The first time Janae Wallace competed in a rodeo pageant in 2019, one of the judges told her that she needed to compete for the Miss Rodeo California title.
At the time it was a dream that seemed impossible.
Several years later, her dream came true when Wallace was crowned the 2025 Miss Rodeo California, last November.
“I was up on that stage and I got crowned, and I could just see all of these memories of all these rodeos that I’ve been to in the past, and the people who I’ve met and the experiences that I’ve had that led me to that moment,” Wallace told Noozhawk.
“It was such a surreal feeling.”
This weekend she’ll be at the inaugural Santa Barbara Rodeo Days at Earl Warren Showgrounds to educate others about rodeo life and hang out with rodeo fans.
“This is the first Santa Barbara rodeo, so I’m super excited to be there for the inaugural year and, hopefully, rocket ship it into such an amazing production for future years as well,” Wallace said.
Wallace, who is from Valley Center in northern San Diego County, first heard about Santa Barbara Rodeo Days when Noozhawk publisher Bill Macfadyen, a lifelong rodeo fan, reached out to tell her about it.
“Santa Barbara was a no-brainer for me because who doesn’t want a rodeo on the beach,” she remarked.
An added incentive? Her sister attends UC Santa Barbara.
Santa Barbara Rodeo Days is replacing the Fiesta Stock Horse Show & Rodeo, which had been held at the showgrounds for decades, after the venue and Old Spanish Days organizers failed to reach an agreement to continue.
Instead, the two organizations are hosting their own rodeos this weekend with Old Spanish Days holding a free Fiesta Stock Horse Show & Rodeo at the Santa Ynez Valley Equestrian Center.
“It’s an honor to have Miss Rodeo California, Janae Wallace, join us for Santa Barbara Rodeo Days this year,” said Ben Sprague, Earl Warren Showgrounds’ CEO.
“It is so important to us to honor the history, tradition and culture of rodeo. Her involvement not only adds to the excitement of our inaugural event, but also strengthens our connection to California rodeo culture here in Santa Barbara.”
Since Wallace was crowned in November, she’s been traveling around the country to advocate for California rodeos. Wallace said many people are surprised to hear that rodeo is even a thing in California.
“I think a lot of people forget that we have such a rich culture in agriculture, in the western industry, in ranching, and I just want to bring that to light,” Wallace said.
Wallace also gets to help out with rodeo production, carry sponsor flags to highlight organizations supporting rodeos, and meet with rodeo fans.
Before she was 2025 Miss Rodeo California, Wallace earned the title of 2022 Miss Rodeo Lakeside and 2019 Valley Center Stampede Rodeo Queen.
Now she has her eyes set on the Miss Rodeo America crown, which she will be competing for in December.
“Santa Barbara was a no-brainer for me because who doesn’t want a rodeo on the beach?”
Miss Rodeo california janae Wallace
“This is my last guaranteed year as a rodeo queen so I want to make sure that I live my life to the fullest,” Wallace said.
“I have traveled to so many different states across the country, and have gotten to experience so many wonderful opportunities.”
Miss Rodeo competitors are judged in several categories, including horsemanship, personality and speech.
To prepare for the competition, Wallace went to the Miss Rodeo California Clinic during the Santa Maria Elks Rodeo.
Tina Tonascia, chief operations officer for Elks Recreation, which hosts the Santa Maria Elks Rodeo, said roughly 20 women attend each year to learn the ins and outs of rodeos, including everything from the right consistency of dirt to how to promote a rodeo.
“The most rewarding part is seeing how they leave that clinic, and I watch them go on to do amazing things in their communities,” Tonascia said.
“Even if they don’t win Miss Rodeo California, getting to watch some of the programs they get involved with, or the path that they take.”
Tonascia said she’s seen Wallace at a number of rodeos since the clinic and is proud that she’s representing California.
“She’s a beautiful person inside and out, and we’re just so proud that she’s representing our great state of California in our industry,” Tonascia said.
“We just wish her the best in her competition for Miss Rodeo America; we’re always hoping we bring that crown home.”
Looking ahead to her weekend in Santa Barbara, Wallace said she wants people to get to know the person under the crown and sash and to introduce the world of rodeo to others.
“I am a walking encyclopedia; you can ask me anything you want about rodeo,” Wallace said. “I want to make sure that people know that I am an open book when it comes to that.
“I am a firm believer that you can’t stop learning about rodeo. I can’t stop learning about rodeo, and I’m surrounded by it all the time.”
Santa Barbara Rodeo Days at Earl Warren Showgrounds runs Friday through Sunday, with a free-entry carnival and fiesta, food vendors, live music and a mercado.