expenses. In addition to the Blue Collar Scholarship, Mike and Annie also created the Johnny Melancon Memorial Scholarship, which is awarded to a local graduating senior attending a university. That scholarship goes to the recipient's university account and can be used for tuition, books or other university expenses. The 2021 admiral is an outdoorsman, who fishes the rodeo each year. He holds a rodeo record in swordfish. Mike said he and his family are honored to work so closely with the rodeo board and are looking forward to making the event a success. The rodeo will run July 1-3. Fishing will begin at safelight on July 1. Tent and scales open Friday and Saturday at 1 p.m. The mission of the Golden Meadow-Fourchon Tarpon Rodeo is to maintain the unique family-oriented sportsmen culture and heritage of Lafourche and Grand Isle through a community fishing rodeo, with proceeds dedicated to scholarships and educational opportunities for future generations.

The Lafourche Chamber Foundation is recognizing its 2020 scholarship recipients - all of whom will be attending Nicholls State University in the fall. The Chamber Foundation would like to give special thanks to the support of its membership, our community and also the Golden-Meadow Fourchon Tarpon Rodeo. Because of their support, the following students were able to earn a $4,000 scholarship. -Megan Chiasson, South Lafourche High School -Sarah Hodson, Central Lafourche High School -Mason Pierce, South Lafourche High School -Catherine Molaison, E.D. White Catholic High School --- EDITOR'S NOTE: Great kids, great choices! Thanks to the Chamber and to our community on a job well done in making a difference!

One of the biggest fishing rodeos in the Gulf South will not fish in 2020. The Golden Meadow-Fourchon Tarpon Rodeo announced today that it is postponing its annual fishing rodeo until July 2021 because of concerns from the COVID-19 pandemic and the effects that the pandemic is having on the local economy. The rodeo announced that it will still be offering scholarships to 2020 high school graduates. Going forward, the rodeo will be collaborating on other fundraising opportunities to go forward. "The mission of the Golden Meadow-Fourchon Tarpon Rodeo is to maintain the unique family-oriented sportsmen culture and heritage of Lafourche and Grand Isle through a community fishing rodeo, with proceeds dedicated to scholarships and educational opportunities for future generations," the statement reads. 

PORT FOURCHON -- Good weather, great fishing and four tarpons were the big stories at the 71st annual Golden Meadow/Fourchon Tarpon Rodeo, which concluded Saturday at Moran’s Marina. Simone Robichaux of Larose brought in the biggest tarpon at 149 pounds, 3 ounces and three others were brought to the scales. A number of anglers praised the weather, saying the lack of squalls led to flat seas and an abundance of fish. “It’s going great,” rodeo president Eddie Callais said. “You couldn’t ask for better weather than we had. The turnout has been great, and we’ve had lots of fish coming in. On day one, we had four tarpons come in. Nice tarpons. It’s always exciting to have tarpons come in.” “The fishing has been great this year,” Henry Noto of Baton Rouge said. “We