The following royalty positions will be awarded at the 2026 YEDA National Show in McDonald, TN:

• Queen: chosen from high school female applicants
• King: chosen from high school male applicants
• Princess: chosen from middle school female applicants
• Prince: chosen from middle school male applicants
• Lil Miss: chosen from elementary female applicants
• Lil Mister: chosen from elementary male applicants
• Ambassador: chosen from EWD female applicants
• Ambassador: chosen from EWD male applicants

Each category listed above will also have a first runner up award, and other awards if a large number of applicants apply.

ONLINE APPLICATION – Online Only 
Online Royalty Application & Essay Submission Link 

The competition will consist of the following:

Each of the above 5 categories will be scored from 0-75 points all points will be totaled to choose the winner and first runner-up.

• Application complete online
• Payment completed, can be emailed with credit card form, venmo, or mailed check. $50 per application, sent by May 1, 2026. Checks can be made out to YEDA.
• Essay on the topic “What it means to be a YEDA Ambassador”, completed within the online application which needs to be submitted by May 1, 2026.
  • High School minimum 500 – 800 words
  • Junior High minimum 500 – 250 words
  • Elementary minimum of 250 – 100 words
  • EWD minimum of 250 – 100 words
• Year end points earned under the top 6 judge score from both of the riders classes for
  that 2025-2026 YEDA season
• An interview to be held at YEDA Nationals on Wednesday, June 3, 2026.
• A YEDA knowledge test based on the YEDA website and Rulebook. To be given at YEDA Nationals on Wednesday, June 3, 2026.

In the event of a tie, the following categories highest score will break the tie, if there is still a tie then the next category listed will be used to break the tie.

–    Interview
–     Yearend point total
–     Essay
–    The YEDA knowledge test
–     Application score

2025-2026 Royalty will be crowned on Thursday, the day of the State Invitational. They will receive crowns, sashes, and/or many nice prizes for all winners and first runner-up in each category, and other awards if a large number of applicants apply.

Responsibilities of YEDA Royalty winners:

To be an ambassador for YEDA:

• Royalty will serve in their position from the 2025-2026 YEDA National show thru the 2026-2027 YEDA National show when new royalty is crowned.
• Royalty will help hand out awards and be in photos for the 2026 YEDA National show.
• Royalty will attend equine events in your area representing YEDA at their expense. YEDA will assist in setting up these events if needed.
  • High School Royalty is expected to attend a minimum of 6 equine events.
  • Middle School Royalty is expected to attend a minimum of 4 equine events.
  • Elementary and EWD is expected to attend a minimum of 2 equine events.
• Royalty will attend the 2026-2027 YEDA National show and help with the royalty contest and be present to crown the new royalty and mentor them in the job.
• Assist at YEDA Shows with the following: hand out awards, assist with presentations, and general help where needed. Be present with the crown, sash, and YEDA apparel for these duties.