Ellany Johnson first volunteered for the Florida Strawberry Festival in 1972. Today, she serves as one of its driving forces.
Editor’s Note: Senior of the Month is a monthly profile on a senior citizen or senior couple based in Plant City. Any resident over the age of 55 who has made a lasting impact on the community is eligible for Senior of the Month. If you know someone who would make a great Senior of the Month, contact News Reporter Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.
When Ellany Johnson was about 11 years old, she went to the Florida Strawberry Festival and rode a swing ride that went up high enough for her to overlook all the guests below.
“That was the ultimate experience,” Johnson said. “I thought I had experienced everything.”
Decades later, Johnson still overlooks the entire festival. These days, her view is different: she serves as the manager of the festival’s main office on Lemon Street.
“When you think back, it was this little fair,” Johnson said. “How it has grown from then to now.”
Johnson has been there nearly every step of the way.
Her first year as a vendor, she paid $50 for a booth for her Christian bookstore. During the festival, Johnson was approached by then-manager Louise Gibbs to volunteer. The two had previously met through Youmans Baptist Church, where Johnson’s husband, Wayne, was the pastor.
That was in 1972. Johnson never left. She’s been with the festival through 14 festival presidents.
“It’s just like family,” Johnson said. “It’s such a family atmosphere, all through the year. You just want to get up every day and come to work.”
Along for the Ride
As a volunteer, Johnson’s responsibilities continued to grow every year.
She started off with a show tent. To make it festive, she would bring in sound equipment from Youmans and build her own marquee, which included a clock with program times. She also decorated her own stage.
“At every show, I would ask how far people came,” Johnson said. “Whoever came the furthest always got a jar of jam from Parkesdale Farms.”
Johnson started the annual shoebox float contest. The popular contest allows grade school students to decorate a shoebox like a miniature parade float.
“Sometimes we had 150 to 160 floats,” Johnson said. “That was a special event for our children and for (their) parents and grandparents to come and see.”
In 1989, Johnson went to work at the festival’s ticket office. By the next year, she was the ticket office manager, a position she held for several years.
Eventually, she moved from a volunteer to a paid employee. She started at the festival’s main office by working as a receptionist. In 1996, she took over as the vendor and exhibit manager.
“We love our vendors, exhibitors and concessionaires,” Johnson said. “I just love the exhibitors’ dinner that we give to them. It’s just like a homecoming. You know everybody, you love everybody.”
During the festival, Johnson visits the vendors daily.
“We couldn’t have the fair without them,” Johnson said. “It’s a partnership. I know just about everybody. I have vendors that have been vendors here for 40 years. That just says something for our fair.”
The volunteers, too, are part of the family. One of Johnson’s favorite traditions is the annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner. When it first began years ago, Johnson was responsible for going around town and asking business owners to donate door prizes.
“That’s such a fun time,” Johnson said. “The volunteers are so deserving. That’s one of the events that I’ve been really involved in. I’ve had so much fun being involved in so many things.”
Her continued involvement with the Florida Strawberry Festival has become one of the main parts of her life, and the staff she works with has become her second family.
Feels Like Home
One of Johnson’s favorite parts about the festival is taking her granddaughter, 6-year-old Harper, to experience the fun.
“She’s a joy,” Johnson said. “Harper just thinks her granny is top notch because she can come to the fair every day. She really loves the rides.”
But the festival isn’t only bound by blood. Johnson has a close relationship with the staff she works alongside.
“We have one of the finest boards,” Johnson said. “They are so caring, and they are so thoughtful for the staff. That means a lot. They’re just so caring. Paul Davis (festival general manager) is top notch. He cares, and he shows it.”
It’s those relationships that have kept Johnson coming back year after year.
“I’ve always been really involved, and I’m still that,” Johnson said. “Everybody brings to the table what they’re really interested in, and it makes it so exciting. I love the small town atmosphere. Our town is getting large, but … we still have the heart of a small town. We care, and we want guests to have a wonderful time while they’re here.”
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.
