Pancreatitis can’t keep Michele from annual Rabbit Festival

By DAVID MORRIS

Cove Leader-Press

A little pancreatitis won’t keep Michele McGuire, owner of Michele’s Floral, from taking part in the 35th anniversary of the Rabbit Fest celebration this weekend as she has done since opening her storefront more than 25 years ago in the community she grew up in.

“I have been at every Rabbit Fest,” McGuire joked. “I have lived at Rabbit Fest surviving tornados in the Civic Center and rains so hard we had to put down hay.”

During the 35-year span she has served as festival coordinator, pageant coordinator and will once again be the official florist of the Copperas Cove Rabbit Fest Pageant where each of the winners will receive a bouquet of fresh flowers custom designed by Michele and her team at the shop.

“Most people think of a beauty pageant as just that,” said McGuire. “What Wendy has done with these girls is outstanding. In years past the royalty would have a few token appearances and then you wouldn’t see them for the rest of the year.  These girls have put blood, sweat, and I’m sure tears into earning their crowns they were awarded last year.”

The royalty returned the favor of support to Michele during their recent visit to Scratch Elevated Bistro for a spaghetti dinner.  Over the past two months more than $1,000 has been donated to aid in the fight of her illness. Two weeks ago she posted her sixth update on the site as she held a “pity party” while watching life pass by.

“I’m a go’er, a doer, & its so hart to “rest” & miss taking care of my family, running my flower shop…” she posted.  “I have a long road to go BUT I know I’m blessed beyond measure in so many areas of my life!”

Returning from a round of doctor visits, McGuire was visited by the royalty with whom she shared her secret to go above and beyond in delivering the best smelling roses in Copperas Cove.

“This visit from the royalty made me feel normal again I was able to share my passion of teaching and flowers with them.” she said.  “My staff at the shop is the best. I don’t know if the business would have survived without their support and understanding during this journey that began last April,”

McGuire may have missed homecoming, Christmas, Valentine’s, Prom and Mother’s Day but she wasn’t going to be absent from the festival that falls a week from her birthday.

Michele’s Floral and Gifts is providing rose bouquets for the female contestants and boutonnières for the male divisions, each with her signature butterfly. Judges from the Miss America and Miss USA Pageant systems will select incoming royalty.

“I am excited to see what the new crop of royalty will be like,” said McGuire. “This year’s royalty set the bar pretty high and had an exciting year with all their character building activities.”

The competition begins Saturday at 1 p.m. at Fester’s Stage inside Copperas Cove City Park. In case of inclement weather the pageant competition will be moved to the civic center.

“The last pageant I remember had less than 50 contestants,” said McGuire. “To see almost 100 competing knowing what challenge is ahead of them is outstanding to see.”