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ABOUT THE BARN &
ITS HISTORY
Johnny and Kathy Richard transformed the former stockyard owned by Johnny’s family into a venue for musical entertainment in the late 1990’s.
Johnny is a 3rd generation cattleman, one of the last of the marsh cowboys in Vermilion Parish. From the time he was 7 years old, he attended and worked the livestock auctions in his family-owned barn.
In 1937, Johnny’s grandfather Jean. (French version of John) Avery Richard, built the first building, opening the auction business under the name of Avery's Place. When Johnny’s father, John Avery Richard II, returned from WWII, the current structure was crafted and the Abbeville Commission Company was created (that name can still be seen on the front of the building).
Many years later, after the business ceased, the barn remained vacated for several years until Johnny Richard and his wife, Kathy, purchased it from family members around 1990. The couple opened it as a gallery to sell their handmade wares. Johnny specialized in making saddles and whips, while Kathy was a jewelry designer whose work featured alligator teeth.
In 1996, the barn was put on the historical registry. It is one of the few remaining wooden stockyard.. Many stockyards now are made of metal, but Richard Sale Barn is a wooden structure. The barn is situated along the Vermilion Bayou. When it was used as a stockyard, it was customary for people to go to the auctions, which were held on Tuesday, many arriving by boat on the Vermilion River because the roads were difficult.
French speaking people would sit on one side and English speaking customers would sit on the other side. The French always had the best seats because J. Avery was a proud Frenchman and at the time, the area consisted mostly of Frenchman. The facility was originally designed to project the voice of livestock auctioneers, making it a perfect venue today for musicians. Regardless of where you sit in the barn, the acoustics are great!
Today, musical tunes replace the auctions as the facility promotes and preserves the rural French and cowboy culture and music. The barn has drawn several famous Acadian music legends such as Zachary Richard, Michael Juan Nunez, Sonny Landreth, Lil Buck Sinegal, Carol Fran, Micheal Doucet, Roddie Romero, Eric Adcock, Tommy McLain, and others.
Richard Sale Barn holds concerts in the Spring and Fall. The wall behind the stage (and even more into the front room) is filled with the signatures of performers. Having their signature on the wall beside other musician friends and heros is a great honor.
The front room of the barn holds relics of a bygone area, reminders of when Vermilion Parish was the largest livestock producer and when marsh cowboys roamed the land, herding cattle.
Besides concert posters, the front room is filled with saddles made by Johnny Richard. He has since retired to promote Le Bayou Legendaire Company with his wife, Kathy. Johnny feels his grandfather and father who ran the auctions would be happy with what they have done with the barn.
The Richard Sale Barn is operated by the non-profit organization, Le Bayou Legendaire Company.