Shreveport Woman Designed Louisiana’s Prize Winning Rose Parade Float

Betsy Barnes from Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser's office, talks about Louisiana's prize winning float in the 2022 Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, a float designed by Shreveport native Sharon Johnson.

The float, entitled, "Louisiana, Feed Your Soul," was the winner of the parade's first-ever Wrigley Legacy Award, given for the most outstanding display of floral presentation, float design, and entertainment.

"The Wrigley Legacy Award is something coveted. First of all, we're the only state that's ever been in the Rose Parade in 133 years," Barnes says, explaining that the "Feed Your Soul" Louisiana float consisted of more than 34,000 flowers. "Not only did we touch people visually with the float, but we also got to showcase Louisiana architecture, the Hot 8 Brass Band and (American Idol winner) Laine Hardy from Livingston.

"The attention that we've gotten is phenomenal. Just in preliminary numbers. we had 2.6 billion print and online media "reaches" from the Tournament of Roses Parade."

Meanwhile, Shreveport's own Sharon Johnson played the most vital role of all in the state's big win. She was one of the designers of the float!

In taking part in the event, the Johnson, who had been contacted by lead designer Scot Wedgeworth, made a long-time dream come. Regarding that invitation, Johnson told the Shreveport Times, ""My first thought was disbelief. Once I had a chance to think about it, I began praising God. My second thought was 'Thank you Lord for this opportunity, you opened this door for me.'"

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