Strawberry Festival Guide

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FESTIVAL GUIDE

FLORIDA

PLANT CITYObserver

2013 FLORIDA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL2

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THE PLANT CITY OBSERVER 3

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We are excited to be celebrating our 78th

anniversary Feb. 28 to March 10, and we’re look-ing forward to having you join us in creating “Our Masterpiece of Fun!”

This year, the festival will be working on its

masterpiece by bringing an exciting headline entertainment lineup, com-petitive con-tests, youth events, free on-grounds

entertainment, thrilling rides and, of course, delicious strawberries!

The Wish Farms Soundstage will be host-ing 26 headline acts during the festival (see page 4). This year’s festival also will feature free daily, family-ori-ented entertainment, nearly 400 vendors, exhibitors and food concessions, as well

as Belle City Amusement’s Midway — with more than 80 thrilling rides.

Adult advance gate admission ticket sale prices are $8 for ages 13 and up, and youth tickets purchased in advance are $4 for ages 6 to 12. Children under 6 are admitted free, when accompanied by a ticketed adult.

Advance general admis-sion and show tickets can be purchased on the festival’s website, flstraw-berryfestival.com; by call-ing the ticket office, (813) 754-1996; or by visiting the Amscot Main Ticket Gate, 2209 W. Oak Ave., Plant City.

The festival is again teaming with Sweetbay Supermarkets, where advance gate admission tickets can be purchased through March 10. The full listing of participating Sweetbay Supermarket locations is available on the

festival’s website. And, the festival now

has its own free app. The Florida Strawberry Festival App can be found at both the iTunes and Android stores by searching “Florida Strawberry Festival.” The app not only puts valu-able information at your fingertips but also can help you make your day at the festival a true masterpiece by scheduling reminders of the exciting events taking place on our grounds. And don’t forget, the app is your GPS. When you park your car, be sure to set the app to remember your loca-tion, so when you’re ready to head home, the app will navigate you back to where you started.

After listening to our patrons and evaluating the annual Moonlight Magic Nights, we have decided to change the hours from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. to 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. We believe this

change in time not only will enhance the value of the experience but also give families better opportunities to come out and enjoy the midway magic.

New to the festival this year is “JUMP” The Ultimate Dog Show; a non-stop, action-packed, canine thrill show that showcases incredible dogs and their handlers performing amaz-ing stunts to upbeat music. We also are excited to wel-come The Sweeney Family Band’s “Country Comedy Revue,” which many of you may have seen at the Volunteer Appreciation Dinner last November.

Be sure to come out and see the newly completed Ag Complex, which will be used to house livestock and plants during the festival. The completion of the Astin Farms and Ed and Myrtle Lou Swindle Family Pavilions is a dream come true, and we can’t wait for you to see.

Paul Davis, general manager,

Florida Strawberry Festival

ABOUT THE COVER

2013 Junior Royalty Baroness Kamri DePianta, 5, loved sampling some of Plant City’s signature crop during our cover photo shoot. Special thanks to the DePianta family and Parkesdale Farm Market for providing both the strawberries and beautiful location. Cover photo by Amber Jurgensen.

WELCOME TO THE 2013 FLORIDASTRAWBERRYFESTIVAL!

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THURSDAY FEB. 2810 a.m. to 2 p.m. Canada Calling with Prior Smith (near Gate 16)10:30 a.m. Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra, free (Wish Farms Soundstage)11:45 a.m. Senior Citizens Drawing 3:30 p.m. Chubby Checker, $15 and $20 (Wish Farms Soundstage)7 p.m. CF Industries Youth Swine Show (Patterson Co. Livestock Arena)7:30 p.m. Foreigner, $25. This rock group has sold more than 70 million albums in its career. (Wish Farms Soundstage)

FRIDAY MARCH 11 p.m. Fried Corn on the Cob Eating Contest (Stingray Chevrolet Entertainment Tent)1 p.m. Dairy Contestant Judging (Patterson Co. Livestock Arena)3:30 p.m. Gene Watson, $15 and $20 (Wish Farms Soundstage)7 p.m. CF Industries Youth Swine Sale (Patterson Co. Livestock Arena)7 p.m. Karaoke Contest (Sweetbay Supermarket Showcase Tent)7:30 p.m. Casting Crowns, $20 and $25 (Wish Farms Soundstage) (SEE BOX)10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Moonlight Magic

SATURDAY MARCH 211 a.m. 40th Annual Plant City Civitan Club Youth Parade (SEE PAGE 6)Noon Dairy Show Showmanship (Patterson Co. Livestock Arena)1 p.m. Caroline Kole, free (Wish Farms Soundstage)1 p.m. Youth Strawberry Stemming (Stingray Chevrolet Entertainment Tent)

