Elliott Stern

Jul 15, 2024 | santamariatimes.com | Elliott Stern

The Santa Maria Valley’s storied sports history was on display Sunday at the Santa Maria Elks Lodge. Artifacts and memorabilia from as far back as 1926 were set up in the Lodge’s banquet hall for a free trip down memory lane as the Santa Maria Valley Sports History Club put on another of its regular All Sports History shows celebrating the rich and varied sports history of the region. “They teach history in our schools but not this history,” said Ernie Corral, one of the History Club’s founders.

May 23, 2024 | santamariatimes.com | Elliott Stern

For Tomas Garcilazo, it’s all about tradition. The traditions of his family, culture, Western heritage, and rodeo. Garcilazo is a Mexican Charro and performs "La Charreria."He’s showcasing these traditions when he returns to the Santa Maria Elks Rodeo as this year’s main specialty act. “I was here about 20 years ago. It’s been a long time,” said Garcilazo during a recent telephone interview from his Texas ranch. "'La Charreria' is a skill performed through the generations only by the Mexican Charro.

May 23, 2024 | santamariatimes.com | Elliott Stern

The mission never ends – the war on childhood cancer. From its beginning in 2016, the Golden Circle of Champions has grown from a simple fundraiser at the Santa Maria Elks Rodeo to an international movement that’s spread to rodeos across the United States and into Canada. “We wanted to raise awareness of pediatric cancer – cancer in children – and the battle facing these children and their families,” said Tina Tonascia, the chief operations officer of the Elks Recreation Committee (Elks Rec).

May 20, 2024 | lompocrecord.com | Elliott Stern

The 81st annual Santa Maria Elks Rodeo is making its return to national television. For the third straight year, each of the rodeo’s four performances can be seen on the Cowboy Channel – either live or on a short delay. “Thursday (May 30) and Friday (May 31) nights, the Cowboy Channel will broadcast Elks Rodeo at 7:30 p.m. – on a 30-minute delay,” said Elks Rodeo Media Director Johnna Clark McGuire.

Jun 5, 2023 | lompocrecord.com | Elliott Stern