73rd Annual Elks Rodeo

73rd Annual

ELKS RODEO

Upgraded grounds, new events, crowd pleasers in the chute for 2016 ‘The place looks better than it has in, well, ever.’

JENNIFER BEST Contributing Writer

B

ull riders, bull jumpers, stick horses and stock horses are just a few of the attractions that will take over the arena at the 73rd Santa Maria Elks Rodeo Thursday through Sunday at the Elks/Unocal Event

children and their families going through the cancer struggle.

“It’s something we feel every close to,” Harwick said.

Brooks, announcing from the back of his big, stout,

Center.

broke and pretty little

“With the growth the Elks Rodeo has experienced, it’s been

pickup horse, will team

up with 25-time

catapulted into one of the top rodeos on California. That creates an

National Finals Rodeo

Announcer

attraction for higher caliber contestants and more national attention,”

Bob Tallman to play a tag-team act behind

said professional rodeo announcer Wayne Brooks.

their microphones for

Indeed, the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association honored

the long-time local rodeo

the Santa Maria Elks Rodeo with its Rodeo Committee of the

tradition.

Year Award among medium-sized rodeos in 2015.

Specialty acts in the chute

“Santa Maria is making a name for itself. We’ve tried

include Frenchman Manu Lataste

to give it a really healthy dose of Santa Maria-style

running headlong at charging bulls

hospitality. We are doing extremely well,” said Phil

only to leap over their heads, flip gracefully in the

Harwick, president of Elks Recreation,

air, and land safely on the other side. Three-time

Inc., which puts on the rodeo and

Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Clown

parade and manages the Elks/

of the Year and two-time Coors Man in the Can

Unocal Event Center.

Santa

Maria

Justin C. Rumford return to the Elks Rodeo as

Valley’s

well, plus flying motorcycles, the Coors Corral, a

biggest annual fundraising event

offers

food court, free concerts before and after the rodeo

traditional

performances, and dances each evening.

rodeo events from barrel

Then come the Rings of Fire.

racing to roping to good, oldfashioned

steer

“We’ll have several rings in the arena lit on fire with

wrestling

cowboys standing in each ring. We’re going to release

with the addition of modern

a bull, and the last cowboy left standing in his ring

activities such as wine and

wins. We like to change things up every year so

beer tasting for the oldsters

people have fun and something special to watch,”

and stick horse races for the

Harwick said.

youngsters. There’s music,

Even the grounds themselves have something

dancing, comedy and more,

new to offer after Elks Rodeo Treasurer Scott

all in the name of good fun

and

Parson led a facilities upgrade that ran the gamut

community

from painting everything that could be primed to

fundraising.

building new structures.

Gates to the rodeo

“The place looks better than it has in, well, ever,”

grounds open daily beginning June 2 two hours before cowboys take

Harwick said.

to the arena, so visitors have time

Then there are the new roping chutes and alleyways.

“The other chutes and alleys were really well-built, but they

to enjoy daily concerts, food from a

were quite old and time and 1,800-pound-bulls took their

variety of vendors, shop the Western

toll,” Harwick said.

marketplace, or take the kids to Camp

The old scoreboard has been replaced by two newer, larger

Buckaroo, a veritable treasure trove

scoreboards that Harwick said will provide audiences a

of activity for the younger set.

Since

its

inception,

better view than they’ve ever had of the rodeo events.

the

annual Elks Rodeo event has

Rodeo organizers have also worked toward making

distributed more than $10.5

this year’s rodeo as dust-free as possible with the

million for youth recreation

addition of products sprayed on pathways, roads

to organizations throughout

and trails.

“We’ve gone almost completely dust-free

the Santa Maria Valley and

everywhere except behind the chutes where the

neighboring communities.

animals are. It’s really, really neat,” Harwick said.

“Beyond our fundraising, this

The rodeo also provides lifelong memories for competitors and

rodeo has a tremendous impact

audience members alike.

on Santa Maria. It’s the secondlargest thing after the fair, and a lot

“I love the rodeo. I never rode in the rodeo, but some of the best

of businesses have had record sales

childhood memories I have came from the rodeo. I looked forward to it just like I did trick-or-treating,” Harwick said.

on rodeo weekends,” Harwick said.

Advance sale, general admission tickets for this year’s event June 2-5 are

“When we get these reports about how well everyone’s doing because of what we’re doing, to know someone’s making

$15 for adults, $10 for children at Albertsons, Boot Barn, Carr’s Boots. Gate

a better living because we’re putting on this volunteer rodeo, that’s reward

prices are $20 for adults, $15 for children. Active members of the military

enough to keep doing what we’re doing.”

and up to three members of their immediate family get in free thanks to a

This year’s rodeo will include several first-time events, including a dedication to supporting childhood cancer awareness and support for local

sponsorship by Hancock Terrace, a The Towbes Group, Inc. community.

For more information about the rodeo, visit elksrec.com.

805SportsTalk, live from the Rodeo!

The Santa Maria Times has brought you live football, basketball and baseball action on our website santamariatimes.com. Now, we’re stepping into a whole new arena — live from the 2016 Elks Rodeo!

We’ll be broadcasting two LIVE editions of our show 805SportsTalk from the

Elks Unocal Event Center, focusing on all of the sights, sounds and competition.

