News — Page 3

Sponsored by the Arabian Horse Association

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
Elementary (Lil Miss & Lil Mister) YEDA Royalty Contest Rules, Guidelines, and Application 2025-2026

JUNIOR HIGH (PRINCE AND PRINCESS) YEDA Royalty Contest Rules, Guidelines, and Application 2025-2026

High School (KING & QUEEN) YEDA Royalty Contest Rules, Guidelines, and Application 2025-2026

EWD AMBASSADOR (Amber & Topaz) YEDA Royalty Contest Rules, Guidelines, and Application 2025-2026

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.