A HOMETOWN TRADITION & SWEET MEMORIES

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL MEMORY?

Candy Owens:

In 1970, I was 8 years old, all of the dance classes at Jackie’s School of Dance performed to the #1 hit at the time, Aquarius/ Let the Sunshine In by The 5th Dimension to 3,000 people at Schneider Stadium! We got to wear our own personal go-go boots and I had a brand-new pair of red go-go boots!! I thought I was so cool; we brought the house down! My other favorite memories are getting Cotton Candy as big as my head and watching my sister crowned the 1977 Strawberry Queen.

Cierra Craft:

I have wonderful memories of winning the big stuffed animals in the midway games at about 4 and 5 years old. It wasn’t until many years later that I found out I didn’t actually win them; my mom asked the midway worker “how much for her to ‘win’ that big prize?” Mom paid up so I always had a good time at the Festival.

I also treasure the memory of going on stage with Lee Greenwood as a student of Jackie’s Dance Theatre in 2007. In 2015, my mom and I saw country legends Alabama and had a great time together singing along!

It’s an exciting time of year here in Plant City. FOCUS is proud to produce our annual Florida Strawberry Festival issue, packed with an exclusive interview with the Queen and Court, Festival fashion from our local boutiques, and my favorite feature— a guide to the best food at the Festival. My go-to when I hit the fairgrounds is Fiske Fries and I’ve got to leave with an Elephant ear. I hope you find this issue helpful as you plan your trip to the 2023 Florida Strawberry Festival.

On the cover of every February issue is the new Strawberry Queen. Congratulations to 2023 Strawberry Queen Kennedie Clinton and her Court and thank you to Deanna Hurley Photography for taking the beautiful photos of the Queen and Court in this issue. Thank you to Creative Parties by Veronica for supplying the photoshoot props and backdrop. Both of you brought our vision of the 2023 Queen and Court interview to life.

FOCUS is celebrating our 22nd anniversary on February 16 and during this time of year, I reflect back on 22 years of publishing positive community stories in our beloved hometown. When this magazine began, we had one goal in mind: to create a monthly publication that told feel-good stories about the people, places, and things Plant City cares about. I’m proud that 22 years later, our commitment hasn’t changed. The magazine might look a little different than it did two decades ago, but at the magazine’s core, it’s about you. Through the years, our team has served thousands of advertisers. We’re so thankful to our readers and clients for their support and look forward to a wonderful year ahead. Our 22nd anniversary wouldn’t be possible without you.

Warmest Regards,

Mike Floyd