Sports Editor Elliott Stern

will be talking with cowboys, event coordinators and Elks personnel to bring you inside the event. If you follow

our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts we’ll also keep you updated on all of the action throughout the day.

The

rodeo

editions

of

805SportsTalk will air on our website on Friday, June 3, at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday,

805 SPORTS TALK

June 5, starting at 5 p.m.

Join us as we continue our commitment to bringing you the biggest sporting events on the Central Coast.

2

| Wednesday, June 1, 2016 | 7 3rd Annual Elks Rodeo - Santa Maria Times

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Santa Maria Times - 73rd Annual Elks Rodeo | Wednesday, June 1, 2016 |

3

Joni Gray to serve as Elks Rodeo Parade grand marshal JENNIFER BEST Contributing Writer

L

TIMES FILE PHOTO

Former Santa Barbara County 4th District Supervisor and parade announcer Joni Gray cheers after Flying U Rodeo owner and Pro Rodeo Hall of Famer Cotton Rosser lassoed her in front of the Historic Santa Maria Inn during the 2012 Santa Maria Elks Rodeo Parade. Gray has been named grand marshal for the 2016 parade, to be held Saturday, June 4.

ongtime community activist, servant and Elks Club member Joni Gray will have the honor of serving as grand marshal for the 73rd Santa Maria Elks Rodeo Parade on Saturday, June 4.

Gray has long been active in Santa Maria Valley schools, youth organizations, courts and politics, but it all began with a ride in the Elks Rodeo Parade.

At age four, Gray rode her horse, Ol’ Ace, and the event has been a family activity ever since. Her parents, Norma and Joe Gray, and her sister, Dorothy, didn’t miss a parade for decades to follow.

In 1954, the Grays began serving as color bearers opening each parade. The family team grew to include nine riders, all carrying flags and riding black horses.

In 1960, Gray rode the parade route twice: once on horseback with her flag-bearing family, then on the Elks Queen float as a queen contestant.

Gray represented Santa Maria Elks Lodge 1538 in the Sweetheart of Salinas Rodeo Contest, where she was chosen Miss Personality and Appearance. She also was among nine young horsewomen who organized the first Elks’ Color Guard mounted team which represented the lodge in the arena. The event, which continues today, has become a standard at the Santa Maria Elks Rodeo.

Her involvement in the parade

continued when she took on the role of announcer 18 years ago.

As grand marshal, Gray follows in the steps of her father who was honored with the post in 1998. That was also the last year she rode horseback at the rodeo.

In addition to her Elks participation, Gray has been incredibly active with the community. After growing up in Orcutt schools, graduating from Santa Maria High School, attending Fresno State and transferring to Cal Poly where she earned degrees in social science and English, she returned to Santa Maria to teach.

She took a break from her professional career in the early 1970s to focus on being a full-time mother, but it didn’t stick. By 1973, she had been elected to the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District Board of Trustees, where she served eight years. She also taught at Hancock College, where she served as chair of the home economics department.

She was involved in youth organizations including 4-H and the North County Round Table, and worked at the Santa Barbara County Office of Education before she began studying law. She passed the California State Bar Exam in 1988 and has since been active in family law and estate planning.

Gray is possibly most widely recognized as a Santa Barbara County supervisor representing the 4th District, a post she held from 1998 to 2012.

Cowboys Kickin’ Cancer takes aim at help for local children 2016 event will honor region’s little ‘champions’

C

JENNIFER BEST Contributing Writer

owboys Kickin’ Cancer, a special emphasis of the 73rd Santa Maria Elks Rodeo, will focus on children’s cancer this year, with proceeds from fundraising efforts going directly to local families whose children are fighting cancer.

“You can’t be any more of a champion than a child fighting that kind of battle,” said Tina Tonascia, chief operations officer for Elks Recreation, Inc. Cowpokes and city folk alike are invited to let their hair down, climb aboard bucking machines, throw lassos, taste whiskeys and bid on their very own cowboys Saturday during Cowboys Kickin’ Cancer. There is no admission fee, but the 150 tickets are limited to two per person.

“We don’t want to exclude people who want to be involved, and we don’t want anyone to hoard all the tickets,” said Cheyenne Agin-Dietrich, the Elks volunteer heading up this year’s event.

Rather than raise funds through ticket sales, the open admission allows more people to attend. Fundraising will come from drink sales at the whiskey table, silent auction items, a cowboy auction and other events.

They’ll also accept cash donations throughout the event and at all the weekend’s rodeo performances.

“We want people of all ages and any financial status to enjoy the event. For some families, $20 is a huge donation, but if that’s how they can and want to support the cause, we want them to be able to do

that,” Agin-Dietrich said.

Rodeo contestants will lead guests through event stations to give them the scoop on events, from an inside view of the chutes to lessons in roping.

Winning bidders in the cowboy auction win prizes plus an escort by their own, hand-chosen cowboy to the evening’s rodeo dance.

The event, which last year replaced the Chicks N’ Chaps events of years past, is close to event organizer Agin-Dietrich’s heart. She and her family were good friends with Thomas McLaughlin of Los Alamos, a 28-year-old rodeo competitor and Righetti High School graduate who lost his battle with cancer in 2014.

Another family member is currently in hospice with end-stage cancer.

“It hits so many families, and the cause is very near and dear to us. These are cowboys who have travelled down the road that we’re losing,” Agin-Dietrich said.