2 p.m. Dairy Show (Patterson Co. Livestock Arena)3:30 p.m. Gloriana, $15 and $20 (Wish Farms Soundstage7 p.m. Next Radical Generation (Sweetbay Supermarket Showcase Tent)7:30 p.m. Justin Moore, $15 and $20. Moore penned the No. 1 hit, “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away.” (Wish Farms Soundstage) SUNDAY MARCH 311 a.m. Adult Showmanship — Dairy (Patterson Co. Livestock Arena)11:30 a.m. Pee Wee Showmanship — Dairy (Patterson Co. Livestock Arena)12:30 p.m. Dairy Costume Ball (Patterson Co. Livestock Arena)2 p.m. Youth Plant Sale (Swindle Family Pavilion)3:30 p.m. Randy Houser, $15 and $20 (Wish Farms Soundstage)3:45 to 4:45 p.m. Registration for Baby Contest (Hillsborough County babies only) (Sweetbay Supermarket Showcase Tent)5 to 7 p.m. Baby Contest (Sweetbay Supermarket Showcase Tent)7:30 p.m. Alan Jackson, $45. Grammy win-ner Alan Jackson has recorded more than 20 chart-toppers. (Wish Farms Soundstage)

MONDAY MARCH 47:30 a.m. Farm Credit Strawberry Salute Breakfast10:30 a.m. Invitational Parade Luncheon1 p.m. Grand Parade (SEE PAGE 6)3 p.m. Home Depot Kids Workshop (East Independent)3:30 p.m. Grits and Glamour Tour with Lorrie Morgan and Pam Tillis, $15 and $20

(Wish Farms Soundstage)5 p.m. Lamb Jumping (Swindle Family Pavilion)6 p.m. Lamb Show (Swindle Family Pavilion)7:30 p.m. Dwight Yoakam, $20 and $25. Yoakam’s latest album, “3 Pears,” incorpo-rates multiple music styles such as country, rock, pop and soul. (Wish Farms Soundstage)

TUESDAY, MARCH 511 a.m. Red Hatters Welcome (EYE EXPRESS Grandstand)2 p.m. Adult Strawberry Stemming Contest (Stingray Chevrolet Entertainment Tent)3:30 p.m. Bobby Vinton, $15 and $207 p.m. Lamb Costume Contest (Swindle Family Pavilion)7:30 p.m. Martina McBride, $30. Martina McBride is known for her big vocals and soprano range. (Wish Farms Soundstage)

WEDNESDAY MARCH 61 p.m. Superdog Corn Dog Eating Contest (Stingray Chevrolet Entertainment Tent)3:30 p.m. Neal McCoy, $15 and $20 (Wish Farms Soundstage)6 p.m. CF Industries Youth Street Show (Patterson Co. Livestock Arena)7:15 p.m. Honor American Heroes (Wish Farms Soundstage)7:30 p.m. Trace Adkins, $30. Known for his deep voice, Trace Adkins has charted more than 20 singles on the Billboard country music charts. (Wish Farms Soundstage)

THURSDAY MARCH 710:30 am: Steve Hall & the Shotgun Red Show, free (Wish Farms Soundstage)11:45 a.m. Senior Citizens Drawing (Wish Farms Soundstage)2 p.m. Strawberry Shortcake Eating Contest (Stingray Chevrolet Entertainment Tent)3:30 p.m. Mel Tillis, $15 and $20 (Wish Farms Soundstage)7:30 p.m. Brantley Gilbert, $35. This artist is most known for his No. 1 hits “Country Must Be Country Wide” and “You Know Her Like I Do.” (Wish Farms Soundstage)

FRIDAY MARCH 8Noon Strawberry Mashed Potato Pie-Eating Contest (Stingray Chevrolet Entertainment Tent)3 to 5 p.m. Livestock Contestant Judging (Patterson Co. Livestock Arena)3:30 p.m. T.G. Sheppard and Janie Fricke, $15 and $20 (Wish Farms Soundstage)6 p.m. Showmanship Judging — Beef Breed (Swindle Family Pavilion)6 p.m. Kari and Billy (Borden Dairy Strawberry Tent)7 p.m. Karaoke Contest (Sweetbay Supermarket Showcase Tent)7:30 p.m. Scotty McCreery, $25 and $30 (Wish Farms Soundstage) (SEE BOX) 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Moonlight Magic

SATURDAY MARCH 910:15 a.m. Baby Parade (EYE EXPRESS Grandstand)3:30 p.m. Gaither Vocal Band, $20 and $25 (Wish Farms Soundstage)6 p.m. Kari and Billy (Borden Dairy Strawberry Tent)7 p.m. CF Industries Youth Steer Sale (Patterson Co. Livestock Arena)7:30 p.m. The Rev. Art Jones and the Bible Based Fellowship Church Cathedral Choir (Sweetbay Supermarket Showcase Tent)7:30 p.m. Bret Michaels, $25 and $30. Bret Michaels is best known for providing lead vocals for the 1980s glam band Poison, which has sold more than 30 million records worldwide. (Wish Farms Soundstage)

