For over a decade, Lecturer in Environmental Science and English Michael Strickland has overseen the planning and execution of the festival, though he credits the students from his class and various organizations for the success the Strawberry Festival experiences each year.

鈥淚t鈥檚 all students,” Strickland said. “Except for me, there aren鈥檛 really any other faculty involved. It鈥檚 my class, the Garden Studio class, and the Elon Community Garden club.鈥�

The cohesive relationship between Strickland’s Elon Community Garden class and partnering organizations allows for a successful event. Organizations such as the Eco-Reps, the Office of Sustainability and the Sierra Club regularly partner with the Elon Community Garden. In addition to the strawberries, Elon Dining provides the highly anticipated and coveted ice cream.

Maddie Eaton 鈥�23 is no stranger to the Strawberry Festival. Throughout her four years attending Elon, she鈥檚 tried her best to participate in the event every spring. She views the festival as the ideal way to unwind and relax before finals.

鈥淭his is the perfect event to use as a study break. First of all, it鈥檚 outside, you get to hang out, get some sunshine, and it鈥檚 really good for you to be in nature, especially during stressful times such as this,鈥� Eaton said.

Brynn Creasman 鈥�23 said she thoroughly enjoys attending the festival since it provides a space for students to be outside and with nature.

鈥淭he Strawberry Festival allows students to learn about the gardening club while enjoying the yummy ice cream and strawberries. It鈥檚 a space to come out and breathe for a minute amidst the chaos.鈥�

When asked how he feels towards the event turnout, Strickland said, 鈥淚t鈥檚 truly gratifying. I love doing this, and for my students, it鈥檚 one of their favorite things to do. They live for putting this event together, and when you see this kind of turnout, all the hard work put into this event is worth it.鈥� Each year, he asks the students whether they want to continue hosting this event, and every year the response is the same: absolutely.

This spring was Jayla Martin-Beasley鈥檚 鈥�24 first time attending the festival and working the plant adoption table. From a student鈥檚 perspective, planning the event is a complex matter made possible using a manual containing information from previous festivals. This manual is updated annually and covers what worked, what didn鈥檛 and how the event could improve for next year.

鈥淥ne of our final assignments is to add something new to it to make it easier and better and to improve upon it for next year,鈥� Martin-Beasley said.

When asked what she hopes will happen for this event, Martin-Beasley said she hopes the event informs students who haven’t heard of the Community Garden.

鈥淭he spot is perfect for students who are between classes and have 30 minutes or an hour to sit, relax and enjoy the garden and be one with nature,” she said. “I hope awareness of the garden as a destination spot on campus to go and relax.鈥�

Many Elon students could easily recognize Carter for his unique pastime, lassoing. or as he calls it, 鈥渞opin鈥�.鈥� It wouldn鈥檛 be uncommon to see him lassoing a couple of stacked Adirondack chairs in the Historic Neighborhood. Though he recently used the downtown Elon Maker Hub鈥檚 resources to assemble a custom rope & steer, so nowadays you鈥檒l see him use that instead of the chairs.

His love for lassoing originates from living in Western North Carolina, where he would ride on horseback rounding up cows for various purposes during the calving season. Anytime he practices, an audience of students, faculty, staff and families on tour watch as he goes about his business. Carter is open to teaching fellow students how to properly use a lasso, as most people have only witnessed lassoing through movies or TV shows.

鈥淩oping is like a hidden gem. The community and the people that like doing it are amazing. It鈥檚 such a tight-knit community. Everyone is out there cheering you on,鈥� he said.

Carter鈥檚 competitive nature at a young age led him to competitive roping. During that time, he won several belt buckles, which are given as accomplishments in the 鈥渃owboy鈥� world, for having the best time. He used the skills learned on the farm to improve his technique, becoming a force to reckon with in the rodeo.

鈥淲hen you鈥檙e in a rodeo setting, you practice and practice all the time, and you鈥檒l be getting better day after day. Doing something new, learning something new and reinforcing those skills that by the time you get into the arena, and you get in that shoot, you need to leave all thought, and it should be just muscle memory.鈥� That competitive nature seems to run in the family as Carter鈥檚 cousin competes in bull rides.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot more fame when it comes to that. I mean, I can name bull riders left and right, but when it comes to ropers, it鈥檚 a little more difficult,” he said.

Transitioning from high school to college can be personally and academically challenging for most first-year students. But that adjustment has been relatively smooth for Carter. Before his acceptance, he toured several other institutions before being convinced by his step-grandad, an Elon alumnus, to tour the school.

The weather was poor during his tour, but instead of ruining his experience, it provided a different perspective for viewing Elon. He believed if he could fall in love with a school on tour in inclement weather, then it was meant to be. 鈥淚f I can love this place when it looks like this, imagine what it looks like when it鈥檚 bright and sunny, and people are out. That鈥檚 what gravitated me to attend Elon.鈥�

Whenever Carter isn鈥檛 roping, he enjoys knitting beanies, gloves and scarves. Recently, he completed a full blanket for his dorm room, and whenever a friend needs a warm hat, he鈥檚 always ready to knit. Carter鈥檚 mother would occasionally knit similar items and one day when he didn鈥檛 have much happening, he sat with his mom and began learning.

Throughout the fall 2022 semester, Carter frequently drove to his grandmother鈥檚 farm in Yanceyville to visit and help her prepare the farm to sell. He would always look forward to his grandmother鈥檚 renowned pork chops. It was a combination of how his grandmother prepped and cooked the meat that made it so special. 鈥淪he鈥檇 throw it on the cast iron and add a lot of seasoning to it,鈥� said Carter, who still drives to his grandmother鈥檚 house hoping to get a serving or two. 鈥淓very bite was something new and while it was like chewing a ball of rubber, the flavor was what made it worth chewing,鈥� he added.

Whenever he returned to his residence in Smith, Carter said, 鈥淭hey鈥檇 see me in my chaps, covered in dirt and mud. I probably didn鈥檛 smell too good.鈥� His floormates are continuously captivated by the sight.