While McLaughlin was an inspiration to those around him, he was equally inspired by the children he saw going through treatment.

“He told us that, while he was going through treatment, he understood why he was there; he understood the pain he was going through. Then he’d look at the kids.

He said if he could have taken all the pain for them, he would have done it. It was a special insight to see what the kids were going through,” Agin-Dietrich said.

While volunteers can’t take away the children’s cancer, their suffering or the

Elisa Ramirez, Contributor

Wade Agin gives a behind the chutes tour at the 2nd Annual Cowboy’s Kicking Cancer fundraising event at the 2015 Elks Unocal Event Center. pain, they hope to help families overcome the mountain of bills that come along with treatment.

“It’s become pretty special. All four days, we’ll be talking about childhood

cancer awareness in our own community, and we’re going to keep the money we raise local,” Tonascia said.

For more information and tickets, call 925-4125.

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Noletta Alexander tries the bucking bronco station at the 2015 Cowboys Kickin’ Cancer fundraising event at the Elks/Unocal Event Center.

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| Wednesday, June 1, 2016 | 7 3rd Annual Elks Rodeo - Santa Maria Times

Local icons recognized for giving back to rodeo

Keith and Olivia Bugal

V

JENNIFER BEST Contributing Writer

olunteers put in tens of thousands of hours to pull off this year’s 73rd Elks Rodeo, from improvements to facilities at the Elks/Unocal Events Center to rounding up cowboys, organizing musical acts and putting together compelling opportunities for the entire family.

“That’s probably a conservative estimate,” said Elks Recreation President Phil Harwick.

Multiply that by nearly three-quarter centuries, and you’ve got hundreds of lifetimes spent organizing and running one of Santa Maria’s biggest annual events.

“People volunteer to do tremendous work just for the satisfaction of doing something that was important,” Harwick said.

This year, the Elks Rodeo is dedicating each performance to a volunteer or pair of volunteers who exemplify the giving spirit of Elks community events.

Thursday: Olivia and Keith Bugal Keith, a true Montana cowboy raised in a ranching and mining family, transferred to Santa Maria Elks Club 36 years ago from the Lompoc lodge. Alan and Anna Sorrenson, then in the officers corp, soon roped Keith and his bride, Olivia, into helping out with parking in the 1980s, and they’ve rustled traffic ever since.

“It’s dirty out in the street with all those cars, and with the buses, it can be exciting,” Keith said.

Keith arrived in Santa Maria in 1965 after completing his Army service in aerospace at Vandenberg Air Force Base.

He met and married Olivia, who also grew up around farming, ranching and rodeo.

Neither would give up the dirt and the danger for love of the rodeo.

“We love being around hometown people, even the culture of rodeo,” said Olivia, who grew up in Los Alamos and graduated from Santa Maria High School.

Keith, whose family ran a bucking string in Montana, can’t imagine life without rodeo.

“For some reason, rodeo isn’t all that glamorous these days in the world of high-speed and technology, but rodeo is a real, good, hometown experience and we’d like to continue keeping the culture and experience available, especially for the kids,” Keith said.

Tony Cossa

Tony Gonzales

Jeanette Veino

Both retired from aerospace, Olivia after 30 years and Keith after 50, they now have more time to dedicate to community and lodge involvement. They also have more time for their three children, Connie (Warren), Anthony and Brian, and a granddaughter, Serina.

As if that weren’t enough, Cossa helped found the first Central Coast Chapter of “The First Tee,” a national organization that focuses on character education for children through golf. He served as the chapter’s president for five years.

This fourth-generation Santa Maria Valley native doesn’t remember a time without rodeo in the valley. His father, “T.A.,” was integral to its operation for many years, from preparing rodeo grounds to operating the roping chute for many years.

and volunteered with the Humane Society Annual Dinner, Shoes for Students Golf Tournament, COLAB’s Big Event, United Way Day of Caring and more.

Friday: Tony Cossa Throughout his lifetime, Tony Cossa has juggled an award-winning professional career with service to organizations ranging from wine and food to golf, vaqueros and economic development.

After graduating with a degree in business from University of Southern California in 1963, Cossa began his insurance career in 1966 when he joined Jim Pollard to form Pollard & Cossa Insurance Agency, which was named “California Agency of the Year” in 1986. In 1999, they merged with Bobby Acquistapace to form InWest Insurance, and, in 2005, InWest merged with Tolman & Wilker Insurance Services.

In 1983, he became a chartered property/ casualty underwriter.

Meanwhile, Cossa served as a national board member of ACORD, a global nonprofit insurance association. He also served as president of the Independent Insurance Agents Association of Santa Maria, the Wine and Food Society, Santa Maria Chamber of Commerce, Santa Maria Valley Economic Development Association, Rotary Club of Santa Maria, Santa Maria Country Club, Southern California Golf Association and California Seniors’ Golf Association. He is the past secretary of the Vaqueros de Los Ranchos and has served on the board of directors of the Rancheros Visitadores.

Over the past 20 years he’s thrown in an additional ball with his service as assistant chair then chair of the Santa Maria Elks Rodeo Queen Contest. He has served on the Elks Recreation Foundation Board of Directors and, in 1984, was honored as Grand Marshal of the Elks Parade. He was named Citizen of the Year by both the Santa Maria Elks Lodge and the Santa Maria Chamber of Commerce.

