SANTA MARIA, Calif. - The 78th Annual Santa Maria Elks Rodeo is just around the corner and local nonprofit organizations are gearing up in a big way for this year’s Elks Rodeo Queen Contest. The 2021 Rodeo Queen Candidates will celebrate their campaigns at the time honored tradition of the Queen Kickoff and Auction Dinner held at the Santa Maria Elks Lodge Saturday evening. Among them are the returning groups of Kiwanis Club of Guadalupe, St. Joseph’s High School, Kiwanis of Santa Maria (Noontime) and NSBC United Way. The Queen Contest has raised and distributed over $14 Million to our local community youth recreation programs since its inception. This year's Elks Rodeo at the Elks Unocal Event Center in Santa Maria will be held from September 2 to September 5.