As August quickly rolls along, I sit here in disbelief that it has almost been a year since I was announced as your 2023 Florida Watermelon Queen. The last ten months have arguably been some of the best, and most life-changing, of my life. It has been an absolute honor being able to represent the hard-working individuals and families that make up our Florida Watermelon industry! 

Having the opportunity to be the Florida Watermelon Queen has been one of my biggest blessings in life, and I thank God every day for this once-in-a-lifetime experience. I truly couldn’t have done this without all of the love and support I’ve received from both inside and outside of the industry. Thank you to each hand that played  a role in my year, and an especially big thank you to each sponsor who has made every promotion happen, and to the Florida Watermelon Association for making my dreams become a reality. Ms. Debra, truly none of this would’ve been possible without you and your heart for our Association and its people- I can’t thank you enough for letting me experience your selfless love and constant support. You’re stuck with me forever now! 

Florida- Thank you for trusting me and believing in me to represent you! I hope that I have done you proud this year. My heart is so incredibly full! I have had the opportunity to help bridge the gap between the consumers and our growers, getting to teach the public not only where their watermelon comes from and why it’s such an amazing commodity, but also about the families behind our Florida Watermelons. Getting to share “slices of happy” across Florida and beyond has changed my life exponentially and given me a newfound family. 

Thank you Jesus for this beautiful life and for each and every individual in our Florida Watermelon Family! 

I cannot wait to see each of you at this year’s convention! 

Your 2023 Florida Watermelon Queen, 

Alyssa Armentrout