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.