were off Timbalier (Island), and we caught some red snapper and some big old mangrove snapper.” Spearfishing was also very strong. “We were out of Cocodrie,” Danny Jackson of the spearfishing club the Rigulators said. “We caught our limit of red snappers, some barracuda and a few lemon fish. The fishing was great.” The Rigulators won the Outstanding Spearfishing Club, and Rigulater James Halk won King Spearfisherman. Other category winners included Pete Landgrave of Lafayette, who won the award in the Big Game category, and Simone Robichaux of Larose, who took top honors in the Shoreline Division. Ryan Bagala of Larose took the Inside Division, and Kaylon Johnson of Thibodaux took the prize in the Kayak Division. In the Children’s Division, Kooper Worley of Cut Off was the outstanding boy fisherman and Bailey Ledet of Larose led the girls. The 2019 Rodeo Admiral Dr. Lee “Bo” Grafton was busy as well, placing in several categories and praised local fishing. “South Louisiana has the best fishing in the world,” Grafton said. “I took a fishing trip to Cabo recently. We paid $3000, and we caught exactly two fish. You can’t beat down here for fishing.” Longtime weighmaster Marty Bourgeois said the rodeo was a success. “We had a great turnout, and some good competition in a lot of species,” Bourgeois said. “Bull reds and redfish stringers were very competitive. We had lots of bonitos and Jack Cravells. We filled the board up, except for big game tag and release, which was kind of surprising. But it was a good rodeo. We were non-stop the first day, and the second day we had a lot of runs. Spearfishing was really good.” Here are the final results: BIG GAME DIVISION Dolphin: 1, Chad Breckenridge, Sabine, Tx, 43-0; 2, Hayden Callais, Galliano, 32-0; 3, Savanah Fremin, Thibodaux, 28-0. Black fin tuna: 1, Garrett Urey, Austin Tx, 24-4; 2, Tate Somes, Austin, 23-1; 3, Tate Somes, 22-8. Swordfish: 1, Joseph Ockmond, Vacherie, 85-5; 2, Mike Melancon, Cut Off, 65-5; 3, Mike Melancon, 53-10. Yellowfin tuna: 1, Jonathan Yu, Alabama, 56-5; 2, Maui Trevino, Austin, Tx, 48-10; 3, Will Ivey, Alabama, 45-1. Wahoo: 1, Pete Landgrave, Lafayette, 67-2; 2, Pete Landgrave, 34-0; 3, Hunter Andras, Choupic, 20-2. Tag and release: No entries. Outstanding Big Game Fisherman: Pete Landgrave, 5 points. SHORELINE DIVISION Tarpon: 1, Simone Robichaux, Larose, 149-3; 2, Roman Robichaux, Larose, 130-13; 3, John Cheramie, Grand Isle, 73-0. Bonito: 1, Christina Robinson, Central, 17-1; 2, Koby Bruce, Galliano, 14-14; 3, Bo Grafton, Thibodaux, 14-13. Cobia: 1, Ren Cheramie, Cut Off, 81-5; 2, Joseph Ockmond, Vacherie 51-5; 3, Mike Melancon, Cut Off, 24-0. Grouper: 1, Ren Cheramie, Cut Off, 81-5; 2, Joseph Ockmond, Vacherie, 51-5; 3, Mike Melancon, Cut Off, 24-0. Jack Cravelle: 1, Ava Plaisance, Cut Off, 31-3; 2, Beau Blanchard, Luling, 29-14; 3, Brock Danos, Cut Off, 28-10. King Mackerel: 1, Stephanie Chenier, Baton Rouge, 49-0; 2, Spookie Chenier, Baton Rouge, 26-5. Spanish Mackerel: 1, Ginger Curole, Cut Off, 6-0; 2, Bo Grafton, Thibodaux, 3-7; 3, Kevin Terrebonne Sr., Cut Off, 3-1. Mangrove snapper: 1, Britton Comeaux, Larose, 11-5; 2, Brett Orgeron, Cut Off, 10-13; 3, Erik Valenciano, Baton Rouge, 10-2. Red Snapper: 1, Monica Gisclair, Cut Off, 