PLANT CITY, Fla. — Drew Knotts was crowned queen of the 82nd Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City, Fla. recently.
Knotts was selected from a field of 21 contestants along with first maid Marlee Arn and court members Caroline Brummer, Courtney Coton and Ariel Navarrete.
“The Florida Strawberry Festival Queen’s Competition is one of our longest standing traditions, and we are happy to have Drew as our 82nd queen,” said General Manager Paul Davis.
Knotts is the daughter of Andy and Jeanne Knotts and is the third member of her family to wear the crown. Her grandmother, Ruby Jean Barker Redman, was queen in 1953, and her cousin, Chelsea Bowden, was queen in 2012.
Currently a senior at Plant City High School, Knotts is also dual enrolled at Hillsborough Community College. She is captain of the Lady Raider soccer team and president of the school’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter. She plans to attend Georgia Southern University to pursue a degree in journalism.
The Florida Strawberry Festival Queen’s Competition is organized by the Plant City Lions Club and is composed of five facets of competition: a personal interview, on-stage speaking, casual wear, evening wear and an impromptu question.
Throughout the year, the queen and court make over 80 appearances as they represent the Florida Strawberry Festival and the Plant City community. They can be seen at festival events throughout the grounds, on stage before each of the 24 headline entertainment shows and at community events throughout the year.
“Drew, Marlee, Caroline, Courtney and Ariel will serve as some of our greatest ambassadors this -more- year,” said Davis, “and I know they’ll represent us well.”
About the Florida Strawberry Festival
The Florida Strawberry Festival is an 11-day community event celebrating the strawberry harvest of Eastern Hillsborough County. Each year, nearly 600,000 visitors enjoy the festival’s headline entertainment, youth livestock shows, exhibits of commerce and, of course, its strawberry shortcake. The 2017 Florida Strawberry Festival where “We’re Playing Your Song!” takes place March 2-12 in Plant City, Fla. For more information, visit www.flstrawberryfestival.com, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (#berryfest17).
—Florida Strawberry Festival
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