His fund-raising efforts have included: chairman of the YMCA Building Fund; chairman of the first St. Joseph High School student scholarship fundraiser, BASH; president of the Marian Medical Foundation including chairing a committee that raised funds to build Marian Heart Center.

Saturday: Tony Gonzales Third-generation Santa Maria Valleynative Tony Gonzales has early memories of attending the Elks Rodeo and Parade with his parents, but he really got involved when, at 14, he was invited to perform on the rodeo stage. Then a country singer, Gonzales said he was honored to have been invited by then Elks Historian Ted Scott to stand in the spotlight.

“I’ve always loved the rodeo. I loved it then, and just haven’t stopped,” Gonzales said.

Each ensuing year, he took on new tasks, from cow milking to Media Clown School to Beard-a-Reno, until ultimately taking over the Minetti Mini Rodeo in honor of Clarence Minetti.

“Clarence used to bring animals and clowns and cowboys to our schools. I got to wear my boots to school those days. I loved it,” Gonzales recalled.

When Minetti passed away, Gonzales felt called to follow in his footsteps.

“I just thought, ‘It can’t stop now.’

This guy did this for me, and there’s another kid out there that has to have that experience,” he said.

This year, he’ll serve as announcer during Mutton Bustin’, help Dennis Miller run the clowns, and take Thursday morning’s mini rodeo by the horns.

“If you don’t want the tradition to end, you just take over. To be a part of it is so fun to me. I want my grandkids to be part of it,” Gonzales said.

Gonzales, CEO of Keller Williams Realty-Coastal Valley, may better be recognized by many as the voice of “The Chief” from his days at Mega 97.1. He also has served as chair for Santa Maria’s Relay for Life, Santa Maria Hispanic Business Committee and as cub-master for Orcutt’s Pack 93. He’s also served on the May Grisham School Site Council, coached in Orcutt National Little League,

Sunday: Jeanette Veino Elks Rodeo Sponsor Flag Co-Chairman Jeanette Veino, a Santa Maria native, lifelong Nipomo resident, and 1987 Arroyo Grande High School graduate is no stranger to the Elks Rodeo tradition.

Her grandfather, Leon Vaughn, provided the amplification system for the first Elks Rodeo and her father, Robert Vaughn, later joined in the sound system crew. Veino played a huge role in her sister, Kristel Vaughn’s run for Elks Queen in 1991, and has been riding flags in the arena for 27 years.

“Once you’re involved in rodeo, it’s a part of you,” Veino said.

For the past 15 years, she has helped select and train riders for the rodeo grand entry which features sponsor flags, carried horseback, by young women from throughout the region.

“I’ve been part of the rodeo even before I could ride flags. Now my daughter, Sadie, she’s 11 years old, she wants to do it. I want it to be here for the community for future generations,” Veino said.

Veino began riding horses at the age of 7 and was active in 4-H and FFA and her family’s business growing Monterey pine Christmas trees. During her service in the Army Reserves, she was stationed at the 229th MI Battalion in Mountain View, California. She was honorably discharged in 1994 at the rank of E-5 Sargent.

In addition to riding in the rodeo, the Elks Color Guard rode in the Tournament of Roses Parade in 1993 in commemoration of the 50th Annual Elks Rodeo Anniversary.

When the color guard officially disbanded in 1994, Veino continue to ride for the rodeo carrying sponsor flags. She worked for many years alongside Dean Chabot, a mentor, friend and co-chair of the sponsor flag committee until his death in 2014. She continues the tradition with the help of co-chair Chris Rowles, who has also been active with the team for years.

Veino has been a letter carrier for 23 years. She lives with her husband, Mike, and their children, Sadie and Ian. They remain active in their children’s 4-H and FFA activities.

He doesn’t ride, or rope, HE JUMPS THE BULL M

JENNIFER BEST Contributing Writer

anu Lataste, of Dax, France, is traveling halfway around the world to jump bulls at the 73rd Annual Santa Maria Elks Rodeo.

That’s right: Jump bulls.

Not ride them. Not rope them.

“What he does is absolutely phenomenal,” said Tina Tonascia, chief operations officer for Elks Recreation, Inc. The sport is focused not on defeating the bulls. Indeed, there are no whips, blades or weapons involved. Rather it focuses on athleticism as jumpers like Lataste run head-first toward a charging bull, time their jump to miss the horns, and get enough lift to perform a spectacular aerial

movement as the bull passes below them.

“He’s only about 5-foot-six. To run dead on with a bull and run and flip over him is something I’ve never seen before.

He’s the most athletic human being I’ve never seen,” said Reno Rosser, vice president of Flying U Rodeo.

That’s no small praise from a guy who grew up in rodeo alongside his father, Cotton Rosser. There’s not a lot of incredible stuff the Rossers haven’t already seen.

“It’s something new to us. It’s never been done here before, and we’re always trying to find new, innovative, exciting things to bring, especially to the Elks Rodeo,” Reno Rosser said.

The tradition of “Course Landaise”

is linked to Lataste’s home region in the southwest of France, but can also be found in Spain and, according to Penn Museum, may date back some to the Minoan civilization around 1500 BC. Lataste began jumping cows 15 years ago on his brother’s farm at the age of 14 and advanced to bulls at 16.

