Domangue offers her farewell as S&P Festival queen

The 84th Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival King and Queen William A. “Bill” Cefalu and Leah Domangue will relinquish their reign when the Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival Coronation is held Saturday at the Morgan City Municipal Auditorium.
This year’s coronation will not be open to the general public due to the resurgence of COVID-19. The Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival set for Labor Day weekend was canceled on Aug. 16 by the festival board as a precaution. The pandemic also caused the cancellation of the 2020 celebration.
As the queen, Domangue has served as the festival’s ambassador at pageants and festivals that were held in Louisiana. She also attended the Mystick Krewe of Louisianians’ Mardi Gras celebration in Washington, D.C.
Here is her farewell letter.
“Most people may see this crown and title as beauty and grace, which it is. However, many people do not see or get to experience the meaning and love behind it that I do. Being the Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival Queen may just be a title for some girls, but this title is so much more than just a title for me. It is the memories I have made, it is the knowledge I have gained, and it is the honor of representing this festival and my hometown.
“Due to COVID-19, I had my reign extended a year; however, I was not able to experience two years’ worth of events. When COVID shut down everything, that also included all festivals, so even though I may have physically had a two year reign, I still was only able to experience as much as any past queen has.
“With that being said, I have attended about 24 festival events and traveled over 5,000 miles. I rode on a tractor through a sugarcane field in New Iberia, picked some cotton in Ville Platte, saw how rice is harvested in Crowley, ate some gumbo in the Gumbo Capital of the World, picked some delicious oranges in Plaquemine’s Parish, watched the lighting of the bonfire in Lutcher, held a nutria rat and baby gator in Cameron Parish, picked the sweetest strawberries in Ponchatoula, ate way too many oysters in Amite, made some spicy boudin in Scott, went crawfishing in Breaux Bridge, and shot skeet in Geuydan.
“Aside from festivals, I was also able to attend the Louisiana Association of Fairs and Festivals convention in Baton Rouge. One of the most memorable events of all, though, was my time spent in Washington, D.C. for the Mystick Krewe of Louisianians Mardi Gras celebration. This event was even more special for me than it already is because the king of the Krewe was Mr. Greg Hamer from here in Morgan City, so there were many people from our community there. Nothing will ever compare to the feeling of hearing the loud roars from the crowd when my name was announced each night. Thank you to all who were there and made me feel so special.
“As I think back on all the amazing events I have been able to experience, I am overwhelmed by the amount of love and support I have received from this community. I think of every single person who has contributed to making this the best two years of my life, but unfortunately I was not given enough space to thank everyone. Just know that I am truly grateful for all of you.
“To the Festival Board: Thank you for giving me this opportunity to represent Morgan City and the Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival. I hope I represented the festival and this city well and was everything you look for in a queen and more.
“To my King Bill and the Cefalu family: Thank you for all of your love and support you have given me since the very moment I was crowned.
“Lastly, to my parents: Honestly, I would not have been able to do any of this without you. Thank you for coming to every single event with me and always finding a way to have just as much fun as me. I truly appreciate everything that you have done for me. Words will never express how thankful I am for you. I love you so much.”