SUNDAY MARCH 1011 a.m. Youth Beef Breed Show (Swindle Family Pavilion)2 p.m. Kitchen Craft Cookware Drawing (Neighborhood Village)3:30 p.m. Hunter Hayes, $15 and $20 (Wish Farms Soundstage)5 p.m. Stingray Chevrolet Vehicle Drawing (East Independent)7:30 p.m. Blake Shelton, $55. Blake Shelton will close out the headliners at this year’s festival. Shelton began his career in 1998, when his hit debut single, “Austin,” spent five weeks at the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot Country Singles and Tracks charts. (Wish Farms Soundstage)

CASTING CROWNS WHEN: 7:30 p.m. March 1

This will be Casting Crowns’ second time performing at the Florida Strawberry Festival.

“We were amazed at the turnout,” says lead vocalist Mark Hall of the band's first appearance.

Comprising seven members, Casting Crowns is a contemporary Christian band

started by Hall in 1999. Hall, also a youth pastor at Eagles Landing First Baptist Church, in Georgia, says festival settings are a favorite for the band.

“I ate my first strawberry there when I was 22,” he says of the Florida Strawberry Festival. “I’ve always been funny about the textures of foods, but I was convinced that if I was ever going to try a strawberry, Plant City was the place to do it. And I liked it.”

SCOTTY MCCREERY WHEN: 7:30 p.m. March 8

After winning the 10th season of “American Idol,” Scotty McCreery’s life has been a whirlwind.

Now 19, half his week consists of classes at North Carolina State University, while the other half is spent on the road touring.

McCreery says he has known of the Florida Strawberry Festival for years and is honored to be one of the performers on a long list of great talents.

“As an artist, you hear about a lot of festivals, and you certainly want to have an opportunity to play the big ones,” he says. “A lot of people told me that this was one you want to play, and I’m just thrilled to have the opportunity to play it.”

Some of his favorite memories come from playing at fairs like the Florida Strawberry Festival.

“Festivals are always fun shows to play,” he says. “They are usually more laid-back, and they allow you to enjoy the night and have a good time with fans. It’s really all about the fans.”

McCreery says strawberries are in his top three favorite fruits, and he plans to sample the variety of strawberry-themed cuisine.

“I never dreamed of having the suc-cess I’ve had so fast,” he says. “This is one of those careers that I couldn’t have started myself without ‘(American) Idol’ and the great support from my fans.”

FESTIVALSCHEDULEGates open at 10 a.m. and close at 10 p.m. daily. Tickets are $10 for ages 13 and up; $5 for children ages 6 to 12; and free for children 5 and under.


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40TH ANNUAL YOUTH PARADE For 40 years, the Plant City Civitan

Club has coordinated the Youth Parade, spotlighting local outstand-ing youth and giving young people an opportunity to be recognized.

Held every year on the first Saturday of the Florida Strawberry Festival, the Youth Parade encour-ages all schools, parent-teacher asso-ciations, clubs, churches and groups involved with youth to get involved.

“This parade is unique in that it is all about young people,” said chair-woman Pat Pogue, noting that no one over age 18 is allowed to par-ticipate unless they are a chaperone, band director or are ensuring safety.

On parade day, the Florida Strawberry Festival allows all children through high-school age free admis-sion to the festival.

Parade units include floats and area youth bands. Awards are given in four categories, including best club/group float, best church float, best marching unit and best band entry.

Each year, the Civitan Club sends out grand marshal applications to Plant City and Durant high schools for students who excel both aca-demically, as well as in community service, church, leadership, athletics and club activities. Former Plant City and Tomlin Middle School Principal James “Sonny” Jones, who has been involved with the Civitan Club for more than 50 years, leads the selec-tion committee.

The grand marshals for this year’s parade are Benjamin Knox, from Plant City High School, and Paige Carlson, from Durant High School.

GRAND PARADEGail Lyons describes it as Plant

City’s version of Mardi Gras. Although there may be fewer

beads thrown and certainly more family friendly fun, the Florida

Strawberry Festival Grand Parade cer-tainly does have similarities to New Orleans’ annual festival.

“The whole town seems to shut down, and all eyes are on the parade,” says Lyons, president of Berry Time Productions, the organi-zation that has organized the parade since 2011.

An estimated 100,000 people took in the sights at last year’s parade, Lyons’ first as president of Berry Time.

The parade is limited to 100 units and includes floats, antique cars and other vehicles, walking banners and local and regional marching bands.

First- through third-place prizes are awarded in four categories — Most Outstanding Business/Commercial Float, Most Outstanding Antique Group, Best Marching/Special Feature Unit and Most Outstanding Civic/Church Float.

