Milee Hasting Wins FFA Sweetheart Two Consecutive Years

By Jennifer Jordan

Since she can remember, Milee Hasting’s life has always been tied to agriculture. Since joining FFA (Future Farmers of America) in the seventh grade at Turkey Creek Middle, Milee has discovered a passion, future career choice, and life surrounding agriculture, and she loves every aspect of it. Now a sophomore and vice president in the senior chapter of FFA at Strawberry Crest, and treasurer for the Hillsborough FFA Federation chapter, Milee works hard and is also planning to show a steer named “Shock” at the Florida Strawberry Festival. Due to her passion for agriculture, Milee decided to go out for the FFA Sweetheart pageant last year. While FFA Sweetheart has been happening for years at other schools, it only began at Strawberry Crest in 2022. Not only did Milee win FFA Sweetheart last year as a freshman, but she also won 2023 FFA Sweetheart again for her sophomore year on January 17 at Strawberry Crest.

Excited to win two years in a row, Milee stated, “It was kind of unbelievable at first, but the judges must have seen that besides being able to wear a pretty dress, I’m really passionate about agriculture.”

FFA Sweetheart had three judges who have heavy FFA or pageant backgrounds judging the pageant, with the girls being judged on knowledge, leadership abilities, and how they presented themselves. The girls also had to answer an agriculturerelated question.

Not unfamiliar with winning pageants, Milee has also won Plant City Junior Royalty Baroness, won a title for Sunburst, won titles for Miss Starstruck, won Miss January in Strawberry Crest’s Calendar Girl last year, and Miss April in Strawberry Crest’s Calendar Girl this year. Despite all those other pageant wins, Milee stated, “Winning FFA Sweetheart is better than any other pageant win because FFA and agriculture mean so much to me. I love to serve others and be a leader.”

Winning a crown, leather sash, and scholarship as the 2023 FFA Sweetheart, Milee said of her future, “My goal after high school is to be a State FFA Officer and advocate for agriculture, GMO’s (genetically modified organisms), and become a geneticist and work with GMO’s.” With a bright future, a love for agriculture, and a desire to succeed, Mille Hasting is truly the ultimate FFA Sweetheart.