Korie LeBlanc, an avid local saltwater angler, has her sights on getting this fishing rod Thursday night at the CCA-Louisiana Sugar Chapter banquet at the Cade Community Center.

CADE — A steady stream of vehicles, mostly pickup trucks with trailer hitches under the tailgate, arriving at the Cade Community Center was a sight for sore eyes on a rainy Thursday.

They were there for the Coastal Conservation Association-Louisiana’s annual Sugar Chapter banquet.

The chapter prides itself on being one of the best if not the best in the Sportsman’s Paradise. But the annual fundraiser fell on hard times a year ago.

Brooks Amy, an avid saltwater fisherman and staunch supporter of CCA-Louisiana, remembered how coronavirus-related issues whittled attendance to 200-250 in August 2021. There was plenty of room in the center, to say the least.

“I tell you what, last year there weren’t half this many people,” Amy said as the parking lots filled and people walked hurriedly to get out of the rain around 6 p.m.

A few hours later, CCA-Louisiana Regional Director Sam Hopper of Baton Rouge, formerly of Monroe, surveyed the crowd — estimated at 750 people — and said, “They absolutely blew it out of the water this year. CCA’s Sugar Chapter is back.”

Yes, it was socializing and business as usual that perhaps no one else can match from the folks in the heart of Cajun Country. CCA-Louisiana officials pegged the preliminary total at between $140,000-$150,000.

The raffle took in approximately $25,000 while the silent auction raised in the neighborhood of $16,000-$18,000, Hopper said.

Last year’s event grossed about $100K.

The Sugar Chapter’s 2022 Al Broussard Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Sugar Chapter banquet chairman Sandy Derise of Youngsville, formerly of Jeanerette. Broussard was Loreauville’s mayor and a highly respected Sugar Chapter member who died in a car crash April 3, 2015.

Derise, a 48-year-old sales manager for Stabil Drill, an oil field service company, said he was humbled to be this year’s honoree. The award was presented by Broussard’s daughters, Alison Saunier, and Ashlie Boutte, and his 10-year-old granddaughter, Sophia Saunier.

“We have a super group of guys and girls that work on our team. Every year we seem to make it happen. An award coming from that group is amazing,” he said.

Derise, who has been with the chapter 15 years, was thrilled by the turnout on the heels of heavy thunderstorms that crashed through the area for several hours before doors opened at 5:30 p.m. The size of the crowd also impressed Hopper, CCA-Louisiana’s regional director who attended the event with S.T.A.R. director Rad Trascher of Baton Rouge.

“Man, unbelievable, a great night! It was a great crowd. The (Sugar Chapter) committee members are some of the best in the state. You can’t find any better. The community responds. You could feel the energy when you walk in the room. You can tell they love saltwater fishing and conservation of the coast,” Hopper said that night.

On Friday, while getting out of the rain after traveling to Hackberry on the western edge of Calcasieu Lake, Hopper heaped more praise on the event and said, “I’ve been with CCA for a year now. That’s the best live auction I’ve ever seen. Charlie Willis has been doing it … next year will be his 40th year. He’s got more experience than most.”

The Lake Charles auctioneer has been the auctioneer for CCA before it was CCA (formerly Gulf Coast Conservation Association), Hopper said. Willis’ 40 years of experience showed as the live auction raised “just north of $55,000,” according to preliminary reports.

There were 31 live auction items listed in the program from a Go to Africa hunting trip to South Africa’s Limpopo Province to an Argentina Dove Hunt to a Ladies Night donated by Emily Katherine Boutique to seven-day vacation in Costa Rica for 8.

Derise, the chapter’s banquet chairman, appreciated the live auction results. He thanked the banquet-goers who represent the core of the area’s saltwater fishing community.

“They came out and they opened their pockets for a good cause,” he said about CCA-Louisiana. “I think it’s a great cause. It helps conservation and ensures young kids they can enjoy wildlife like we did growing up.”

Hopper tipped his cap to the Volunteer of the Year Award-winning Derise.

“Sandy’s just a phenomenal guy. I feel Sandy loves everybody and everybody who knows him loves Sandy,” the CCA-Louisiana official said.

Those who filed into the center dined on fried catfish, chicken/pork/sausage jambalaya, green beans and brownies prepared by Bon Creole in New Iberia. Randy Montegut, owner, said his staffers cooked 120 pounds of meat, 225 pounds of fried catch, 140 pounds of green beans and 55 pounds of rice.

Montegut’s daughter-in-law, Adele Bonnet Montegut, who coordinates the catering, said the restaurant has been serving CCA-Louisiana since 2008 when the events were held in the New Iberia Community Center. They once served 850 banquet-goers for a CCA-Louisiana event at the Cade Community Center.