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Strawberry Festival Baby Contest A Tough Call For Judges

Tribune photo by GEORGE H. NEWMAN

A very proud father of Lyric Nahvae Fudge was ecstatic when she was named prettiest girl in the 16-18 month category.

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By GEORGE H. NEWMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 3, 2009

PLANT CITY - The judges at the Florida Strawberry Festival's Sunday baby contest had their hands full choosing from about 100 youngsters in competitions ranging from best decorated diaper to best looking and fastest crawler.

Judges Marcia Bright, Cindy Racette and Sara York watched as infants and toddlers paraded on stage at the Sweetbay Supermarket Showcase Tent. The venue was crowded with family members cheering for their favorite little girl or boy.

The children, ages 6 to 18 months, competed according to age group.

Chairwoman Kristi Dean said her committee members are instrumental in helping the event run smoothly, "especially when you only have a two hour time limit to get the show in."

Dean, in her fifth year as chairwoman, said the cooler than normal weather that day had some affect on the number of babies competing. The day's high was around 60, with windy conditions.

"Weather this year was a factor," Dean said, but it didn't seem to hurt the enthusiasm shown in the audience. "Normally we have around 125 babies or more. This year we had approximately 100. With the cooler temperatures and winds I believe we had several families who planned to participate but decided against since."

The competition included for best decorated diapers, most handsome boy, prettiest girl, fastest crawlers and more.

To the cheers of his family, Jordan Bagley was chosen the most handsome boy in the 10- to 12-month-old age group. Jordan was shown on stage by his mother, Shea Wooten Bagley. Seven other family members also attended the competition, including the Jordan's father J.B. Bagley and his paternal grandmother, Linda Bagley.

"Everyone is always saying what a handsome boy Jordan is," said Shea Bagley, a second-grade teacher at Boyette Springs Elementary School. "I thought it would be fun to enter him in the contest. I knew our chances were good. What else would a mother think? But Jordan was smiling and laughing as we passed by the judges. He loves getting his picture taken. Once those dimples start showing he can't be beat."

The winner of the most handsome boy in the 13- to 15-month-old category was Ryan Staley, son of Brian and Rosemarie Staley of Gibsonton. The toddler was the only boy competing in that age category, making him an automatic winner.

"Every other category was strongly contended," said Brian Staley who presented his son on stage. "Just before going on I found out we were all alone in the competition. My wife was in the audience taking still shots and video. I told her to be ready. Ryan was a sure winner."

"Before the competition I talked backstage to the mother of the little boy in the 10-12 month old category [Shea Bagley]. She commented on Ryan's good looks. We were glad not to have competed against each other."

Staley said his son smiles a lot, has a good personality, had a good time on stage and is never shy.
Jennifer St. Martin Morgan escorted her sleeping niece in most creative baby diaper contest. Bella Grace Bikowski, daughter of Stephanie St. Martin Bikowski and Scott Bikowski won, decked out in a dazzling white swan's outfit fashioned as a diaper.

"Sandy Boggs [a friend of the family] designed the costume," Morgan said. "Stephanie was in the audience with many of our family and friends. Bella was sleeping like a baby back stage and during the contest. There were a lot of interesting diapers out there."

There was no mistaking who the crowd favorite was. Cheers and applause erupted when Bella Bikowski was introduced on stage and again when named the winner.

Dean was pleased with the event.

"We had a lot of baby boys involved this year," she said. "Normally the boys are outnumbered, but not this year. And they all were just too cute."

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