Jody Borne

It is truly an honor to serve as chairman for the 2009 festival. The many individuals who make this festival a dream come true is like a second family to me over the past six years. The Strawberry Festival is not only the largest—second to Mardi Gras, but also the best free festival in the state.

I have been married for the past 27 years to Belinda and have two children, Lindsey, 24, and Wesley, 20. For the past 15 years, we have lived in Ponchatoula and could not imagine living anywhere else. There were so many factors contributed to my family moving here; not only the great schools, but also people and the town itself drew us in close—the Strawberry Festival was an added bonus.

My parents are Gertrude and the late Albert Borne of Gramercy, and she still lives in the house that I grew up in. I have one brother and sister-in-law, Terry and Sybil Borne, also of Gramercy. I am a graduate of Lutcher High School, class of 1977. I am employed with Shell in Norco, where I have been for the past 30 years. I am currently the Turnaround Operations Supervisor for Shell Chemical.

The Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival is truly a family festival. Every year the people of Ponchatoula make that happen, by opening up their homes to thousands of people that visit the city and attend the best festival in the state of Louisiana.

I was elected to the Ponchatoula Strawberry Board in 2003, by the Knights of Columbus where I served as Co-Chairman of the Booth Committee for the Festival. From there, in 2007, I was elected Chairman-elect of the 2008 Strawberry Festival.

Please join us on April 3, 4, & 5 for the biggest and best free festival in the state of Louisiana. There will be plenty of food, music and family fun plus some of the sweetest and juiciest strawberries you ever ate.

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