19-7; 2, Hunter Andras, Choupic, 17-13; 2, Joseph Ockmond, Vacherie, 16-14. Outstanding Shoreline Division Fisherman: Simone Robichaux, 3 points (tie breaker by total weight). INSIDE DIVISION Drum: 1, Benji Toups, Cut Off, 34-0; 2, Lloyd Pickering, Baton Rouge, 33-12; 3, Ritchie Toups, Raceland, 32-8. Flounder: 1, Kevin Terrebonne Jr., 2-4; 2, Eddie Callais, Cut Galliano, 2-2; 3, Ryan Bagala, Cut Off, 1-12. Gafftopsail catfish: 1, Ali Plaisance, Cut Off, 7-4; 2, Eddie Callais, Galliano, 6-12; 3, Lauren Plaisance, Cut Off, 6-6. Bull redfish: 1, Marty Plaisance, Cut Off, 37-14; 2, Kevin Terrebonne Jr., Golden Meadow, 37-8; 3, Coleen Carmadelle, Paradis, 35-7. Rat redfish: 1, Ryan Bagala, Cut Off, 8-6; 2, Ryan Bagala, Cut Off, 36-0; 3, Barry Bourgeois, Cut Off, 35-10. Redfish stringer: 1, Gary Bruce, Cut Off, 36-6; 2, Ryan Bagala, Cut Off, 36-0; 3, Barry Bourgeois, Cut Off, 35-10. Sheepshead: 1, Chad Hebert, Raceland, 5-13; 2, Matt DuBois, Larose, 5-10; 3, Daryl Corass, Metairie, 5-6. Speckled trout: 1, Pat Barker, Lockport, 3-13; 2, Pat Barker, 3-4; 3, Steve Wanko, Raceland, 3-1. Outstanding Inside Division Fisherman: Ryan Bagala, 7 points. SPEARFISHING DIVISION Barracuda: 1, Trey Patterson, Rigulators, 36-10; 2, James Halk, Rigulators, 31-11; 3, Danny Jackson, Rigulators, 29-5. Cobia: 1, Stephen Sherman, Rigulators, 46-4; 2, Kaleb McCollough, Hell Divers, 40-12; 3, Kaleb McCollough, Hell Divers, 39-13. Grouper: 1, Danny Jackson, Rigulators, 21-14; 2, Stephen Sherman, Rigulators, 19-15; 3, Chase Donaldson, Git ’em, 17-1. Jack Cravelle: 1, James Halk, Rigulators, 27-6; 2, Chase Donaldson, Git ’em, 26-3; 3, Travis Woodward, Git ’em, 24-14. Sheepshead: 1, Abbie Woodward, Git ’em, 5-6; 2, Chase Donaldson, Git ’em, 5-6; 3, Troy Donaldson, Git ’em, 5-4. Mangrove snapper: 1, Abbie Woodward, Git ’em, 9-12; 2, James Halk, Rigulators, 9-7; 3, Danny Jackson, Rigulators, 9-0. Red Snapper: 1, Troy Patterson, Rigulators, 19-12; 2, Brandon McGehee, Rigulators, 19-12; 3, Troy Donaldson, Git’ em, 19-11. King Spearfisherman: Kevin Halk, Rigulators, 7 points. Outstanding Spearfishing Club: Rigulators, 24 points. KAYAK DIVISION Cajun Slam: 1, Jacob Shrell, Shreveport, 6-3; 2, Trey Wanko, Raceland, 5-1. Rat Redfish: 1, Kalon Johnson, Thibodaux, 7-2; 2, Johnson, 7-0; 3, Johnson, 6-7. Speckled trout: 1, Trey Wanko, Raceland, 2-11; 2, Wanko, 2-1; 3, Davie Breaux, Cut Off, 1-13. Leopard redfish: 1, Kalon Johnson, Thibodaux, 2 spots. Outstanding Kayak Division Fisherman: Kalon Johnson, Thibodaux, 9 points. CHILDREN’S DIVISION Sheepshead: 1, Coreysen Hebert, Raceland, 4-6; 2, Jake Bourgeois, Raceland, 4-6; 3, Coreyson Hebert, 4-4. Speckled Trout: 1, Kooper Wortley, Cut Off, 3-0; 2, Blakely Cheramie, Larose, 3-0; 2, Bailey Ledet, 2-15. Drum: 1, Bailey Ledet, Larose, 23-14; 2, Blakeley Cheramie, Larose, 23-5; 3, Jack Griffin, Cut Off, 23-4. Gaffstopsail catfish: 1, Sophia Lefort, Cut Off, 6-4; 2, Briana Perez, Cut Off, 6-2; 3, Ava Plaisance, Cut Off, 6-1. Rat redfish: 1, Kooper Worley, Cut Off, 8-0; 2, Micha Kieffer, Thibodaux, 7-11; 3, Madix Latiolais, Golden Meadow, 6-14. Leopard redfish: 1, Jay Punch, Lockport, 3 spots; 2, Bailey Ledet, Larose, 2 spots. Top boy angler: Kooper Worley, 6 points. Top boy angler: Bailey Ledet, 5 points.

