Ville Platte Chamber gives out annual awards during banquet

The Ville Platte Chamber of Commerce had its most successful annual banquet on Wednesday, April 29, with an attendance of at least 250 people at the North Side Civic Center.
Jeffery Sylvester was voted Agricultural Person of the Year for his leadership role and success as a rice grower. He was president of the Evangeline Parish Rice Growers Association for 15 years and president of the a state rice growers association for 17 years. He has also had leadership roles in LSU programs and more recently led a rice growers outreach organization that toured Brazil and Uruguay.
Sylvester also has been an active member of his community, including coaching basketball for 25 years at Sacred Heart Elementary School. “I am very humbled by everyone who thought of me,” and voted him Agricultural Person of the Year, he said later in the week.
Chamber members voted as Man of the Year Nick LeBas, who with his family owns Evangeline Drug Store, and is owner of Fuselier Pharmacy in Pine Prairie. LeBas has been a central figure in many aspects of the local community, having served as chamber president and on Sacred Heart School Board and other local boards. He has volunteered with youth athletics, the Ville Platte Golf & Country Club, Rotary Club and others.
The three nominees for Woman of the Year were notably not from Ville Platte: Jennifer Meylian with KVPI; Linda Lebsack, a volunteer with at the Friends of the Library and at the Evangeline Parish Tourism Commission; and Mary Foster Galasso, parish library director. Meylian and Lebsack got tie votes for Woman of the Year.
Two people tied in votes received among the 10 nominees for Business Person of the year. They were Annette Johnson of Kolder, Champagne, Slaven and Company; and Larry Lachney, owner of Papa Gators Cajun Foods, Money Mart, Gators Drive Through and Lachney Properties.
The one business to receive the most votes among the 11 nominated for Business of the Year was The Hatchery. Owner Anita Fontenot opened the store in Vidrine in August 2013, near where her father established one of his numerous successful commercial ventures. The store offers new furniture, gifts, and hosts special events.