“Jumping a bull is and must be a passion above all. This is much more than cultural.

It’s passion,” Lataste said.

The performance is both artful, athletic and terrifying for the audience and jumper alike.

“Before jumping, I refocus myself on the goal and the beast; I forget everything else voluntarily. I’m extremely nervous in these times. I have known fear like

everyone else. It’s very hard to live. It is not known why it happens, and it takes a long time to go away. It’s very hard,” Lataste said.

He’s experienced nine injuries since going pro in 2000, but the thrill continues to outweigh the danger.

The footing in U.S. rodeo arenas will provide an additional challenge to Lataste, who is used to running on smoother footing.

“The bullfighters will be there immediately if something happens. I’m not saying it’s safe,” Rosser said.

Lataste is the real deal, Rosser said.

“He’s a really nice guy, a gentleman, a showman like you’d see on Broadway, but also a great athlete,” Rosser said.

Santa Maria Times - 73rd Annual Elks Rodeo | Wednesday, June 1, 2016 |

5

Elks Rodeo Queen to be crowned Saturday night

Frank Cowan, Contributor

The 2016 Elks Rodeo Queen candidates, from left: Cassandra Cadena, 17, sponsored by Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley, Angela Avila-Magallon, 16, sponsored by Nipomo Youth Football, Melissa Saucedo, 19, sponsored by Kiwanis Club of Guadalupe, and Ashley Singh, 17, sponsored by VTC Enterprises.

Four candidates vying for coveted title

F

STAFF REPORT

our young women vying for the title of 2016 Elks Rodeo Queen will be crowned Saturday night during the Elks Rodeo.

This year’s queen candidates are Angela Avila-Magallon, 16, sponsored

by Nipomo Youth Football, Cassandra (Cassy) Cadena, 17, sponsored by Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley,

Melissa Saucedo, 19, sponsored by Kiwanis Club of Guadalupe and Ashley Singh, 17, sponsored by VTC Enterprises.

Angela is a sophomore at Nipomo High School, and said she decided to run for Elks Queen because she was determined to inspire young girls to help their community. She hopes to raise enough money to give back to the community to build programs for children in the future.

Melissa is a senior at Righetti High School, and her extracurricular

! p U e l d Sad

activities include Future Farmers of America and Los Alamos Grange, where she raised livestock for the Santa Barbara County Fair. She is running so that she can help her community and lead as an example to the children in her community.

Ashley, a junior at St. Joseph High School, was selected to represent VTC Enterprises in Santa Maria as a candidate for Elks Rodeo Queen. As a lover of all things equestrian, she began teaching children how to care for horses and has dreamed of being part of the

Elks Rodeo since she was a little girl.

Cassandra (Cassy) Cadena was born and raised in Santa Maria, and said she cherishes her Hispanic roots. She refers to herself as “Jalisciense at heart.” She will graduate from Santa Maria High School on June 9. Her extracurricular activities include being a part of the varsity water polo and swim team and being an active member of Future Business of America, EOP and the Link Crew.

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(805) 928-4088

135 E. Foster Road, Santa Maria (805) 937-5144

726 S. Broadway, Santa Maria

(805) 739-8895

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| Wednesday, June 1, 2016 | 7 3rd Annual Elks Rodeo - Santa Maria Times

Frank Cowan, Contributor

Trick roper Carlos Rodriguez, of Santa Maria and the group Al Arenal, performs for parade spectators during the 2015 Elks Rodeo Parade.

Floats, equestrians, dancers, dignitaries to highlight Elks Rodeo Parade T

KRISTA CHANDLER Contributing Writer

his year’s Elks Rodeo Parade is gearing up to be one of the biggest yet.

With roughly 30 floats and 130 entries, about 2,000 people will march down Broadway in Santa Maria starting at 9 a.m. Saturday, June 4.

Starting at Mill Street and ending at Enos Drive, the parade will follow a 1.5 mile route down Broadway — an estimated 5,000 to 10,000 spectators line the street each year.

“We have a good lineup this year,” said Tim Murphy, parade chairman. “It’s bigger than it has been in the past.”

This year’s parade festivities will kick off, weather permitting, with Kent Lane dropping out of the sky with a 40-foot American flag, landing in front of the Santa Maria Inn. The skydiver, who has performed over 8,000 jumps, has launched the parade for the last several years.

The fact that Lane will be jumping with the American flag keeps with the parade’s theme this year: patriotism.

Murphy said that spectators can expect to find lots of red, white and blue, and American flags, as a way to honor people who have defended our flag and our country.

“Year to year, we have some old entries and new entries,” Murphy said.

“Probably of all the things in the parade this year, I’m pretty exciting about Joni Gray being our grand marshal. She’s been involved in the parade for decades, since she was 4 years old. Her father at one point was grand marshal, and she’s

been an announcer in the parade as far back as anyone can remember.”

Honorary grand marshals this year include Bob Torres and Bob Tallman.

Tallman has often been called the greatest rodeo announcer who ever lived. He began announcing rodeos in 1970 — everything from small town rodeos to the National Finals Rodeo held in December every year.

Torres served as exalted ruler of the Elks Lodge in 1964, has been a member for over 55 years, and also served on the parade committee for many years.

He is one of four founders of Pappy’s Restaurant on Betteravia Road in Santa Maria. He will be riding his horse down the parade route this year at the ripe age of 83.

