Elks Rodeo Queen Crowned

The winner of the annual Elks Rodeo Queen Competition was greeted by a huge crowd that gathered for day two of Santa Maria’s biggest event of the year.

Orcutt Academy sophomore Taylor Glines was announced Elks Rodeo Queen for 2015.

She raised more than $200,000 for her non-profit sponsor VTC Enterprises.

“Oh my gosh, I think its the greatest thing that has ever happened”, a gushing Glines said, “this is the best night of my life, I’ve been preparing for this since I was five years old.”

The mission of VTC Enterprises is to assist youth and adults with disabilities or other limitations in choosing and achieving their life goals.

The three other Queen contestants were Jasmine Rodriguez representing Kiwanis Club of Guadalupe, Taelor Janes representing Santa Maria Noontime Lions and Sarai Calderon representing YOYO, or Your Orcutt Youth Organization.

All four contestants raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for their local non-profit sponsors in less than two months selling tickets, holding pancake breakfasts, barbeques, car washes and other fundraising events.

The Elks Rodeo Queen competition is a centerpiece of the annual rodeo having raised more than $10 million for local non-profit organizations since its inception decades ago.

“All the money goes back into the community”, says Elks Rodeo Queen Competition Chair Peter Sterling, “that’s what this event is all about.”