God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them will to serve one another. 1 Peter 4:10
Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Colossians 3:23
Yesterday, February 28th, was the first day of the Florida Strawberry Festival. This year’s theme is “It’s a Hit”, and the opening day, which included performances by The Oak Ridge Boys and Alabama, were not just a hit yet a homeroom!
Plant City is transformed from a community of nearly 39,000 people to over 500,000 guests walking through one of the many gates of our eleven-day event. The Winter Strawberry Capital of the world showcases its prize fruit. Farmers having been harvesting their crop of strawberries for months, and the festival is a celebration (which began in 1930) of the end of the season.
The Florida Strawberry Festival is nationally ranked as one of the Top 40 Fairs in North America. Each year the festival manager and directors remind us that one of the reasons our festival is ranked in the top 40 and is spoken of highly, is due to the volunteers.
There are over 2,000 men, women, and youth who volunteer their time in a variety of ways to bring southern hospitality to the forefront of our visitors’ minds.
I was born and raised in Plant City. The Strawberry Festival is like a huge family reunion for me. Not necessarily blood-related family, yet through the many activities I have had the pleasure of participating in the hometown folk become like family.
I have fond memories of spending many hours in the livestock tent where my brothers and I showed our steers and then sold them for a profit. My mom entered me in the long-lasting baby parade when I was about three. There was no prize for the once shy girl then, but years later I did enjoy being on the 1986 court with two of my best friends. Becky, Kerri, and I have memories that grew our bond even closer.
Nowadays, the once shy child enthusiastically volunteers much of her time in a variety of locations throughout the festival. One of the spiritual gifts God gave me was the gift of hospitality. Making visitors feel welcomed to my town brings joy to my heart.
Over the next few days I’ll be welcoming you to a glimpse of my volunteer world at the festival. I’ve never done an “Insta Story” before, but yesterday I began one on Instagram. I hope that you will join me as I share some of the sights and sounds of the festival through the ways I get to volunteer and I’m sure some extra videos or photos will be in the mix as I make my way through the festival with food and fun.
I hope that you will be encouraged by our town’s patriotism, faith, and southern charm.
Well, I’m off now. It’s time for day two of the festival, and we are just a couple hours away from welcoming visitors from across our sunshine state and our nation. It’s going to be an out of the ballpark experience
Remember… whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.
Blessings to you and yours,
Stephanie
Instagram is Stephanie_Shuff
Volunteering with some of the greatest of friends is the perfect way to start the festival. You’ll find Dede, me, and Susan at the tour bus lot greeting guests.
Mine and Tim’s daughter, who is now a senior in college, had Ms. Faison as a kindergarten teacher. Ms. Faison now welcomes folks to gate 10 each day.
In the neighborhood village you can see many crafts exhibited and a collection of royalty throughout the years displayed.
first day lunch took place at a locally owned and operated trailer. Smitty’s buttermilk corn dogs did not disappoint. Yum!
My brother, Kenneth, is the director of the Florida Strawberry Growers Association, and an associate director for the festival. I captured this pic with him before he was about to be interviewed on the news.
