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There Must Have Been Some Beautiful Babies

Tribune photo by GEORGE H. NEWMAN

The 2009 Florida Strawberry Festival baby contests were held March 1 at the Sweetbay Supermarket Showcase Tent. More than 100 babies and toddlers from ages 6 months to 18 months old were entered in a wide variety of competitions. Shown here are the decorated diaper entrants, the prettiest and most handsome competitors and some of the winners in those categories.

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By GEORGE H. NEWMAN

gnewman@tampatrib.com

Published: March 11, 2009

PLANT CITY - The judges at the March 1 Florida Strawberry Festival 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 onstage 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 effect 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 baby contests were among many competitions at the annual festival which ended its 11-day run Sunday.

The competition included categories 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. "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- to 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 the 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 backstage 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 onstage 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."

Reporter George H. Newman can be reached at (813) 865-4451.

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