Hi, my name is Tori Ortiz and I am 18 years old. I was born with optic nerve hypoplasia which caused blindness from birth. Even though I have no vision, it has never stopped me from seeing the world.
Currently, I am a senior at Righetti High School. I take pride in being involved in my school including the Warrior Goat program. The program allows students with disabilities to be paired up with a mentor and learn the skills necessary to raise and show goats at the Santa Barbara County Fair, at no cost to them. In July 2023, I won grand champion goat and was top of my class in intermediate showmanship with my breeding doe, who was named Pearl.
After high school I plan to go to community college, transferring afterward to California Polytechnic State University where I will study animal science.
My goal in life is to show that people who are blind can achieve their dreams, no matter how big they are. VTC Enterprises is an organization that helps enrich the lives of adults with disabilities by teaching them vocational skills. I am honored that VTC Enterprises chose me as their Rodeo Queen Candidate for 2024.
Never in my life did I think that my dream of being a Rodeo Queen Candidate for VTC Enterprises would come true. It will be a fun campaign and a very educational experience for me, my family, and my community. Through my campaign I hope to spread awareness about blindness and about adults with developmental disabilities. I also hope to raise a lot of money for VTC and of course, my ultimate dream is to be crowned Rodeo Queen.
2024 VTC Rodeo Queen Campaign!
VTC has the honor of sponsoring a capable, community-minded young woman in her quest to become the 2024 Santa Maria Elks Rodeo Queen. These Rodeo Queen campaigns are fast paced and demanding, and we are always in awe of the dedication demonstrated by candidates as they work to raise money for local non-profits.
We have a variety of events, drawings and sponsorship opportunities, all ways in which you can support your community and have a great time doing it! Here on our website, you can find everything you need to enjoy the 2024 Santa Maria Elks Rodeo Queen Contest, including all available event tickets and drawing tickets. And don’t forget to visit VTC’s Facebook page to see the latest news, photos and event information for our Rodeo Queen Candidate:
