The Florida Strawberry Festival board has a new director.
Pam Warnock was appointed to the festival board June 10. Warnock has served as an assistant director for 14 years. Among her duties, she served as the chairman of the information services committee and served on the livestock committee. Warnock also works on the human resources committee, which reviews current policies to see what needs to be updated.
Warnock served as a volunteer for the festival for many years before being appointed to assistant director.
“I feel very honored to have been chosen,” Warnock said. “Everyone is very well qualified. I love the festival. I think we have a great thing going in our community.”
Warnock was born and raised in Plant City, where she graduated from Plant City High School and later attended Hillsborough Community College. Her children, Trey and Brooke, also attended Plant City High School. The latter is now a teacher at Tomlin Middle School and also volunteers with the festival.
“We’re all festival people,” Warnock said of her family. “Even before I was on the board, we went every day.”
Both of Warnock’s children showed animals at the festival while they were growing up. To this day, the livestock section of the festival is Warnock’s favorite part.
“To see the kids do well is so encouraging,” she said. “We have such a great community that supports leadership.”
Warnock’s dedication to the Plant City community goes beyond her service with the Florida Strawberry Festival. She is the senior vice president chief operating officer at Hillsboro Bank, where she has worked for 17 years. Warnock is also a member of First Baptist Church of Plant City, where her husband, Tommy, is an assistant pastor. The two have been married for 33 years.
“I love being able to go places and see people you know,” Warnock said. “I love that my kids got to grow up in that atmosphere.”
The position that Warnock now has was formerly held by Hilman Bowden. Bowden had a long history with the festival until he died earlier this year.
“It’s very humbling to be the one chosen,” Warnock said. “I was excited about it, just to follow in somebody’s footsteps who has been there for so long.”
Paul Davis, general manager for the festival, believes that Warnock was a perfect fit for the postiion.
“She’s a longtime volunteer,” Davis said. “I think she’s been a great supporter for the community, and I think that she will continue to fill the needs.”
Although the board and volunteers work year round to make the festival a success, Warnock does not see the work as overwhelming.
“I’ve been doing it so long I don’t see it that way,” Warnock said. “It takes an army to make it happen.”
Despite her busy schedule, Warnock still finds time to pursue other interests. Her favorite place to go with her family is to a lake spot in Clermont, where she can kick back and relax. Warnock also enjoys shopping and reading.
Now, with her new position, she is looking forward to making the festival the best that it can be.
“I have a lot to learn and I want to experience that,” Warnock said. “I want to keep serving. As long as I can, I would like to.”
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.