After raising more than $10 million for youth recreation programs in six decades, the Santa Maria Elks Rodeo Queen contest won't occur in 2008 because of insufficient support from community groups, organizers said Friday.

In announcing the contest's cancellation, the Elks said that “a general lack of participation from community organizations would not generate enough funds to sustain the campaign.”

The cancellation, which came two days before Sunday's second meeting for queen candidates, generated surprised reactions as word spread.

“They're shocked,” said Jim Glines, co-chairman of the queen contest committee. “Everybody wants to know if it's the economy.”

It's actually simple numbers, he said. The contest costs between $60,000 to $70,000 to put on - expenses include buying a truck that is raffled off, Western clothes for the queen candidates to wear, scholarships and dinners.

“That's a chunk of change,” he said, adding that the few candidates sponsored by community groups this year wouldn't raise enough money to sustain the campaign.

In recent years the number of queen candidates has dwindled as various sponsoring organizations dropped out. Down from a typical number of five to seven candidates, just four girls competed in 2007, and fewer were expected this year.

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Samantha Garley and her sponsoring committee, Santa Ynez Valley Elks Recreation Inc., raised $262,564 to win the crown last year.

The queen is the girl who, with the help of her committee, has raised the most money for youth recreation by the time the rodeo begins. Since 1997, the Santa Ynez candidate and her committee have raised the top amount each year.

The girls and their friends, families and supporters typically spend six weeks from mid-April until the rodeo at the first of June holding barbecues, raffles, car washes and other creative fundraisers. Each $1 raised equates to a vote, with proceeds benefiting youth recreation programs.

In 62 years, the Elks queen candidates and their committees have collected $10,284,862.20 that has been distributed to various youth recreation activities.

The Boys & Girls Club of Santa Maria Valley has been among the organizations that sponsors a contestant and benefits from fundraising.

Bill Libbon, executive director, said the contest was important for his group, but expects other fundraisers will make up the money.

“We're still going to do some events, and when the queen contest comes back we'll give consideration to joining it again,” he said. “By scheduling some events we'll be able to offset it.”

The group didn't plan to participate in the queen contest this year, he said.

While this year's Elks Rodeo Queen Contest is canceled, Glines said the organizing committee intends to launch another in 2009, and they have already lobbied for community groups to put up candidates. They've also pledged coaching support to help those who plan to participate.

“I think sometimes there's a fear about how do we do this,” Glines said, adding that he and co-chairman Mike Zoost are willing to visit with groups now to give advice about how to embark on launching a queen campaign for the 2009 rodeo.

Some groups might do several small fundraisers throughout the year to raise a few thousand dollars, but a well-organized rodeo queen committee can make tens of thousands of dollars from six weeks of effort, he added.

Groups hoping to sponsor a queen candidate in 2009 can arrange a meeting with Glines and Zoost by calling 922-2900.

Although the Queen Contest kickoff dinner on April 18 has been canceled, Glines said the Rodeo Kickoff and Auction will continue May 3. Both live and silent auctions are planned. Proceeds will benefit Elks Recreation with the production of the rodeo and parade.

The lack of a queen contest

isn't the only change in this year's rodeo, which will be three days, May 30 to June 1, with the parade falling on May 31. What normally would be the opening night, Thursday, May 29, instead will be a Professional Bull Riders Inc. event featuring nothing but bull riding, a crowd favorite.

Janene Scully can be reached at 739-2214 or janscully@santamariatimes.com

March 1, 2008