BUSINESSES HONORED AT THE GREATER PLANT CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE’S ANNUAL CHAMBER GALA

IN ADDITION TO WELCOMING THE 2023 BOARD OF DIRECTORS, THE 2023 BEST OF PLANT CITY AWARD WINNERS WERE ANNOUNCED.

MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER

Plant City’s community and business leaders donned legwarmers, miniskirts, and parachute pants and teased their hair to sky-high heights for The Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Chamber Gala last Thursday night. At the 80’s-themed event, held at the John R. Trinkle Center at Hillsborough Community College, last year’s Board of Directors was recognized, the gavel was passed to the 2023 Chairman of the Board, new board members were sworn in and local businesses recognized as the “berry best” in our community.

Outgoing Chairman of the Board Irene Castillo expressed gratitude for being able to serve Plant City’s small businesses in 2022 and highlighted some of the Chamber’s accomplishments last year, including being instrumental in the Florida Legislature’s passage of a bill designating the strawberry shortcake as Florida’s officia dessert, unveiling the updated Plant City Map & Guide at its Florida Strawberry Festival booth, the addition of two new membership programs (Connect & Grow and Small Business of the Month Award), an August Candidate Forum so the community could meet candidates running for office and the relaunching of Schmoozapalooza, New Teacher Coffee and Leadership Plant City. It also organized the Chamber Nonprofit eadership Roundtable that helps connect nonprofit oganizations in the local community. Started by Chamber CEO Christine Miller, the event was so successful it’s being instituted county-wide.

“The Plant City Chamber of Commerce is here to be the voice of Small Business, our motto is “Business Building a Better Community,” said Castillo. “Through the support of our membership, trustees, ambassadors and board we are building a better Plant City through our daily work.”

In a time-honored tradition, Castillo passed the gavel to the 2023 Chairman of the Board, Wesley Joyner. The sixthgeneration Plant City resident’s remarks to the audience focused on how great it is to live, work and raise a family in Plant City.

“The Chamber will continue to provide leadership that will improve Plant City’s businesses and our community,” he said. “It will be the leading force promoting the commercial, agricultural, industrial and civic interests of Plant City and East Hillsborough County.”

After the passing of the gavel, 2023 Best of Plant City awards were presented to local citizens and businesses. Winners of the 2023 Best Of Plant City Awards included:

Spirit of the Chamber Award: Deanna Hurley

Chairman’s Award: Nick Thurston

Ambassador of the Year: Jason Jones

Visionary Award: Jake Austin

Economic Development Award: Dan Sudler of Sudler Real Estate

Downtown Enrichment Award: Norma’s Sandwich Shop

Community Service Award: Bikes for Christ

Customer Service Award: The Barber Company

Best Community Event: Plant City Honors Our Veterans & Active Military

Health, Wellness & Fitness: V.E.V. Fitness & Nutrition

Non-Profit f the Year Award: Hillsborough Cattlemen’s Foundation

Employer of the Year: Patterson Companies

Entrepreneur of the Year: Kristi Grooms- Fancy Farms Market

New Business Award: Bruton’s Cigar Shop

Small Business of the Year: Pelican’s SnoBalls

Emerging Leader: Ryan Gill

CHILI FEST & RAIL FEST 2023

Ware and other amateur and professional chefs gathered at the Robert W. Willard Railroad Museum to compete in this year’s annual ChiliFest. The event, which was sponsored by The Arts Council of Plant City and combined with Railfest, featured teams that cooked up 21 different chili recipes that hundreds of attendees paid fie bucks each to sample all of them.

Three independent judges voted for their favorites. In addition to People’s Choice award winner Umami Smoke, category winners included:

MILD CATEGORY WINNERS:

1st Place- Scooby’s Outdoor Adventures

2nd Place- Felton’s Meat & Produce

SPICY CATEGORY WINNERS:

1st Place- Scooby’s Outdoor Adventures

2nd Place- Hillbilly Chili

NOVELTY CATEGORY WINNERS:

1st Place- Krazy Kup LLC

2nd Place- Plant City Observer

Plant City Observer Sports Editor Taylor Jenkins was ecstatic when he learned he had placed in the novelty category. His recipe, a cherry-wood smoked chuck roast chili, was made with love. “I’d never really made chili from scratch before but I love every opportunity to break out my smoker and try out a new recipe,” he said. “I was a little surprised to hear my chili got second place but glad that everyone seemed to like it.’

The Arts Council of Plant City President Marsha Passmore said combining the Arts Council’s ChiliFest with the Robert Willard Railfest was a positive effort and the two events complemented each other nicely. “Even though we were competing with Gasparilla, there was a huge crowd in attendance and there was lots to see and do,” she said.

Event organizer Frank Cummings agrees, calling the event a success. “The weather was just perfect and it was just ‘chili’ enough that it worked out,” he joked.

He is thankful for everyone who participated, including the students from Drawdy’s Dance School and Chris Welbon Karate Clubs who performed for the crowd. He’s also thankful for the judges and everyone who came out to support the event. Although not an official jue, he did sample plenty of chili. “I ate so much chili I had to take some Pepto Bismol at the end of the day,” he said.

While the proceeds from the event haven’t been calculated yet, the money will benefitThe Arts Council of Plant City scholarship program.

For more information about The Arts Council of Plant City visit www.plantcityarts.com.