Santa Maria Elks Rodeo wraps up a successful rodeo weekend

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - There are still events on Sunday, but it is a day the rodeo gets to reflect on the success it had in such little time.

The rodeo, which usually has at least six months to prepare, was only working with two months of prep time leading up to the event-filled weekend.

But there were no hints that the preparation time was shortened.

People of Santa Maria and beyond showed up and took in the tradition at the Elks.

The weekend was filled with the main rodeo events, and included the announcement of the rodeo queen along with the parade on Saturday.

The queen candidates raised over one million dollars this year, the rodeo packed the arena each day, and the parade brought the community out to enjoy a morning of entertainment down the streets of Santa Maria.

The rodeo will be on track to return the first week of June, but Halloween and Christmas will bring more festivities to the Elks in the meantime.