Drew Ardouin, who made it all the way to the final national round of the Elks Hoop Shoot competition, will serve as junior grand marshal of the parade.

Also featured will be Carlos Balderas, a first-generation American from Santa Maria who has made it to the Rio de Janeiro Olympics this year.

Balderas will be the star of the parade, meaning that he has some kind of fame outside of the Santa Maria area. The parade has seen some Hollywood stars, but not in recent years.

Balderas will ride the parade route with some of his family members.

“I think that’s pretty awesome to have an Olympic athlete in our parade this year,” Murphy said. “He deserves to be the star of the parade.”

Murphy said that every year he’s surprised to see the float turnout, and likes to watch out for a few “cool” floats.

Frank Cowan, Contributor

Members of Triple Threat Cheer wave to the crowd along S. Broadway during the 2015 Elks Rodeo Parade.

Frank Cowan, Contributor

A group called the Nipomo Indians marched in memory of Frank and Johnny Diaz during the 2015 Elks Rodeo Parade. The father and son participated in the parade for several years as part of the group.

“Every year the Elks Queen Committee always puts together a really nice float,” he said. “All of the Elk’s Queen candidates ride on that float. They always do a really nice job decorating and putting together a real good looking float.”

“Premier Auto Body always puts together a really nice float every year,” he added.

Murphy mentioned other notable entries to watch for along the parade route, including Col. Chris Moss, 30th Space Wing commander at Vandenberg AFB, as well as Assemblyman Katcho Achadjian.

Judging for the parade will take place in front of City Hall, where four sets of judges will decide who wins trophies for first place and the ribbons for second and third in categories such as best overall float and musical unit.

The Bobby Acquistapace Award will go to the best mounted group, as a tribute to the late parade chairman who organized the event for over 30 years.

Towards the end of the route at Community Bank of Santa Maria, a luncheon will be hosted for between 1,500 and 1,600 participants in the parade. Free hot dogs, chips and drinks will be available to participants.

During the luncheon, the awards will be announced for each entry category at 1 p.m.

Street Fair Along the final strip of the parade route, from Stowell Road to Enos Drive a street fair will be hosted by radio station Mega 97.1, with performances, food trucks, vendors and a car show in the parking lot of FoodsCo and JCPenny.

“What I like about this is it’s a true hometown parade,” Murphy concluded.

“It’s a tradition in Santa Maria. The rodeo and the parade are the longest standing traditions in the Santa Maria Valley.”

The parade, funded in part by presenting sponsor Santa Maria Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, is free to both entrants and spectators.

Santa Maria Times - 73rd Annual Elks Rodeo | Wednesday, June 1, 2016 |

2016 Elks Rodeo Parade Lineup

1 VICTOR MC LAGLEN MOTORS CORPS 2 SKYDIVER KENT LANE 3 BOOTS-N-CHUTES ALL ARIBORNE ASSOC COLOR GUARD 4 CHUMASH COLOR GUARD 5 SANTA MARIA TOURING ELKS 6 COUNTRY OAKS CARE CENTER 7 LOMPOC HIGH SCHOOL DANCELINE 8 LOMPOC HIGH SCHOOL DRUM MAJOR 9 LOMPOC HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BRAVES BAND 10 BLANK 11 SANTA MARIA CHRYSLER DOGE JEEP RAM 12 SALINAS ELKS #614 FLAG HONOR GUARD 13 CALIFORNIA HAWAII ELKS STATE PRES LANCE ERICKSON 14 SANTA MONICA MOUNTED POSSE 15 ROSEMARY FARMS 16 GRAND MARSHAL JONI GRAY 17 SANTA MARIA ELKS RODEO SPONSOR FLAG GIRLS 18 JR GRAND MARSHAL DREW ARDOUIN 19 HONORARYGRAND MARSHAL BOB TORRES 20 BLANK 21 CALIFORNIA HAWAII ELKS MAJOR PROJECTS 22 JR. GRAND MARSHAL (MAJOR PROJECTS CHILD) SCRATCH 23 SANTA MARIA ELKS LODGE #1538 OFFICERS WAGON 24 SMALL FARMER 25 SANTA MARIA ELKS LODGE PAST EXALTED RULERS 26 COMMUNITY BANK OF SANTA MARIA 27 COUNTY LINE 4-H ROAD APPLE RANGERS 28 AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY/RELAY FOR LIFE 29 STAR OF THE PARADE CARLOS BALDERAS 30 BLANK 31 RIGHETTI H. S. WARRIOR MARCHING BAND 32 ASSEMBLYMAN KATCHO ACHADJIAN 33 BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF SANTA MARIA VALLEY 34 ELKS PAST NATIONAL PRESIDENT TOM BRAZIER 35 C. C. VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA CHAPTER #982 36 ORCUTT ACADEMY H. S. SPARTAN BAND 37 SANTA MARIA ELK OF THE YEAR JACK TAYLOR 38 SANTA MARIA ELKS LODGE PAST ELKS OF THE YEAR 39 SANTA MARIA ELKS KADIDDLEHOPPERS CLOWNS 40 ARELLANES JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL BAND 41 BLANK 42 COUNTY SUPERVISOR STEVE LAVAGNINO 43 TRI VALLEY RC MODELERS 44 SANTA MARIA ELKS CITIZEN OF THE YEAR 45 RIGHETTI H. S. MARIMBA BAND AND BALLET FOLKLORICO 46 SANTA MARIA CITY COUNCIL 47 PREMIER AUTO BODY 48 BUMPING RITA THE CLOWN 49 COL. CHRIS MOSS 30TH SPACE WING COMMANDER VAFB 50 SANTA MARIA ELKS RODEO QUEEN FLOAT 51 HONORARY GRAND MARSHAL BOB TALLMAN 52 SANTA MARIA ELKS RODEO ENTRY 53 SANTA MARIA KIWANIS NOONTIME 54 EL CAMINO JR. HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND 55 TOWBES GROUP 56 SANTA MARIA FFA 57 MISS CALIFORNIA RO-DE-O SALINAS 58 LIBERTY BELLS 59 SANTA BARBARA ELKS LODGE #613 PAST EXALTED RULER 60 DISTRICT DEPUTY GRAND EXALTED RULER JAMES SMITLEY 61 SANTA BARBARA ELKS LODGE #613 62 BLANK 63 JUSTIN FAREED 64 SANTA MARIA FIRE DEPT READY PROGRAM 65 SANTA BARBARA COUNTY SHERIFF’S SEARCH & RESCUE 66 SANTA BARBARA COUNTY SHERIFF’S VOLUNTEER TEAM 67 SANTA BARBARA CO. SHERIFF’S PADDY WAGON 68 SANTA BARBARA CO. SHERIFF’S MOUNTED ENFORCEMENT 69 FAMILY SERVICE AGENCY

