PLANT CITY - Seffner Christian Academy student Ally Elizabeth Burt was crowned queen of the 83rd Florida Strawberry Festival at it's annual Pageant in Plant City on Jan. 20.
Burt was selected from a field of 28 contestants who also voted her Miss Congeniality.
Dallas Baker was chosen first maid along with court members Baylee Astin, Selena Berrios and Zoe Rasmussen. Burt is currently a senior at Seffner Christian Academy and is dual enrolled at Hillsborough Community College. She serves as senior class president and Student Government president and plans to attend a Florida university to pursue a degree in biology.
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.
The Florida Strawberry Festival is an 11-day community event celebrating the strawberry harvest of Eastern Hillsborough County. Each year, more than 500,000 visitors enjoy the festival's headline entertainment, youth livestock shows, exhibits of commerce and, of course, its strawberry shortcake.
The 2018 Florida Strawberry Festival, takes place March 1-11 at the Strawberry Festival grounds, 303 N Lemon St. For more information, visit flstrawberryfestival.com.