MARIPOSA COUNTY — The Mariposa Friends of the Fairgrounds Foundation along with the Rodeo Royalty Committee announces that the 2022 Mariposa County Fair Rodeo Royalty applications and rules are now available for this year’s contest.
The contest offers three divisions and is open to young ladies ranging in ages from 6 to 23 that are from Mariposa, Madera, Merced and Tuolumne counties.
Our local Fair Rodeo Royalty represents young ladies who are not only passionate about fair and rodeo but they also embrace Mariposa’s western rural lifestyle as well. Our Rodeo Royalty was excited that they could get back to making appearances each month at various community events!
The committee is hosting an introduction meeting for contestants on June 5, as well as clinics focusing on public speaking, poise, and horsemanship that will be offered in June and July.
“It is very important that we do what we can to help the contestants be confident, approachable, well put together as well as assist them with their riding skills,” says Mariposa Rodeo Royalty Advisor, Carol Suggs. “We want to make sure that our contest focuses on helping young ladies be the best that they can be in all elements.”
Through the summer, the contestants will be selling raffle tickets and honing their skills for the competition, which has been broken up in two event days. Horsemanship and personal interviews will take place on Sunday, Aug. 6. The onstage performance, dinner, crowning and saying “happy trails” to our exiting Royalty will take place on Saturday, Aug. 13. at 6 p.m.
Horsemanship skills for all divisions will start at 8 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 6, and will be open to spectators. Personal Interviews are closed sessions (private).
The dinner on Aug. 13 is open to the public. Tickets are limited and prices are $20 per adult (ages 12 and older) and $15 per child (ages 6 to 11). Children under six eat free.
It is at the dinner that the ladies will compete in their final elements which are modeling, poise, and impromptu questions. The Queen contestants will also present a speech based on this year’s fair theme “Freedom, Family and Tradition.”
We are looking for sponsorships as well as encouraging businesses to advertise in the fair program that is produced by the Mariposa Gazette. A portion of the proceeds of that publication has been historically donated to the Mariposa Friends of the Fairgrounds Foundation.
If you would like more information on Mariposa Friends of the Fairgrounds Foundation, please visit the website listed below.
Applications will be available at the fairgrounds office or online at the following websites:
If you would like more information about the contest or if you would like to provide a donation to the program directly, please contact Jennifer McCulloch at 209-769-0765 or via e-mail at rodeoroyaltymariposa@gmail.com.