The parade features several tal-ented marching bands, including the Plant City high schools, as well as Brandon High, Bloomingdale and Lakeland’s Kathleen High School.

Every year, the parade features a prominent local citizen as the grand marshal. Taking the honor this year is Youth Parade chairwoman Pat Pogue.

“She does a great job with the Youth Parade,” Lyons says.

— Matt Mauney

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YOUTH PARADE ROUTEStaging area will be at

the Plant City State Farmers’ Market, 1305 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and con-tinues north on Alexander Street and west on Reynolds Street. The parade ends near Sammonds Road after passing the Florida Strawberry Festival Grounds.

GRAND PARADE ROUTEBegins north on Evers Street

then up Reynolds Street, ending at the Red Lot past the Florida Strawberry Festival grounds.

CITY PREPS FOR$QQXDO3DUDGHVThe fun and excitement of the Florida Strawberry Festival will reach far

beyond the festival grounds with not one — but two parades.The Plant City Civitan Club’s 40th Annual Youth Parade will begin at 11

a.m. March 2, at the Plant City State Farmers’ Market, 1305 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Then, two days later, the Grand Parade steps off at 1 p.m. March 4, beginning in Historic Downtown Plant City.


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Plant City is surrounded by strawberry fields, and the town is proud of it. Keel and Curley Winery offers a strawberry riesling. Parksdale Farm Market makes a variety strawberry products, such as jam, milkshakes and shortcakes. And, of course, the Florida Strawberry Festival was founded to cel-ebrate the popular berry.

And although there always is a vari-ety of strawberry cui-sine available among the 600 vendors at the festival, there is one classic that tops them all — the strawberry shortcake.

Several booths offer the classic dish, including the East Hillsborough Historical Society and Turkey Creek

Ministries. But perhaps the most impressive opera-tion belongs to St. Clement Catholic Church, which has operated its booth for about 40 years.

Each year, the booth is among the most popular in the festival, drawing a line that winds through the crowd. Located on the south side of the main grandstand, foodies serve themselves in a four-station buffet.

Seventy volunteers man the booths, while about 150 are

back at the church washing, cutting and preparing the strawberries.

“It’s a great way to meet people and share the faith,” says Paul Hetrick, who leads the effort.

— Amber Jurgensen

THE CAKESCustomers have a choice between shortbread or the more traditional yellow cake round as the base at St. Clement’s booth. Two out of three customers prefer the yellow cake round to the shortbread. This year, Sweetbay Supermarket’s bakery will make the rounds. Like the strawberries, they are shuttled to the booth from the church.

6WUDZEHUU\6KRUWFDNHTHE PERFECT

BY THE NUMBERS$3.50: The cost for a strawberry shortcake at all three booths

150: The number of volunteers preparing strawberries and cakes at St. Clement during the festival

600: The average num-ber of strawberry flats received by St. Clement per day

2 out of 3: The number of people who prefer cakes to biscuits

$300,000: The amount the booth raised last year for the church

THE WHIPPED CREAMThe church gets a non-dairy mixture, which volunteers pour into machines at the booth. The machines whip the cream to create the topping on-site, making it as fresh as possible. It is then transferred to a bowl at one of the four stations, where patrons can add it to the top of their shortcake creation.

THE STRAWBERRIESDuring the festival, volunteers are

at St. Clement Catholic Church, washing and cutting the St. Martin Farms strawberries. After the strawberries are washed and the

stems removed, the strawberries are sliced with a machine and then put in five-gallon

buckets with a little bit of sugar for added sweetness.


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THE PERFECT


Ron Diamond has a show in the Florida Strawberry Festival that will put you to sleep. Literally.

But you won’t fall into a dream-like state because it’s boring. Rather, Diamond, a Plant City native, will hypnotize you to sleep.

Through his show, called Hypnosismagic, Diamond has been making people dance, think they’re glued to their chair or chase their runaway belly buttons for 25 years.

At the start of his show, Diamond takes the audience through a series of relaxation techniques. Then, he asks par-

ticipants to come up on-stage if they want to be hypnotized com-pletely in front of the audience. Diamond has about 30 chairs on stage.

During the hour-long show, he puts the group to sleep

and then suggests certain tasks, or skits, for them to do when they see him complete a specific action, such as touching his fore-head or bouncing a ball.

“I don’t control their minds,” Diamond says. “They take what I say then create a skit to what I suggest based on their percep-tions.”

Diamond says a lot of people who respond to the hypnosis

already have it in their personali-ties to be the life of the party.

“People won’t do suggestions if they’re not willing to, if they won’t enjoy it,” Diamond says.

An example is the dancing por-tions of his show. Many men who are hypnotized won’t follow his suggestions to dance, because they’re not comfortable with it. They will then awaken from their state and leave the stage.

Diamond always has had an interest in the performing arts. He

first got into music as a student at Wilson Elementary School. He was a drum major at Tomlin Middle School and Plant City High School. At 14, he started working for Walt Disney World as a per-former and show designer.

