Florida Watermelon Association Queen Program
The Florida Watermelon Queen Scholarship program was established in 1968 to assist the association in promotional efforts. The FWA Queen helps boost sales of Florida grown watermelon by engaging the public at numerous events, from grocery stores to schools to NASCAR races. The Florida Watermelon Queen competes annually for the National Watermelon Queen title at the National Watermelon Association Annual Convention.
Miss Reagan Hudson was crowned the 2025 Florida Watermelon Queen on October 26, 2024 at the Marriott Sanibel Harbour Resort and Spa in Fort Myers, Florida. Queen Reagan is the 23-year-old daughter of Rollin and Nina Hudson of Chiefland, Florida. She graduated in December from the University of Florida College of Agriculture and and Life Sciences. Reagan has received scholarships from the Levy County Farm Bureau, Rotary Club, and Soil & Water Conservation District. She has completed the Youth Protection Training, Biomedical Waste, Blood Borne Pathogens, and General Biosafety certifications through the University of Florida. She has earned her FFA American Degree and served as a UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Ambassador. As the 2025 Florida Watermelon Queen, Reagan will travel throughout the United States serving as a spokesperson for the Florida watermelon industry. In February 2026, she will represent her home state of Florida and compete for the title of National Watermelon Queen. |
For more information relating an appearance of the 2025 Florida Watermelon Queen please send inquiries to Debra (Harrison) Watson, Florida Watermelon Promotions Coordinator, at debra@flfwa.com.
2025 Queen Promotions
February 15 - Edison Light Parade - Fort Myers, FL
February 20 - Chiefland Elementary School - Chiefland, FL
March 6 – Opening Ceremony at Southern Exposure with Fresh from Florida, NASCAR Driver Ross Chastain, and Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson
March 18 – Taste of Agriculture Reception at the Capitol – Tallahassee, FL
April 3 – National Watermelon Promotion Board Queen Training – Charleston, SC
April 4 – Cooper River Bridge Run Expo – Charleston, SC
April 5 – Cooper River Bridge Run – Charleston, SC
April 6 – Desoto Watermelon Pageant – Arcadia, FL
April 10-11 - High School & Food City - Ross Chastain - Bristol, TN
April 11 – Alva Elementary School Spring Festival – Alva, FL (Queen Ashlee)
April 12 - Desoto Watermelon Sugar Babe Pageant - Arcadia, FL (Queen Ashlee)
April 12 – University of Florida Orange/Blue Spring Football Game – Gainesville, FL
April 22 - First Pitch at University of Florida Baseball Game - Gainesville, FL
April 23 – University of Florida Softball vs. University of South Florida – Gainesville, FL
April 25 - Farm Tours - Labelle, FL
April 26 - Desoto Watermelon Auction - Arcadia, FL
April 27 – University of Florida Baseball vs. University of Arkansas – Gainesville, FL
April 30 - In the Kitchen with Chef Justin - Tallahassee, FL
May 1 – Suwanee Valley CARES Dinner – Live Oak, FL
May 2 – Publix Grocery Stores - Gainesville, FL
10am-Noon – Store 2012 (24100 W Newberry Rd, Suite 10, Newberry, FL)
1pm-3 pm – Store 1505 (16193 NW US Hwy 441, Alachua, FL)
May 3 – Florida Children Museum Watermelon Festival – Lakeland, FL
May 5 - Oak Hall Elementary School - Trenton, FL
NFREC Suwanee Valley Watermelon Field Day - Live Oak, FL
May 6 – University of Florida Baseball vs. University of South Florida – Gainesville, FL
Radio Talk with 98.1 FM
May 14 - Enza Zaden Field Day - Myakka City, FL
May 14-16 - Farm Tours - Arcadia & Wauchula, FL
May 15 - Jackson Elementary School - Plant City, FL
Thonotosassa Elementary School - Thonotosassa, FL
May 16 - Bell Elementary School - Bell, FL (Queen Ashlee)
May 19 - Bayshore Elementary School - Alva, FL
May 23 – NASCAR Craftsman Truck Race Education Lottery 200 – Charlotte, NC
May 23–26 – Publix Grocery Stores (FL)
June 5-6 – Farm Tours – Newberry, Trenton, Chiefland, Bell - FL
June 7 – Chiefland Watermelon Festival - Chiefland, FL
June 7 – Winn Dixie & Brooksville Watermelon Festival – Brooksville, FL (Queen Ashlee)
June 9–11 – United Fresh Policy Conference – Washington, DC
June 12 - Newberry Camp - Mind Your Melon - Newberry, FL
June 13-14 - Piggly Wiggly Grocery Stores (North FL)
June 21 – Wild Watermelon 3K Run – Brevard Zoo – Melbourne, FL
June 26-27 - North Florida Farms Tours - Terry Parrish/Kendra Kennedy
June 28 - Farmers Market
July 4 - Watermelon 5K Run - Winter Park, FL
July 10 - Orange County Library - Orlando, FL
July 31-August 1 - Mar Del National Queen Tour - Delaware
Sept 11–13 - Food City Infinity Race - Ross Chastain - Bristol, TN (tentative)
October 10 – University of Florida Soccer Game vs Mississippi State – Gainesville, FL
October 17 – University of Florida Homecoming Parade – Gainesville, FL
October 18 – University of Florida Homecoming Fan Fest – Gainesville, FL
October 25–26 – Marine Marathon – Washington, DC
October 30–November 2 – 57th Annual Florida Watermelon Convention – Charlotte Harbor, FL
November 8 – Outrun Hunger 5 K – Florida State Fair Ag Hall of Fame – Tampa, FL
2025 Queen Contestant Sponsors
Agri Pak – Jimmy Dees
Diamond 99 Watermelon Sales – The Thomas Family
Desoto Watermelon Association
International Paper – Heather Raulerson
Leger and Sons – The Leger Family
Newberry Watermelon Festival
Wilbur Smith, Attorneys at Law - Sawyer Smith
Veg-King of Florida – DR Harris
2025 Queen Videos
Queen Promotions Coordinator |