70 CHOWCHILLA WESTERN STAMPEDE QUEEN 2016 71 LOMPOC VALLEY FLOWER FESTIVAL QUEEN & CANDIDATES 72 BLANK 73 WELLS FARGO BANK STAGE COACH 74 COUNTY LINE 4-H ROAD APPLE RANGERS #2 75 AMERICAN VETERANS UNITED 76 GOOD SAMARITANS SERVICES & KUHL AM 1440 77 ORCUUT UNON SCHOOL DISTRICT JUNIOR HIGH BAND 78 THOUSAND OAKS ELKS CHARITY TRAIN 79 SANTA MARIA YOUTH FOOTBALL LEAGUE 80 WILLIAM PATTERSON 81 GARCIA DANCE STUDIO 82 BLANK 83 MEXICAN LADIES SOCIAL CLUB 84 GRIFFIN FAMILY TRUCK 85 SANTA MARIA HIGH SCHOOL SAINTS BAND 86 SANTA MARIA MODEL A FORD CLUB 87 MICHAEL B. CLAYTON 88 FULLERTON WESTMINSTER ELKS LODGES ROYAL CHARIOTS 89 TOMMIE KUNST JR. HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND 90 OCEANO/ FIVE CITIES ELKS LODGE VETERANS COMMITTEE 91 MOXIE CAFÉ 92 BLANK 93 BALLET JUVENIL AZTECA DE ROCIO 94 GOLD COAST VETERANS ALLIANCE 95 KINGS COUNTY SHERIFF’S POSSE 96 SANTA MARIA VALLEY YOUTH FOOTBALL LEAGUE 97 AL ARENAL 98 SANTA MARIA / LOMPOC NAACP 99 EL TORO RESTAURANTS 100 PIONEEER VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL FFA 101 SANTA MARIA ALL AMERICAN WRESTLING 102 BLANK 103 AL MALAIKAH SAHARA PATROL COLOR GUARD

104 AL MALAIKAH SAHARA DIVAN

105 AL MALAIKAH MILLION DOLLAR BAND 106 AL MALAIKAH STAGECRAFT UNIT 107 AL MALAIKAH TEMPLE GUARD 108 AL MALAIKAH SILVER MOUNTED PATROL 109 AL MALAIKAH KOOPERS 110 AL MALAIKAH CLOWNS 111 AL MALAIKAH MOTOR PATROL 112 AWESOME “A” SHRINE CLUB 113 BLANK 114 KERN COUNTY SHRINE CLUB 115 SANTA MARIA SHRINE CLUB 116 LOMPOC SHRINE CLUB 117 PIONEER VALLEY FFA ROAD APPLE RANGERS #1 118 RIGHETTI H. S. THUNDER DRUMLINE 119 SANTA MARIA FOUR WHEELERS 120 KT’S ALL STAR GYMNASTICS 121 ORCUTT ACADEMY H. S. ROBOTICS TEAM 122 BLANK 123 LOS VAQUEROS DE NIPOMO Y FAMILIA 124 RIGHETTI FFA 125 NIPOMO INDIANS 126 NORTHSIDE LITTLE LEAGUE 127 CHARROS UNIDOS DE LA COSTA CENTRAL 128 PIONEER VALLEY FFA ROAD APPLE RANGERS #2 129 MCKENZIE JUNIOR HIGH GREEN MACHINE 130 SOCIETY OF JANE 131 CASTANADA FAMILY 132 COMMUNITY ACTION COMMISSION HEAD START PROGRAM 133 BLANK 134 FESLER JR. HIGH SCHOOL BAND 135 MARINE CORP LEAGUE COASTAL VALLEY DETACHMENT 1340 136 AMERICAN LEGION RIDERS DISTRICT 16 137 PIONEER VALLEY H. S. COLOR GUARD

Elks Rodeo Parade Route

138 PIONEER VALLEY H. S. BAND DRUM MAJOR 139 PIONEER VALLEY H. S. PANTHER BAND 140 LOS AMIGOS 4-H

141 DEVIL MOUNTAIN BRIGADE

Plaza St.