In the late 1970s, Ron left Disney and moved to Fort Worth, Texas. There, he continued his education at Texas Christian University and studied music, clini-cal psychology and sociology. He also got basic and advanced certi-fications in hypnotherapy special-izing in surgical hypnosis.

Diamond got his start with fairs in 1993 and, since then, has per-formed more than 17,000 shows — an average of 500 per year.

This is the second year he will be performing at the Florida Strawberry Festival.

“It’s a sort of homecoming to me,” Diamond says. “The festival has taken on a whole new life. Acts like mine may be the initial attraction to fairs, but without fairs, kids aren’t being introduced to agriculture anymore. It’s not just about entertainment; it’s about our kids’ futures.”

— Amber Jurgensen

Nashville may be famous for the legends that have walked its streets and strummed a country tune in its bars and venues, but Plant City is famous for its straw-berries, and Nashville knows it.

“Everyone is Nashville knows about the festival,” country singer

Jay Taylor says. “It’s a big deal to play there.”

Taylor is originally from Duette but attend-ed Durant High School. This is the fourth year the singer

will perform at the festival. “I’m pretty proud of that,”

Taylor says. “They don’t ask young bands like us to play very often.

“There’s something special about this place,” Taylor says of Plant City. “That’s my hometown. Nothing is more sacred.”

Taylor always has been interest-ed in music. Inspired by his moth-er, he grew up singing in church and competing in talent shows.

“She is the best singer I’ve ever heard,” Taylor says. “Some people like technical singing, but she expresses emotion so well.”

As a high school student, he was involved in show choir and was in a couple of local bands when he picked up guitar. His first experience in the music industry came when one of his bands won a talent competition in Tampa.

“We were promised a record

deal and movies, and it just seemed kind of off,” Taylor says.

The woman who ran the con-test asked them to come to her house to sign a contract and get a paycheck for the talent contest, but when they showed, she was nowhere to be found.

While he was at Hillsborough Community College in 2004, Taylor entered a more legitimate contest in Orlando, Florida’s

Super Singer. He won. “It gave me the push I needed

to move to Nashville,” Taylor says. Since then, he’s been writing

material and performing as often as possible.

“Very rarely will I sit down and say, ‘I’m going to write this,’” Taylor says. “I’m all about feelings. I’ll play the guitar and the melody makes me reminisce. Or whatever I feel just jumps out at me. It’s all about intuition. I let my music write itself.”

In addition to recording and playing in Nashville, Taylor got a lucky break when he made it to the round of blind auditions on NBC’s “The Voice.” He beat out more than 40,000 people who auditioned for the blind audition round.

“Every singer has this huge ego, but it wasn’t like that there,” Taylor says. “It was one of the coolest experiences of my life.”

But nothing beats the experi-ence Taylor gets when he is on stage.

“There’s just something really special about being one of four people on stage that can relate to the audience,” Taylor says. “You can feel deep down that they’re really into it. That’s a really magical point.”

— Amber Jurgensen

Courtesy photos

A HYPNOTIZING PERFORMANCE

RON DIAMONDWHEN: 11 a.m., 3 and 7 p.m. daily

WHERE: Borden Dairy Strawberry Tent

SPONSOR: SunTrust Bank

Former Plant City resident Ron Diamond will perform for the second time at the festival.

‘VOICE’ CONTESTANT RETURNS Nashville-based country singer Jay Taylor, a Durant High School alum, will perform at this year’s festival.

JAY TAYLORWHEN: 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. daily; no 5 p.m. show on March 3)

WHERE: Sweetbay Supermarket Showcase Tent

SPONSOR: Hampton Inn & Suites/Tampa East


Inspired by her favorite child-hood book, “Charlotte’s Web,” Letty Burgin always has had a love and appreciation for ani-mals.

The youngest of seven sib-lings, Burgin was exposed to a lot of things through her broth-ers and sisters. Perhaps the one that had the biggest impact on her is her brother Caleb, fourth in the line of siblings.

“He started showing steers (at the Florida Strawberry Festival) and was the first in our family to show livestock,” Burgin says. “I grew to love the concept of showing through that.”

Being involved in 4H and growing up around animals, Burgin decided to give showing a try in 2006, when the home-schooled student was in the sixth grade.

But instead of showing steers at the festival like her brother, she decided to show swine, similar to Wilbur, the the main character in her favorite book.

“I have always loved pigs,” she

says. “I like the way they interact with people and with each other.”

Burgin showed swine for the first two years, before taking the third off. She then showed steers

from ninth through 11th grades. “I liked showing steers, but I

wasn’t the best at it,” she says. “I’m a pretty small person, so the large steers were sometimes hard to handle. I have a knack for showing pigs.”

