95th ANNUAL FLORENCE JR. PARADA RODEO ROYALTY CONTEST APPLICATION
Thank you for expressing interest in competing for a title with Florence Jr Parada. Please be advised that we are a level one junior rodeo royalty organization. We are not affiliated with the PRCA and currently do not offer scholarships. Our organization serves as an introductory platform for individuals entering the rodeo royalty circuit. Our activities primarily take place within Pinal and Maricopa County, where we engage in visiting royalty and community events.
COMPETITION DATE: 11/7/26
COMPETITION ELIGIBILITY and REQUIREMENTS:
$40 application fee (non-refundable) will be collected end of this application via paypal or by card.
JURISDICTION:
All applicants must live within Pinal County. Exceptions may be made at the discretion of the Historic Florence Foundation (HFF) Board.
AGE:
- Applicants for Rodeo Queen must be between 16-18 years of age.
- Applicants for Rodeo Jr Queen must be between 15-16 years of age.
- Applicants for the Rodeo Princess must be between 13-14 years of age.
- Applicants for the Rodeo Jr Princess must be between 11-12 years of age.
- Age must be as of July of current year - Exceptions may be made at the discretion of the HFF Board.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Applicants must be affiliated with a junior rodeo, gymkhanas association/membership or active in rodeos. You will be asked to provide proof.
- Applicants must ride a horse.
- Must be able to run flags
- Must be able to do parades
- Must be able to tack up own horse.
- All contestants will be asked to present a 2-5-minute memorized speech, participate in an individual interview, respond to impromptu questions, be tested in rodeo knowledge and participate in a horsemanship event.
COMPETITION RULES
1. All contestants must be at the Charles Whitlow Arena no later than 7:30 AM for sign-in. Being late will result in points deducted from overall score.
- Competition will start at 8am sharp. If you are first draw and not present, you will lose your horsemanship points of the contest.
All contestants must wear the appropriate rodeo royalty outfits, which include boots, hats, dresses, tops, and bottoms. Please research suitable options. Lamb skin dresses are optional. It is not necessary to spend a large sum on outfits, as affordable options are available from retailers such as Amazon, Dillard's, and Kohl's; just add a few alterations and some creativity to them. Again, please ensure thorough research on rodeo royalty outfits.
2. Proper Rodeo Royalty Outfits required:
- Horsemanship Outfit
- Interview Outfit
- Pageant Outfit (also known as Rodeo Queen Dress)
3. Contestants will be judged on several categories: Knowledge, Interview, Memorized Speech, Impromptu questions, Appearance and Horsemanship.
4. We encourage contestants to have family and friends (spectators) come to watch their competition. However,
- Spectators must sit in designated areas ONLY! If found anywhere else, it will be grounds for disqualification.
- Horsemanship: Spectators sit in the stands.
- Interview & Pageant portion: there will be a designated area marked for spectators.
- It is strictly prohibited for contestants and/or their parents to communicate with spectators regarding other contestants during their interviews.
- It is important to remember that while supporting your contestant is encouraged, it should be done at appropriate times. Disruptive behavior during the contest may negatively impact your contestant and could result in your removal from the event. We kindly ask that you show your support quietly and respectfully.
- NO flash photography until the very end of the competition.
PLEASE NOTE:
Horsemanship Skills: No competitor (or person) will be allowed to groom, tack, mount/warm-up or walk-out their horse while at the Whitlow Arena prior to the horsemanship component of the competition. If you or someone does walk-out or mount your horse while at the Whitlow Arena prior to the competition, you will be disqualified. You will be allowed time to groom and tack your horse. You will also be allowed time to warm up your horse prior to the horsemanship event. This will be conducted as a group to allow everyone equal warm-up time. It should also be noted that ONLY the competitor is allowed to be down at the entry date during the horsemanship portion of the contest. Parents must sit in the spectator seats. If parents or any helpers are found down by the gates the competitor will be disqualified.
For the horsemanship portion: Participants may leave their trailer at the arena and their horse in one of the designated stalls if preferred. The horsemanship contest will be the first event on the agenda. Please make arrangements for your horse and trailer if you do not wish to leave them at the arena, as the competition will move to a different location afterward. This includes feed & water.
Horsemanship Pattern & Speech Topic will be emailed after application has been completed and/or no later than the begining of August.
Order of Events will be sent out a week prior to the competition which will include times, locations and what to expect. Lunch will also be available at the end of the competition before the winners are announced.
Please understand that we wish we could take all applicants as FJP royals. It is an extremely hard decision on the HFF Board to make and having to send someone home without a crown breaks our hearts. But we hope not to discourage and only to encourage them to try again and stay apart of FJP in other ways.
IF crowned:
New royalty, 95th Jr Parada titleholders, will be crowned from current FJP reigning royalty in November at 94th Jr Parada (more info to be disclosed). Additionally, you will be required to sign a contract outlining specific obligations that must be fulfilled. The contract specifies that failure to meet these requirements, including any rule violations by either the titleholder or their parent, will result in consequences. These consequences include the revocation of the title and the return of items provided by HFF, such as the crown, sash, and chaps. Contract MUST be signed when winner is announced on competition day.
You will receive an email with the expectations. Read it carefully, as these guidelines cover everything from purchasing apparel to punctuality and will be strictly enforced. While being royalty may seem glamorous, it involves high expectations and a busy schedule for both the title holder and the parent(s). This is a full-time commitment!! If you cannot fulfill these duties or commit fully to them, please do not apply. If you end up being a title holder and do not fully commit as promised (and contract signed), you will be stripped of your title and all possessions provided by HFF must be returned.