Strawberry Festival queen set sights on crown at age 7

Natalie Burgin set her sights on the Florida Strawberry Festival queen crown at a young age, her father Tom recalls.

"She said since she was 7 years old, 'I'm going to be strawberry queen,' " he said.

Fast forward to 2010, and Natalie's dream came true.

She was chosen for the crown Saturday over a field of 23 other contestants. Her father said he couldn't be too surprised: "All my daughters are very determined," he said.

Burgin said she felt overwhelmed when 2009 queen Lauren Der put the crown on her head.

"I was just so elated and excited," she said Sunday.

"It was an incredible feeling."

Burgin appeared to alternate between smiles and tears after her crowning. She said she looks forward to representing the festival, and the Plant City area, in the next 12 months.

Burgin comes from a big family - she's the second youngest of Tom and Ricky Burgin's seven children - and about 40 friends and family members were on hand to cheer her to victory.

Natalie said she's close to her family, and twice her answers to pageant questions included her kin: When asked her role model, she said it was grandfather Fletcher Burgin. When asked what made the strawberry festival so special, she said it was a time to enjoy family fun.

Tom Burgin said Natalie, who could have gone out for queen last year, chose 2010 to enter the contest - and didn't plan to enter again if she didn't win. "I'm going to be queen or I'm done," he recalled her saying.

The queen and her court play an active role in the festival, presiding over festival contests, such as the shortcake eating competition, and introduce headline acts on the festival stage. The queen competition is open to women 16 to 20 who live in the Plant City area.

Burgin, a lifelong resident of the area, said she considers it an honor to wear the crown she sought since she was a child. She looks forward to the festival, which starts its 11-day run on March 4.

Her interests include 4-H and she's a member of the YMCA Youth in Government Club. She also works in the Sweetheart program with the American Diabetes Association, a cause that is dear to her heart because she has two grandparents who have the disease. The association's sweethearts help with fundraising and otherwise volunteer their time, she said

Her future plans include attending Florida State University to study international affairs. Then, she'd like to work as a U.S. ambassador.

Her 27-year-old sister, Rachel, is a member of the Florida House of Representatives and Burgin said she hasn't ruled out a run for office but doesn't see it right now.

Festival General Manager Paul Davis said he was impressed with Burgin and her court, including first maid TyLynn Eben, Dayla Dementry, Rachel Hallman and Ashlyn Robinson.

"I think they were delightful young women and I'm looking forward to another great year," he said.

He said he noticed that Burgin's family was out in force and he said the new queen is "absolutely adorable."

NATALIE BURGIN

BIRTHDAY: Nov. 24, 1992

PERSONAL: 5 feet, 9 inches tall with dark brown hair and hazel eyes

PARENTS: Tom and Ricky Burgin

SIBLINGS: Rachel, Joshua, Gretchen, Caleb, Gabrielle and Letty

EDUCATION: High school junior who is homeschooled; plans to go to Florida State University to study international affairs

CAREER ASPIRATIONS: Wants to work as a U.S. ambassador

NOTES: Her grandfather Fletcher Burgin founded M.F. Burgin, the wholesale produce business that her father and brother Caleb run; her sister Rachel is a member of the state House of Representatives; active member of Fellowship Baptist Church in Thonotosassa