That’s what made Burgin decide to once again show swine this year, her senior year — and her last as an eligible competitor.

“A lot goes into preparing for a competition,” she says of the yearlong process. “You have to know the genealogy of the animal and know if their parents were good show pigs. There’s a lot of working with your ani-mal.”

Competitors also are expected to have an in-depth knowledge of the animals they show and are required to answer questions from judges.

Burgin has worked with a supplier through her 4H leader. The type of pigs shown are up to the discretion of the competi-tors. Burgin likes to show female hampshire and duroc combos,

white pigs with black spots. Currently, she is raising two pigs

— Peanut and Freckles — and isn’t sure which one she will show at this year’s festival. And, although she has yet to win a competition, placing second in her second year showing swine, Burgin knows her final time will be a memorable experience.

“Going into the show ring for the last time will be a really humbling experience,” she says. “When I look around that barn, I will see many people that I’ve seen throughout my life that have helped me, and having that experi-ence of people that have put so much into my life is such a hum-bling thing.”

She also hopes she can pass that experience down in her family.

“I have six nieces and nephews, so I can’t wait until they’re involved with this, and I can teach them all about it.”

— Matt Mauney

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Courtesy photoLetty Burgin, with Freckles and Peanut, is excited about this year's competition.

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ELIZABETH PADILLATitle: QueenSchool: Sophomore, Plant City HighHobbies: Fishing, hang-ing out with friends

What was favorite part of the pageant?

It would have to be meet-ing all the new friends and being with old friends from other pageants and being able to spend that time with them.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

I want to be a fashion designer. Making my dress with my abuela that helped me win the competition, it really showed that that’s something I want to pursue in life.

If you could have a super-power, what would it be?

I guess invisibility so I could spy on people.

If you had a million dollars, what would you do with it?

Buy a dream home and then give the rest of it to a charity that I’d like to sup-port, which would probably be something dealing with children with cancer.

KAMILLE LONG Title: PrincessSchool: Fifth grade, Walden Lake ElementaryHobbies: Pageants, cheering


Being on-stage, saying my answers, smiling for the judges.


I would want to be a teacher, because I can teach kids and help them

with their problems and everything.


To fly, because if I had that superpower, birds wouldn’t be the only ones who could fly.

If you had a million dol-lars, what would you do with it?

I would go shopping until I’m tired of it.

BAILEY BROCKTitle: DuchessSchool: Second grade, Springhead ElementaryHobbies: Riding horses, cheer-ing


Competing, because I got to compete with most of my friends.


I want to be a cheerlead-ing coach, because you get to cheerlead.


My superpower would be to fly.


I would take my family on a cruise.

KAMRI DEPIANTATitle: BaronessSchool: Kindergarten, Cork Elementary Hobbies: Dance

What was favorite part of the pag-eant?

Meeting friends.


I want to be a veterinar-ian, because of all the pets.


Fly.


I would go to Toys R Us and buy a toy. I would buy the walking puppies.

The Junior Royalty Pageant might have been their crown and glory, but it’s only the start to a busy year of appearances as the 2013 Junior Royalty Court.

Plant City crowned the 2013 court at the Junior Royalty Pageant Jan. 12. This year’s winners include Queen Elizabeth Padilla, Princess Kamille Long, Duchess Bailey Brock and Baroness Kamri DePianta.

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Explain the emotions you felt during the competition?

I actually have a really bad cold right now, so it was kind of calming, and I think it was because of the cold. I wasn’t very stressed out. This was my second year going out, and I knew during the process what was going to happen and what was going to come next. What was the part you were most nervous about?

The impromptu ques-tion. That was my difficulty last year and to be able to do it this year and to do it with confidence was amazing.

I understand that you’re required to write your own commercial for your spon-sor to deliver at the begin-ning of the competition. Who was your sponsor and how did you handle that challenge?

My sponsor was Hillsboro Bank, and I’m not really nervous about doing rehearsed speeches, because I do public speak-ing a lot and memorize my speeches. Just to be able to get up there — that was a breeze. What was your favorite part of the whole process?

My favorite part was definitely the girls who

went out this year. I knew a lot more of the girls this year than I did last year. We were so close together and even closer through this experience.

What was the pre-competi-tion interview like?

It was good. It was an easy conversation flow with the judges.

What was the tough-est question you had to answer?

They asked me, “What was the most rewarding thing you’ve ever done?” and I said community ser-vice. I talked about going to a nursing home and

giving back. My experience there really touched my heart. What experiences are you looking forward to this year?

I just want to have fun with my girls on the court and get to spend time with Miss Sandee (Systma). All of the stories I get to hear about Miss Sandee — I get

to experience them now. I also hope to be able to give back to the commu-nity that has already given so much to me. Do you know your plans for college?

Yes, I’m going to the University of West Florida, in Pensacola, and plan to study marketing.

