The Florida Strawberry Festival has built a reputation for being a family-friendly event since it began in 1930.
New President Jim Jeffries plans to keep that tradition running strong.
“We always try to make decisions that our community supports,” he said. “Maintaining a family atmosphere is my hope and the hope of the board.”
Jeffries recently was named the new president of the Florida Strawberry Festival, taking over for Ron Gainey, who completed his two-year term this spring.
Jeffries became an associate director with the Florida Strawberry Festival in 1994, and has served on the board of directors since 2004, but his involvement with the festival dates back much further.
AGRICULTURE EDUCATOR
A teacher of agribusiness since 1969, Jeffries was involved with the festival on the youth agriculture side since the early 1970s and later served on various committees for livestock shows. His career in education included 10-year stints at East Bay High School and Plant City High School.
“Agriculture has always been a big part of the festival, and I was very involved with that part of it,” Jeffries said.
In 1989, Jeffries became the supervisor of agribusiness and natural resources education with Hillsborough County Public Schools, a position Pam Walden holds today.
While there, Jeffries served as a chairman for the FFA exhibits at the festival.
“My position worked closely with the district FFA, so I had close contact with the schools and the teachers,” he said. “Even though I was out of teaching at that time, I kind of considered myself a teacher.”
Jeffries retired from the supervisor position in 2008, but remained as a member of the board of directors with the festival.
FOLLOWING FOOTSTEPS
Jeffries hopes to follow in the footsteps of past festival presidents such as Gainey and current Plant City Mayor Mike Sparkman, who have been instrumental in facility additions to the festival grounds.
The Madonia Agricultural Show Center has become a state-of-the-art, multi-purpose facility that is home to the annual steer and swine show competitions at the festival.
“It’s not the largest facility around, but in my opinion, it is the best facility for youth to use to exhibit animals,” Jeffries said of the Madonia Center.
Although Jeffries doesn’t foresee any major changes to the format of the festival in the next two years, he said plans for major construction could begin, including a larger, permanent home for Neighborhood Village, an expo for homemade and handcrafted items created by members of the community. Neighborhood Village, which recently celebrated its third year, has been held at the Milton E. Hull Building.
“We see a need for a facility for the Neighborhood Village, probably near our main office,” he said. “It’s an important exhibit for us, because it is such a community event. It’s a large exhibit that deserves more space, but obviously, a lot depends on finances available.”
GROUP EFFORT
Although the Florida Strawberry Festival brings in people from all over the state, the country and even the world, Jeffries knows that it is a Plant City event and something in which the community takes pride.
For an event of its magnitude — bringing in nearly 200,000 people during the final weekend this year — Jeffries noted none of it would be possible without the many volunteers, most of whom are local.
“We simply couldn’t do it without them,” he said. “They are what makes this thing what it is, and we are so very appreciative of that.”
The big-name entertainment the festival brings in is one of the reasons the festival has grown to what it is today. Jeffries recognized all of the people involved for continuing to bring in top-notch entertainment, including Blake Shelton and Alan Jackson this year, all while maintaining a family atmosphere.
“It’s a huge part of the festival and is a tough task to get around 22 acts that people can relate and connect with,” he said. “We certainly hope to continue that tradition.”
Contact Matt Mauney at mmauney@plantcityobserver.com.