PORT FOURCHON -- Good weather, great fishing and four tarpons were the big stories at the 71st annual Golden Meadow/Fourchon Tarpon Rodeo, which concluded Saturday at Moran’s Marina. Simone Robichaux of Larose brought in the biggest tarpon at 149 pounds, 3 ounces and three others were brought to the scales. A number of anglers praised the weather, saying the lack of squalls led to flat seas and an abundance of fish. “It’s going great,” rodeo president Eddie Callais said. “You couldn’t ask for better weather than we had. The turnout has been great, and we’ve had lots of fish coming in. On day one, we had four tarpons come in. Nice tarpons. It’s always exciting to have tarpons come in.” “The fishing has been great this year,” Henry Noto of Baton Rouge said. “We were off Timbalier (Island), and we caught some red snapper and some big old mangrove snapper.” Spearfishing was also very strong. “We were out of Cocodrie,” Danny Jackson of the spearfishing club the Rigulators said. “We caught our limit of red snappers, some barracuda and a few lemon fish. The fishing was great.” The Rigulators won the Outstanding Spearfishing Club, and Rigulater James Halk won King Spearfisherman. Other category winners included Pete Landgrave of Lafayette, who won the award in the Big Game category, and Simone Robichaux of Larose, who took top honors in the Shoreline Division. Ryan Bagala of Larose took the Inside Division, and Kaylon Johnson of Thibodaux took the prize in the Kayak Division. In the Children’s Division, Kooper Worley of Cut Off was the outstanding boy fisherman and Bailey Ledet of Larose led the girls. The 2019 Rodeo Admiral Dr. Lee “Bo” Grafton was busy as well, placing in several categories and praised local fishing. “South Louisiana has the best fishing in the world,” Grafton said. “I took a fishing trip to Cabo recently. We paid $3000, and we caught exactly two fish. You can’t beat down here for fishing.” Longtime weighmaster Marty Bourgeois said the rodeo was a success. “We had a great turnout, and some good competition in a lot of species,” Bourgeois said. “Bull reds and redfish stringers were very competitive. We had lots of bonitos and Jack Cravells. We filled the board up, except for big game tag and release, which was kind of surprising. But it was a good rodeo. We were non-stop the first day, and the second day we had a lot of runs. Spearfishing was really good.” Here are the final results: BIG GAME DIVISION Dolphin: 1, Chad Breckenridge, Sabine, Tx, 43-0; 2, Hayden Callais, Galliano, 32-0; 3, Savanah Fremin, Thibodaux, 28-0. Black fin tuna: 1, Garrett Urey, Austin Tx, 24-4; 2, Tate Somes, Austin, 23-1; 3, Tate Somes, 22-8. Swordfish: 1, Joseph Ockmond, Vacherie, 85-5; 2, Mike Melancon, Cut Off, 65-5; 3, Mike Melancon, 53-10. Yellowfin tuna: 1, Jonathan Yu, Alabama, 56-5; 2, Maui Trevino, Austin, Tx, 48-10; 3, Will Ivey, Alabama, 45-1. Wahoo: 1, Pete Landgrave, Lafayette, 67-2; 2, Pete Landgrave, 34-0; 3, Hunter Andras, Choupic, 20-2. Tag and release: No entries. Outstanding Big Game Fisherman: Pete Landgrave, 5 points. SHORELINE DIVISION Tarpon: 1, Simone Robichaux, Larose, 149-3; 2, Roman Robichaux, Larose, 130-13; 3, John Cheramie, Grand Isle, 73-0. Bonito: 1, Christina Robinson, Central, 17-1; 2, Koby Bruce, Galliano, 14-14; 3, Bo Grafton, Thibodaux, 14-13. Cobia: 1, Ren Cheramie, Cut Off, 81-5; 2, Joseph Ockmond, Vacherie 51-5; 3, Mike Melancon, Cut Off, 24-0. Grouper: 1, Ren Cheramie, Cut Off, 81-5; 2, Joseph Ockmond, Vacherie, 51-5; 3, Mike Melancon, Cut Off, 24-0. Jack Cravelle: 1, Ava Plaisance, Cut Off, 31-3; 2, Beau Blanchard, Luling, 29-14; 3, Brock Danos, Cut Off, 28-10. King Mackerel: 1, Stephanie Chenier, Baton Rouge, 49-0; 2, Spookie Chenier, Baton Rouge, 26-5. Spanish Mackerel: 1, Ginger Curole, Cut Off, 6-0; 2, Bo Grafton, Thibodaux, 3-7; 3, Kevin Terrebonne Sr., Cut Off, 3-1. Mangrove snapper: 1, Britton Comeaux, Larose, 11-5; 2, Brett Orgeron, Cut Off, 10-13; 3, Erik Valenciano, Baton Rouge, 10-2. Red Snapper: 1, Monica Gisclair, Cut Off, 19-7; 2, Hunter Andras, Choupic, 17-13; 2, Joseph Ockmond, Vacherie, 16-14. Outstanding Shoreline Division Fisherman: Simone Robichaux, 3 points (tie breaker by total weight). INSIDE DIVISION Drum: 1, Benji Toups, Cut Off, 34-0; 2, Lloyd Pickering, Baton Rouge, 33-12; 3, Ritchie Toups, Raceland, 32-8. Flounder: 1, Kevin Terrebonne Jr., 2-4; 2, Eddie Callais, Cut Galliano, 2-2; 3, Ryan Bagala, Cut Off, 1-12. Gafftopsail catfish: 1, Ali Plaisance, Cut Off, 7-4; 2, Eddie Callais, Galliano, 6-12; 3, Lauren Plaisance, Cut Off, 6-6. Bull redfish: 1, Marty Plaisance, Cut Off, 37-14; 2, Kevin Terrebonne Jr., Golden Meadow, 37-8; 3, Coleen Carmadelle, Paradis, 35-7. Rat redfish: 1, Ryan Bagala, Cut Off, 8-6; 2, Ryan Bagala, Cut Off, 36-0; 3, Barry Bourgeois, Cut Off, 35-10. Redfish stringer: 1, Gary Bruce, Cut Off, 36-6; 2, Ryan Bagala, Cut Off, 36-0; 3, Barry Bourgeois, Cut Off, 35-10. Sheepshead: 1, Chad Hebert, Raceland, 5-13; 2, Matt DuBois, Larose, 5-10; 3, Daryl Corass, Metairie, 5-6. Speckled trout: 1, Pat Barker, Lockport, 3-13; 2, Pat Barker, 3-4; 3, Steve Wanko, Raceland, 3-1. Outstanding Inside Division Fisherman: Ryan Bagala, 7 points. SPEARFISHING DIVISION Barracuda: 1, Trey Patterson, Rigulators, 36-10; 2, James Halk, Rigulators, 31-11; 3, Danny Jackson, Rigulators, 29-5. Cobia: 1, Stephen Sherman, Rigulators, 46-4; 2, Kaleb McCollough, Hell Divers, 40-12; 3, Kaleb McCollough, Hell Divers, 39-13. Grouper: 1, Danny Jackson, Rigulators, 21-14; 2, Stephen Sherman, Rigulators, 19-15; 3, Chase Donaldson, Git ’em, 17-1. Jack Cravelle: 1, James Halk, Rigulators, 27-6; 2, Chase Donaldson, Git ’em, 26-3; 3, Travis Woodward, Git ’em, 24-14. Sheepshead: 1, Abbie Woodward, Git ’em, 5-6; 2, Chase Donaldson, Git ’em, 5-6; 3, Troy Donaldson, Git ’em, 5-4. Mangrove snapper: 1, Abbie Woodward, Git ’em, 9-12; 2, James Halk, Rigulators, 9-7; 3, Danny Jackson, Rigulators, 9-0. Red Snapper: 1, Troy Patterson, Rigulators, 19-12; 2, Brandon McGehee, Rigulators, 19-12; 3, Troy Donaldson, Git’ em, 19-11. King Spearfisherman: Kevin Halk, Rigulators, 7 