Kelsey Morgan Fry6WUDZEHUU\4XHHQ2013

Kelsey Morgan Fry is a senior at Plant City High School, where she ranks in the top 5% of her class, with a 5.48 weighted grade-point average. Fry is the captain of the Plant City varsity swim team, president of the Ronald McDonald Charity House Club and treasurer of the National Honor Society. Fry took time to speak with the Plant City Observer after being crowned the 2013 Florida Strawberry Festival Queen.

Michael Eng


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After its humble beginnings, the Florida Strawberry Festival has grown into one of the largest events in the state and is known nationally and even worldwide.

Multi-platinum recording art-ists now take the stage, where local bands once played to much smaller crowds. Each day, the gates are flooded with thousands of people, waiting to take in the sights, the fun and all the deli-cious food the festival has to offer.

About 500,000 people are expected to attend this year’s festival, and it would not be possible without the 2,700 com-munity members who support it by volunteering their time. From working the gate, manning information booths and assisting with parking, the volunteers are the wheels that keep the festival rolling.

FROM THE BEGINNINGMyrle and Tommie Henry have

seen the festival grow first-hand. A graduate of Plant City

High School in 1956, Myrle was a member of the junior deputy sheriffs, an organization sponsored by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. The junior deputies were allowed to work the parking lot of the former American Legion building, no lon-ger there, and would charge 50 cents for people to park.

“It was just like a half-block from the main entrance,” Myrle says. “That’s how small it was back then. I remember there being only one entrance with a little booth, where two guys would sit to sell tickets.”

The junior deputies were the first security the festival had, worlds apart from the detail that keeps the festival safe today.

“The only real security prob-lem in those days would be high school boys who would jump the fence to get out of paying whatever the admission fee was,” he says. “We would patrol the perimeters of the fence, and we were used as runners if anyone needed anything.”

Throughout the years, Myrle and Tommie have been involved with several community orga-nizations and have volunteered with the festival through those organizations, including working

the Hillsborough Historical Society strawberry shortcake booth and a food booth hosted by the Plant City Lions Club.

Through his involvement with the Lions Club, the organization that started the festival in 1930, Myrle became the vice presi-dent of the Strawberry Queen Pageant in the early 1970s. The crowning of the Strawberry Queen was the main entertain-ment at the festival back then.

In 1972, Myrle had a big hand in bringing the first celeb-

&RPPXQLW\INVOLVEMENT

About 2,700 volunteers make the festival possible.

Photos by Matt MauneyTommie and Myrle Henry remember the Florida Strawberry Festival when it was a much smaller operation.

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rity to the festival, decades before Blake Shelton and Alan Jackson made trips to Plant City.

“I thought about what I could do to make this thing bigger,” he says.

The solution was Dale Evans, a movie star and singer-song-writer who was well-known as the wife of singing cowboy Roy Rogers. The cost to bring Evans to the festival was set at $2,000 in addition to covering other expenses.

“In 1972, that was quite a lot of money,” Myrle says.

As insurance to the Lions Club and their budget, each member agreed to pledge $200 of his or her own money.

“That way, if it fell through, the Lions Club wouldn’t lose any money,” he says.

Evans made the trip and was a hit at the festival, signing autographs and holding one of the first celebrity press confer-ences in Plant City history.

That led to other celebrities coming in the following years, including Pat Boone and Anita Bryant, which eventually led to the pageant being moved to before the festival.

Since then, Myrle and Tommie, married for 53 years, have both been actively involved

with volunteering at the festival, working most of the gates and several info booths.

According to Tommie, the question she hears most is, “Where are the bathrooms?”

“I had a woman from France come up to me one year and ask if the strawberry shortcakes were fresh,” Tommie says. “Fresh? They were picked this morning.”

FEELING AT HOMEFrank and Judy Kimbro moved

to Plant City in 1998, and got involved with the festival about seven years ago.

Although they haven’t been a part of the festival as long as the Henrys and others, they say the experience has been rewarding.

“It’s a fun thing to do and a way to meet interesting people,” Judy says.

It didn’t take long for the Kimbros to feel comfortable.

“The festival people treat all the volunteers so special and can’t say thank you enough,” Judy says.

Growing up in Charlotte, N.C., and later living in Atlanta and Ft. Lauderdale, Plant City was Judy’s first experience in a small town.

“We’re still newcomers com-pared to some, but everyone treats us like family,” she says. “Every year, we meet new friends (at the festival) and get to know more people.”

Their involvement has included helping to shuttle guests from the parking lots and working information booths.

“We’ve heard all kinds of questions, including, ‘Where did we park our car?’ and ‘Where is the best place to get a strawberry shortcake,’” Judy says.

According to Frank, he and his wife plan to volunteer at the festival as long as their health will allow.

“It’s just a great community thing,” Frank says. “You never outgrow that.”

