The Florida Strawberry Festival’s board of directors elected a new president Tuesday, April 14, at its monthly meeting. Dan Walden, who has served as a board member for 15 years, was elected president and succeeds James “Jim” Jeffries, who has served as president for the past two years. “Dan Walden is an excellent leader and board […]
Continue ReadingFlorida Strawberry Festival 2015
Wells Memorial donates festival parking lot for school
For anyone who ever wondered if those people who offer parking at their businesses and homes during the Florida Strawberry Festival make good money, the answer is ‘yes.’ Just ask the staff and students of Willis Peters Exceptional Center. Every year, the students and staff of the school join forces with Wells Memorial Funeral Home, […]
Continue ReadingUnity shatters raffle record with Corvette
For the 2015 Florida Strawberry Festival, Unity in the Community and Stingray Chevrolet aimed to make their annual raffle bigger than ever. The move paid off, as both sides learned Monday that their Chevrolet Corvette really brought in the big bucks. Presenting to a showroom packed with prominent Plant City citizens and more, Stingray Chevrolet […]
Continue Reading101-year-old rides in festival parade for first time
Hundreds of Plant City residents marched, danced or rode in this year’s Florida Strawberry Festival Parade. But tucked in the back of First Baptist Church of Midway’s float was Daryl Sturgis, a woman with a unique claim among parade participants: She is 101 years old. “It was fun, and it was tiresome. I had a […]
Continue Reading517,000 ‘join the party’
From rain, to sunshine, to cool and breezy nights, weather in Plant City has been unpredictable for the last few weeks. But it didn’t stop more than 517,000 people from spending at least one day at the Florida Strawberry Festival. “If we get to half a million, we’re thrilled,” Paul Davis, the festival’s general manager, […]
Continue ReadingCouple gets engaged at concert
On Sunday, March 8, Trace Woolverton thought that she and boyfriend Willie Hunt would leave the Reba McEntire concert with nothing but good memories. In the end, she did get them — and also a ring. Hunt, working with opening act Caroline Kole, proposed to Woolverton in front of tens of thousands of people at […]
Continue ReadingFestival Winners: Shoebox Float
FIRST AND SECOND GRADE First: Jackson Trapnell Second: Easton Morrow Third: Caleb Benitez Fourth: Kyleigh Meiers Fifth: Adriana Asencio THIRD AND FOURTH GRADE First: Caden Trapnell Second: Ayla Steinestel Third: Skyler Grooms Fourth: Olivia Little Fifth: Sarah Rogers FIFTH AND SIXTH GRADE First: Linzie Alred Second: Emily Little Third: Kagen Alred Fourth: Kyle Berdy Fifth: […]
Continue ReadingFestival Winners: Stemming Contests
YOUTH Kindergarten: Katie Jane Burklexy First and second grade: Zachary Marriott Third and fourth grade: Blessing Ellis Fifth and sixth grade: Leah Burklew ADULT Kim Croslie
Continue ReadingFestival Winners: Horticulture
YOUTH PLANT SHOW Grand champion: Estrella Quirino Reserve grand champion: Camryn Wineinger Champion woody ornamentals: Sarah Treadway Champion foliage plants: Kaitlyn Halter Champion hanging planters: Rebecca Cant Champion miscellaneous plants: Riley Buttorff Champion liners: Carver Wineinger Champion plant in size No.1: Ann Grable Champion plant in size No. 3: Riley Newlin Champion plant in size No. 7: Camryn Wineinger Award of distinction: Reagan Brown, Madison […]
Continue ReadingFestival Winners: Photography
Photography Contest Best in show: AnnMarie Picinic Animal First: Jo Upton Second: Kevin Pyfrom Third: Jordan Arterburn Awards of merit: Ashley Phelps, Cheryl Price Black and white First: Kevin Pyfrom Second: AnnMarie Picinic Third: Ashley Ammen Award of merit: Keri Mizell, James Anderson Human First: Charlena Hitzges Second: Stacey Peacock Third: Melissa Surrency Award of […]
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