points. Outstanding Spearfishing Club: Rigulators, 24 points. KAYAK DIVISION Cajun Slam: 1, Jacob Shrell, Shreveport, 6-3; 2, Trey Wanko, Raceland, 5-1. Rat Redfish: 1, Kalon Johnson, Thibodaux, 7-2; 2, Johnson, 7-0; 3, Johnson, 6-7. Speckled trout: 1, Trey Wanko, Raceland, 2-11; 2, Wanko, 2-1; 3, Davie Breaux, Cut Off, 1-13. Leopard redfish: 1, Kalon Johnson, Thibodaux, 2 spots. Outstanding Kayak Division Fisherman: Kalon Johnson, Thibodaux, 9 points. CHILDREN’S DIVISION Sheepshead: 1, Coreysen Hebert, Raceland, 4-6; 2, Jake Bourgeois, Raceland, 4-6; 3, Coreyson Hebert, 4-4. Speckled Trout: 1, Kooper Wortley, Cut Off, 3-0; 2, Blakely Cheramie, Larose, 3-0; 2, Bailey Ledet, 2-15. Drum: 1, Bailey Ledet, Larose, 23-14; 2, Blakeley Cheramie, Larose, 23-5; 3, Jack Griffin, Cut Off, 23-4. Gaffstopsail catfish: 1, Sophia Lefort, Cut Off, 6-4; 2, Briana Perez, Cut Off, 6-2; 3, Ava Plaisance, Cut Off, 6-1. Rat redfish: 1, Kooper Worley, Cut Off, 8-0; 2, Micha Kieffer, Thibodaux, 7-11; 3, Madix Latiolais, Golden Meadow, 6-14. Leopard redfish: 1, Jay Punch, Lockport, 3 spots; 2, Bailey Ledet, Larose, 2 spots. Top boy angler: Kooper Worley, 6 points. Top boy angler: Bailey Ledet, 5 points.

The Golden Meadow-Fourchon Tarpon Rodeo presented a total of $34,000 in scholarships at South Lafourche High School’s Senior Scholarship Social this year with the support of Title Sponsor ES&H. Pictured along with ES&H Representatives are Golden Meadow-Fourchon Tarpon Rodeo board members Dr. Lee “Bo” Grafton, 2019 Admiral, Eddie Callais, President and Terry Danos, Treasurer. South Lafourche High School 2019 scholarship recipients were Madison Adams, Brock Bychurch, Laurel Chiasson, Evan Cloutier, Camryn Gisclair, Johnnie Lynn Guidry, Joseph Pitre, Gabrielle Price and Gabriela Summerlin. The mission of the Rodeo is to maintain the unique family oriented sportsmen culture and heritage of Lafourche and Grand Isle through a community fishing rodeo, with proceeds dedicated to scholarships and educational opportunities for future generations. The 2019 Golden Meadow-Fourchon Tarpon Rodeo will be held July 4, 5 and 6, at Moran’s Marina in Fourchon.

We are happy to announce Dr. Lee “Bo” Grafton as the Admiral of the 71st Annual Golden Meadow Fourchon Tarpon Rodeo. Dr. Grafton resides in Thibodaux, Louisiana. He is married to, Becky Aysen Grafton, and has three wonderful children, Beau (10), Georgia (8), and Leigh (6). He grew up in Ruston, Louisiana where his passion for hunting and fishing began. He received his medical degree from LSU Medical Center-Shreveport and completed his residency in Dermatology at LSU Medical Center in New Orleans, with the title of Chief Resident. In July 1999, Dr. Grafton opened Grafton Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery, an independent practice in Thibodaux, Louisiana. Over the past 20 years, his practice has grown to providing multiple Dermatologist, Physician Assistants, and Nurse Practitioners and has expanded to four locations servicing Thibodaux, Houma, Raceland and Morgan City.