— Matt Mauney

‘We’re still newcomers compared to some, but everyone treats us like family. Every year, we meet new friends (at the festival) and get to know more people.’

Frank and Judy Kimbro have found a home in Plant City and as volunteers at the Florida Strawberry Festival.


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People from throughout the country come to the Florida Strawberry Festival just to taste the succulent fruit for which the event is named. As well as the classic strawberry short-cake, the festival boasts strawberry pizza, strawberry kabobs, strawberry salsa and more. The unique strawberry cuisine makes a delicious treat but not a good keepsake. So, you may want to look for one of these items to take home as a souvenir to remember your trip to this year's festival.

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HANDMADE STRAWBERRY CANDLESLocated in the North Exhibit Tent

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HANDMADE LEATHER STRAWBERRY JEWELRY

AND ACCESSORIES Located in the Boring Building

Made by Penny’s Leather

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Located in the Parke BuildingMade by Tip to Toe Day Spa

and Gifts

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OTHER STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL FAREDon’t forget to try strawberry pizza made by Brandon Farms at its booth in

the Armory or strawberry crepes made by Sunshine Concessions at the booth on Woodrow Wilson. And make sure to sample these food products:

JAMAICAN JERKCREAM PUFFSCOBBLESHORTCAKE (SEE P. 8)


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PLEASE COME CHECK US OUT!Weekly meetings7–8 am MondaysSouth Florida Baptist Hospital, Community Conference Center

301 N. Alexander St.Plant City, FL

We also support the following organizations and events throughout our community: United Food Bank of Plant City, South Florida Baptist Hospital Foundation, Plant City Family YMCA, Boy Scouts of America, Plant City Photo Archives & History Center, Plant City High School, Tomlin Middle School, Walden Lake Elementary, Springhead Elementary, Esther D. Burney Elementary School, Trapnell Elementary, Seminar for Tomorrow’s Leaders, Country Cracker Feast, Garden Fest, Citizen of the Year, Rotary’s Camp Florida, The Rotary Foundation and others.

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the 2013 Florida Strawberry Festival “Service Above Self”

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Sure, the A-list headline enter-tainment and sparkling midway will grab their share of headlines and attention during the 2013 Florida Strawberry Festival.

But, the heart and soul of this Plant City tradition can be found in the Milton E. Hull Armory Building throughout the festival’s 11-day run.

Neighborhood Village is a place in which artisans from Plant City and throughout Florida can showcase their homemade and handcrafted items in front of 500,000 festival-goers. Each year, more than 100 volunteers come together under co-chairs Betty and Ken Lucas to organize the village, which features more than 1,000 unique pieces annually.

The village is divided into 11 different departments: quilts; home décor; knitting, crocheting and tatting; apparel and acces-sories; needlepoint, needlework and plastic canvas; toys and porcelain dolls; jewelry; photo

scrapbooking; food preservation; baking; and cake decorating.

Before the festival begins, volunteers will spend two days receiving entries from artists throughout the state. Each will be judged and finally displayed for festival-goers.

“It’s a big job, but I really do love it,” Betty Lucas says. “We have a really good group of people, and I couldn’t run it all by myself.”

Originally, the village was not run by the Florida Strawberry Festival organization. The vil-lage was brought into the organization in the late 1990s, and when Betty Lucas took the helm, she quickly identified ways to improve upon its foun-dation.

“I wanted to update it; it was too old-fashioned,” she remem-bers.

From there, she and her volun-teers worked to transform it into the impressive displays of today.

Each department is led by a chair and co-chair.

“They all run their own department themselves; I want them to use their talents,” Betty Lucas says. “I don’t feel like any one person should dominate.”

As the overall co-chair Betty Lucas is the main point of con-tact. However, others, such as co-coordinator of events Ginger Vincent, provide essential detail work that makes the village shine. Each year, Vincent drafts a map for the village, complete

with a supply list of necessities, such as tables, chairs and more.

Department heads and volun-teers chairwoman Doris Smith and judging coordinator Linda Walden work to make the vil-lage a fair and valuable service to the participants. Artists vie for a variety of ribbons; top award-winners receive cash prizes.

Although the festival only lasts 11 days, the Neighborhood Village is a year-round endeavor. Following last year’s festival, Lucas and her chairpeople held a meet-ing to discuss what problems they encountered. They met again last fall to begin preparing for this year’s village and solidify the lead-ership roles. Then, about a month ago, they began ironing out the details for 2013.

Kitchen Craft is this year’s village sponsor, and one lucky festival-goer will win a complete set from the cookware manufac-turer. That drawing will be at 2 p.m. March 10.

“This is the backbone of the Florida Strawberry Festival,” Betty Lucas says of Neighborhood Village. “This is what it was founded on — to show what people can do.”

— Michael Eng

1OFAKINDNeighborhod Village features local artisans.

Courtesy photo


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Documents

Strawberry Festival Guide