Meet Miss Florida Citrus
Halle Burton, Miss Florida Citrus 2025 is a recent Summa Cum Laude graduate from the University of Florida, earning the UF Presidential Service Award and a PR Department Senior Award.
As the founder of Serve Our State, an established nonprofit corporation, Halle has spent more than nine years advocating for mental health and building servant leaders through nationwide campaigns, projects, and the Citrus Servers, which includes an Amazon #1 New Release book promoting both the citrus industry and community service.
Halle has managed social media platforms with a combined 1.2 million followers and now works as a public relations specialist for Florida Farm Bureau Federation.
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Meet Miss Winter Haven
Maralee Thompson, Miss Winter Haven 2025 is a proud Winter Haven native and an Honor Student on the Pre-Law track entering her junior year at the University of Florida, where she is pursuing a degree in Public Relations with a minor in Agriculture and Natural Resource Law, along with an Engineering Certification in Artificial Intelligence Fundamentals and Applications.
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As the founder of Grow Together, Maralee is dedicated to empowering young people to improve their own food security through home gardening education, community garden development, and “Grow Box” distribution while forging partnerships with organizations such as AdventHealth, Field and Fork, FFA, and UF/IFAS. Maralee currently holds two positions within the University of Florida Student Government: State Legislative Director for External Relations and Social Media Director for the Student Government Institute. In addition, she serves as a student assistant for Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution, where she helps students navigate student life and supports their personal and academic growth.
Maralee is honored to serve as the final reigning Miss Winter Haven and is forever grateful for the opportunity to give back to the community that raised her.
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REQUEST AN APPEARANCE BY MISS WINTER HAVEN
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Meet Our Executive Director
Executive Director Kristi Joyner is a volunteer, advocate, and mother of four. Kristi began her career in political campaigns and grass roots advocacy working on numerous successful congressional, state legislative and county commission campaigns. She spent many years as a community relations specialist for ASAP Prints before leaving in 2019 to raise her special needs son who was adopted through the state foster system.
Kristi has served in various roles throughout her community including the inaugural committee to organize the American Cancer Society Polk County Boots and Pearls fundraiser as well as a board member for Top Buttons, a faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, charitable and educational organization building self-worth in young women. Kristi is an advocate for children in the foster care system and serves on the Women’s Executive Committee of the Bartow Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church where she also teaches a weekly Bible study for young women. She also competed in the Miss America Organization winning over $30,000 in scholarships.
Kristi holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications from Warner University. She and her husband Matt reside in Bartow and have four children-Elisa, Annabelle, Mattie and Samuel.
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