Meghan White What do you hope to accomplish this year as the 2020 Florida Strawberry Festival Queen? This year, as the 2020 Florida Strawberry Festival Queen, I hope to bring joy, love, knowledge and fun to everyone who entered Plant City and the Strawberry Festival. Each individual has the same worth and importance when in our community; and I hope to highlight that through my work.
Why did you want to become Strawberry Queen? Throughout my life, I have grown a vast appreciation for the agricultural industry, Plant City culture and the Florida Strawberry Festival. The Strawberry Festival Queen Pageant is so unique and special to our community so naturally, I wanted to participate in it. Becoming Strawberry Queen allows me to be a friend to everyone, role model for other girls, represent a festival that I love while also growing into who I am and growing close to the other court members. What does this title mean to you? This title is so special to me because the Florida Strawberry Festival Queen is such a deep rooted tradition and event in Plant City. I view the sash and crown as being in the possession of the entire community, I am just the lucky one who gets to wear it! I feel so humbled, honored and grateful that I do get to serve this year as Strawberry Festival Queen. What is your earliest memory of the Florida Strawberry Festival? My earliest memory of the Strawberry Festival is being in the baby parade. My more prominent and distinct memory of the Strawberry Festival are from middle school, because all throughout middle school I showed swine at the festival. What concert are you most excited to see this year and why? I am honestly excited to see all the shows that are coming this year. However, one that stands out to me is Tommy James and Shondells. This my Nanny’s favorite band, so I’m very excited to see them sing Crimson and Clover and other songs live.
What is your favorite Festival food? My favorite festival food is strawberry shortcake. That dessert is a comfort food to me and it also tastes exquisite, especially when made at the Festival. What is one thing most people don’t know about you? I am a certified scuba diver!
Have any of your family members served as Festival royalty? No, I am the first! Who is your biggest inspiration? My Grandaddy, he was such a family man while also focusing so much on education and career success. I can remember back of the car rides which he would quiz my siblings and I on historic facts, or make connections from things we were seeing outside of the window to teach us. He also created this game where he would bury a treasure chest filled with goodies and would teach us how to use a compass, coordinates, and clues to find it. It was so much fun. Besides the educational fun, he would always put so much love into each moment he spent with my family and I. We took a lot of amazing trips together but we also made so many memories at home. Some of my favorites being hikes in the woods to find “Bigfoot,” a cross country trip in his R.V., and ghost stories whenever we spent the time anywhere. I also am so inspired by the marriage, relationship and overflowing love that he provided to my Nanny. It really taught me, through observation and stories, what to look for in a partner. I will treasure my Granddaddy always and I will forever be inspired by all he accomplished for himself and gave to my family and I. Besides a family member, who would you enjoy a dinner date with? Abraham Lincoln, because in a time in which our country was in crisis he managed to unify the nation. I would enjoy asking questions and hearing stories from him. For example, how he managed his stress, how he created a plan, and what he thought the
ultimate outcome would be and how he catered to the changing status of society. What do you enjoy most about your hometown? I love the deep rooted history that stands behind every event. If you walk up to anyone chances are they have an interesting story or fact that you have never heard before. I also love the family legacies, and history, that is left behind for all future generations. It is quite magical. What was the best line from your pageant commercial? My favorite line from my pageant commercial is “if you’re looking for the smalltown feel that is rare, step right in and see that they truly care!” I loved saying this because I feel like it represents Plant City and specifically, Florida Insurance Center, so well... 55