The 70th Annual Golden Meadow-Fourchon Tarpon Rodeo will kick off this week beginning Thursday, July 5 and run through Saturday, July 7 at Moran’s Marina in Fourchon. The long-running rodeo has a little something for everyone in the entire family. There’s fishing, food booths, a cook-off, live music, an auction and much more, all under an air-conditioned tent. Also, new to this year’s rodeo will be high-tech entertainment trucks for the kids, featured musical performers and a swordfishing category added to the bluewater division. “We’re known as one of the rodeos that basically has a category that would fit almost anyone,” said Eddie Callais, president of the rodeo board. Callais also made sure to include plenty of entertainment that both the fishers and their families can enjoy. This year’s live music will feature performances by Rich O’Toole and the band BACWEN. Vendors will be selling their wares, and those in attendance can participate in a raffle and an auction. Items included in the events include sports memorabilia, such as a football signed by Saints Hall of Famer Richie Jackson. Also included are tickets to an Astros game, with seats right behind home plate. “Scholarships and the Lafourche Chamber are where 100 percent of the proceeds are distributed from the rodeo,” said Callais. Last year, the rodeo gave $32,500 in scholarships to graduating seniors of South Lafourche High School, and with the record attendance that Callais expects at the rodeo this year, he’s certain that this year’s donations will surpass last year’s record. The first 75 children who enter the rodeo with their ticket will receive a free rod and reel. Also, tickets to the rodeo, which go for $35 per adult and $20 per child, will include admission to the big Shrimp Ball, which will occur Saturday evening. Each year, chefs from all around Louisiana compete in the rodeo’s annual King of the Catch Cook Off. Tickets for the cook off are $15 each, and the tasting will run from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, July 6. Teams will cook up dishes featuring some of the delicious Louisiana seafood items as a main ingredient, such as crawfish, shrimp, crabs, fish, oysters, frog legs, alligator or turtle. For more information, to purchase tickets or to become a sponsor, visit the rodeo’s official website www.gmfourchontarponrodeo.com.

Golden Meadow-Fourchon Tarpon Rodeo officials announced today their 2018 rodeo Admiral. Trey Boucvalt has been named Admiral for the 70th Annual Golden Meadow-Fourchon Tarpon Rodeo that will take place July 5th, 6th, and 7th at Moran’s Marina in Fourchon, LA. Boucvalt, a current resident of Austin, TX, has lifelong ties to the River and Bayou parishes. He spent his youth in the River Parishes and most of his adult life on the Bayou before moving to Austin, TX. Boucvalt is married to the former Brandi Fryoux for 23 years. They have 2 children Lex (16 yrs) and Ori (15 yrs). Boucvalt has 2 siblings. Jason M Boucvalt and Allison Boucvalt Froeba. Unfortunately, Boucvalt’s parents, Lawrence X Boucvalt JR and Kathryn Denoux Boucvalt, are no longer with us, everyone knows that they are both smiling from the heavens and are very proud parents. They both loved the Golden Meadow – Fourchon area and have made many memories at the rodeo. Upon accepting the position of Admiral, Boucvalt said, “This is a dream come true. I cannot think of a greater honor.” Boucvalt enjoys extracurricular activities such as hunting, fishing, golf and attending any sporting event. He currently serves on the LSU tiger Athletic Foundation Board of Directors and on the St. Michael’s Catholic Academy Board, as a trustee. In 2005, Boucvalt was elected as the Louisiana State Young Alumnus of the year. Boucvalt, just recently signed a letter of intent to purchase the LA Tour Golf Community, which he plans to follow John Brady’s vision and dream and fully develop the property and make it one of the most prestigious communities to live and visit in South LA. Boucvalt, currently CEO of ES&H, has enjoyed success in the Environmental and Industrial Services sectors. He formed ES&H in 1994 with just 2 employees and now has over 300 employees in the Gulf of Mexico Region. Boucvalt/ES&H was a major factor in the Hurricane Katrina and Deep Water Horizon clean-ups. Boucvalt is very excited and humbled about the opportunity. “I am blessed to represent a fun, family event as Admiral of 2018, which I have participated in my entire life. I encourage all families to come and enjoy the fun and make as many memories as they can and seize the moment. Please come and enjoy our South LA hospitality of great food and music under the air-conditioned tent and of course fishing. We have many categories to enter and offer great prizes.” Rodeo officials also announced that local artist Christy Boutte has been commissioned to put this year’s artwork for the rodeo that will be used to produce shirts, memorabilia, and the official rodeo book and poster. The Rodeo events officially start on the July 4th at La Tour Golf course with all proceeds going to the scholarship program. For more information on the golf tournament, contact Johnny Friloux at johnnyf@latourgolfclub.com. The feature band on Friday, July 6th will be country singer, Rich O’ Toole. The King of the Catch competition will also be held on July 6th. The band Back Wen will conclude the festivities Saturday night, July 7th. The 70th Annual Golden Meadow – Fourchon Tarpon Rodeo weigh scales will officially open Friday, July 6th and close Saturday, July 7th. For more information please visit us on the web at fourchontarpon.com and check out our official profiles on Facebook and Instagram.