SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – The winner of the crown for the 83rd Elks Rodeo Queen was announced tonight.<\/p>\n
Every candidate has had a busy year of networking and community outreach.<\/p>\n
The Santa Maria Elks Rodeo has been a tradition since the early 1940s, and the Rodeo Queen Contest began later the same decade.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt started out on a, one of the Elks members had a horse that they didn’t want anymore,\u201d says Peter Sterling, Elks Rodeo Queen Contest chairman. \u201cAnd they thought this would work great for a Queen contest. So they got some girls, they gave them some raffle tickets, and they went out and sold raffle tickets to win a horse.\u201d<\/p>\n
Each candidate represents a local non-profit organization, and they campaign for the crown by raising money for their non-profit.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s been an honor to share the knowledge that I’ve learned over my course,\u201d says Samantha McDonald, last year\u2019s Elks Rodeo Queen. \u201cRunning for Elks Rodeo Queen and my year as the reigning queen. And being able to share that with these young ladies and watch them grow and learn as they continue their journey.\u201d<\/p>\n
The candidate with the highest dollar amount raised for their organization is crowned Santa Maria Elks Rodeo Queen.<\/p>\n
The 2026 Elks Rodeo Queen is Morgan Fasse, who represents St. Joseph High School Boosters. She raised $412,109.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am so, I just, I don\u2019t even\u2014I\u2019m so excited, yeah,\u201d says Morgan Fasse, the 2026 Elks Rodeo Queen. \u201cYou just kind of push through. I know it’s a lot of work and everybody’s not meant for it, but if you\u2014if you choose to do it, it’s meant for you.\u201d<\/p>\n
The chairman of the rodeo queen contest Peter Sterling says the candidates have been known to raise up to a million dollars in a period of six weeks.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose seem to be some records that if we talk to other rodeos around, they just wonder, how do you do it?\u201d says Sterling. \u201cI think a lot of it has to do with our community and how focused we are.\u201d<\/p>\n
The winner is announced during each year\u2019s Friday night programming, and the queen makes her first appearance at the Elks Rodeo Parade on Saturday morning.<\/p>\n
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