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| Wednesday, June 1, 2016 | 7 3rd Annual Elks Rodeo - Santa Maria Times

Schedule of Events

73rd annual Santa Maria Elks Rodeo Thursday, June 2nd

Friday, June 3rd

“Dedicated to Volunteerism”

“Dedicated to all First Responders”

Honoring Keith and Olivia Bugal

5:00pm

Elks Rodeo Camp Buckaroo and Western Marketplace opens - Event Center 5:30pm The Beat Dance Party – Event Center 6:30pm Kids Wrangler Stick Horse Race – Arena 6:45pm Kids Silver Dollar Scramble – Arena 7:00pm PRCA Rodeo Performance – Event Center 9:00pm Rodeo Dance Following Performance with Live Music – Event Center

Honoring Tony Cossa

Saturday, June 4th

Elks Rodeo Camp Buckaroo and Western Marketplace opens - Event Center 5:30pm KRAZY Concert - Event Center 6:30pm Kids Wrangler Stick Horse Race – Arena 6:45pm - Kids Silver Dollar Scramble – Arena 7:00pm PRCA Rodeo Performance – Event Center

(Queen Coronation during Performance) 9:00pm Rodeo Dance Following Performance with Live Music – Event Center

Honoring Tony Gonzales

Sunday, June 5th

“Tough Enough to Wear Pink” 9:00am Elks Parade – Down Broadway 4:00pm Elks Rodeo Camp Buckaroo and Western Market Place opens - Event Center 4:30pm Sunny Country Concert – Event Center 5:30pm Kids Wrangler Stick Horse Race- Arena 5:45pm Kids Silver Dollar Scramble – Arena 6:00pm PRCA Rodeo Performance – Event Center 8:00pm Rodeo Dance Following Performance with live music – Event Center

5:00pm

“Military Appreciation” Honoring Jeanette Veino 12:00pm Elks Rodeo Camp Buckaroo and Western Market Place opens - Event Center 1:30pm Kids Wrangler Stick Horse Race – Arena 1:45pm Kids Silver Dollar Scramble – Arena 2:00pm PRCA Rodeo Performance – Event Center 4:45pm Mariachi’s & Margaritas – Event Center

FRANK COWAN, CONTRIBUTOR

Santa Maria Times - 73rd Annual Elks Rodeo | Wednesday, June 1, 2016 |

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Bounce house, balloons, crayons, climbing wall among entertainment options W

JENNIFER BEST Contributing Writer

hile the grownups are away, the children will play at the 73rd Annual Santa Maria Elks Rodeo. Children and their adults are invited to enjoy a new, improved Camp Buckaroo, a bouncehouse playland that will be open throughout the rodeo performances Friday through Sunday.

“We’re super excited about this year’s new Camp Buckaroo. We’ve really tried to design it so that it’s just super fun for the kids,” said Elks volunteer Johnna Clark.

When the Elks Unocal Event Center opens its gates each day two hours before the rodeo performance, Camp Buckaroo

will welcome kids with open arms. Kids can play for an hour for $10 or unlimited admission for $15.

Attractions include a monster truck bounce house, party balloon obstacle course, crayon funland, world champion sports games, 26-foot-tall climbing wall, 18-foot-tall giant slide and a racing derby.

“The derby is super cute! The kids ride hippity hop horses in a race,” Clark said.

The area is sponsored by KSBY and Santa Maria Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep Ram. “Rodeo is really about family-fun entertainment. Camp Buckaroo is here to make sure there’s something for everyone including our littlest rodeo fans,” Clark said.

Organizers traveled to other rodeos throughout the state to see how children’s entertainment was treated, to build upon great ideas, then developed some of their own.

“We really tried to model it after the top rodeos,” Clark said.

While many enjoy sitting for hours

at a time watching cowboys, cowgirls, horses and rough stock at work, some kids need a place to stretch out now and again. Camp Buckaroo provides that outlet while the adults can continue enjoying the performance.

“For fifteen bucks, they can play and bounce to their hearts’ content,” Clark said.

Len Wood, Staff

Hazley Bolland, 10 months, of Lompoc looks at some bubbles at Camp Buckaroo at the 2015 Elks Rodeo.

714 S. Broadway, Santa Maria (805) 925-5862

Saloon & Dining Hall Grover Beach Buellton 489-7770 686-1655 Templeton 434-2700

1275 E. Betteravia Rd, Santa Maria (805) 922-3553

Len Wood, Staff

London Avila, 8, practices roping a saddle at Camp Buckaroo at the 2015 Elks Rodeo.

Enjoy the

Rodeo! odeo!

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| Wednesday, June 1, 2016 | 7 3rd Annual Elks Rodeo - Santa Maria Times

FRANK COWAN, CONTRIBUTOR

HANG ON TO YOUR SADDLE,

IT’S RODEO TIME!

Santa Maria Times - 73rd Annual Elks Rodeo | Wednesday, June 1, 2016 |

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| Wednesday, June 1, 2016 | 7 3rd Annual Elks Rodeo - Santa Maria Times

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