The Elks Recreation Foundation was formed in 1943. The purpose was to generate funds for Youth Recreation in the Santa Maria Valley. This turned out to be such a successful program, two corporations were instituted in 1948: The Elks Recreation Foundation, Inc. and the Elks Rodeo and Parade, Inc. - which were both merged into a single entity - The Elks Recreation, Inc. Membership in Elks Recration is limited to active membership in good standing of Elks Lodge No. 1538, Santa Maria, CA. There is only one class of membership in this corporation - active membership.
     Elks Recreation, Inc. first event was a dance followed by a rodeo, now nationally known as the "Santa Maria Elks Rodeo." With their professional operation procedures and their attraction of world class competition, the rodeo ranks as high as 22nd in the world and third in the state of California with national television coverage on both ESPN and Prime Ticket sports networks. The second to be added was the Elks Rodeo parade. This has turned out to be very successful with upwards of 100,000 spectators each year.
     The Queen contest was started in 1947. This is the single most important program in raising funds for youth recreation. During the six-week program, conestants coordinate barbeques, dances, sports-related contests, car washes, food and bake sales, auctions, and various other activities in their quest to obtain donations. This program offers an opportunity for each Santa Maria Valley community's non-profit organization to sponsor a queen candidate. The candidate must be of high school or college age. Her organization shares in the net proceeds on a percentage basis in relation to accumulated funds. Through the year 2000 nearly 400 young ladies have had the honor to represent an organization and have raised over 6 million dollars to date.  These funds have been distributed to more than fourty various organizations.  Benefits from the organization's contributions are evident throughout the community through numerous facilities and programs including swimming pools, a youth center, tennis courts, baseball diamonds, year-round recreation centers, basketball courts, athletic equipment, scouting programs, scholarships, and much more. Allocations to the Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department alone totalled $356,721.28 as of October 1995.
     On March 31st, 1995, Elks Recreation, Inc. successfully secured a generous gift of 107 acres from Unocal to develop an event center. The benefits derived from the use of this facility will continue the Elks commitment and funding of youth recreation.  Within three months, the numerous organization volunteers constructed facilities for the 52nd Annual Santa Maria Elks Rodeo. By 2001 the organization secured donations valued over $200,000 in cash, labor, and equipment usage from the local business community to continue to develop the arena site.
     All efforts related to Elks Recreation, Inc. coordinating, activities, and fundraising is the result of volunteers. More than 1,300 volunteers work on 60 committees producing an annual parade, rodeo, queen contest, beard-a-reno contest, a mini rodeo, press luncheons, an allocations committee, concerts, dances, barbeques, banquets, awards, scholarships, a Contestant Center, a VIP Center, a Go-Rodeo Days Contest, and a rodeo kick-off banquet and auction.
    Tickets are on sale now for the 67th Santa Maria Elks Rodeo by calling (805) 922-6006.