top of page

Our Story

Mr. R. I. Clearman, then secretary/manager of the Lindsay Chamber of Commerce, originated the Orange Blossom Festival on April 23, 1932 to counteract the depression blues. Each year since then, with a few misses, Lindsay has celebrated with an Orange Blossom Queen and her court, an Honored Couple, a Saturday parade, and a celebration in the city park.

The first two Orange Blossom Festivals featured "The Pageant of the San Joaquin," a gigantic historical play written by Valda Prizer. It had a cast of more than 400 people and was performed in the foothills between Lindsay Peak and Elephant’s Back. Hundreds participated, including the community of Strathmore in the play, as various episodes of the past were unfolded: ¬the time the Yokuts Indians roamed the Lindsay plains, the days of Mexican rule, the Gold Rush, the planting of the orange groves and, finally, the completing of Shasta and Friant dams. The finale included children in colorful capes forming a "Rainbow of Promise,” ending with carloads of oranges being released down the foothills for the 4,000 guests to enjoy as they returned to their homes.

Past OBF Queens

Orange

2020's 

2024 - Miriam Gonzalez

2023 - Samanta Gutierrez

2022 - Madison Caesar

2021 - Jimena Meza
2020- Carina Morales


 

2010's 

2019 - Megan Salinas

2018 - Mariana Gutierrez

2017 - Kassandra Gutierrez

2016 - Angela Bolanos

2015 - Dulce Diaz

2014 - Jocelyn Jauregui

2013 - Regina Alvarado

2012 - Mone Cha

2011 - McKenzie Blue

2010 - Kadi Jones

2000's 

2009 - Nicole Schiro

2008 - Laura Jimenez

2007 - Valerie Velasquez

2006 - Marlena Lopez

2005 - Valicia Saucedo

2004 - Esmeralda Soria

2003 - Corinne Ginsberg

2002 - Katie Neece

2001 - Sarah Dutton

2000 - Kelsey Newkirk

1990's 

1999 - Veronica Galvez

1998 - Krystal Lueke

1997 - Courtney Medders

1996 - Brandi Tienken

1995 - Michale Denni

1994 - Rachel Gutierrez

1993 - Stephanie Hylton

1992 - Georgia Vega

1991 - Teresa Knutson

1990 - Caron Jean Chambers

1980's 

1989 - Kimberly Ann Knutson

1988 - Cindy Bream

1987 - Tamera Beech

1986 - Kristen Meling

1985 - Paula Olson

1984 - Kelli White

1983 - Janet Haas

1982 - Leigh Ann Roberson

1981 - Anita Piccuito

1980 - Lori Rose

1970's 

1979 - Karen Schroeder

1978 -Lori Dinkler

1977 - Gail Williams

1976 - Carol Takahasi

1975 - Mary Haas

1974 - Carmen Garcia

1973 - Eileen Harlow

1972 -Maureen McFadden

1971 - Jaynie Martin

1970 -  Linda Chatters

1960's 

1969 - Bonnie Bridges

1968 -Donna Manuel

1967 -Susan Vandeusen

1966 - Karen Ferrier

1965 - Joan Jarboe

1964 -Kristie Bettisworth

1963 - Terri Dickenson

1962 -Carol Bettisworth*

1961 - JoAnn Hammons*

1960 -  Linda Stephens*

1950's 

1959 - 

1958 - 

1957 - Celia Webb

1956 - Jackie Harth

1955 - 

1954 -Donna Larson

1953 - Carol Moorhead

1952 -Colleen Taylor

1951 - Sue Depew

1950 -  Judith Keeley

1940's 

1949 - 

1948 - Wanda Lassiter

1947 - Norma Owen

1946 - Ina Mae Redmond

1945 - 

1944 - 

1943 - 

1942 - 

1941 - Jean Morton

1940 - Juanita Merris

1930's 

1939 -Betty Summers

1938 - Gwendolyn Willits

1937 - 

1936 - 

1935 - 

1934 - Charlotte Bequette

1933 - 

1932 - Winifred Cowels

Past OBF Honored Persons/Couples

Orange

2020's 

2024 - Jim & Janet Kliegl

2023 - Valeriano & Teresa Saucedo 

2022 - Ellen DiChiera-Blumer

2021 - none due to COVID
2020- Pearledna Shropshire


 

2010's 

2019 - Jan & Mary Ann Owens

2018 - Starr & Yonok Warson

2017 - Jeff & Patti Tienken

2016 - Dennis & Rhonda Medders

2015 - LaWanda Wollenman

2014 - Mike & Stephanie Lenihan

2013 - Gary & Meredith Morris

2012 - Frances Loyd

2011 - Rob & Kathryn Williams

2010 - Tom & Janie Elson

2000's 

2009 - Tom & Gloria Matthews

2008 - Bob & Maxine Kisling

2007 - Dorothy Coles

2006 - Jeanne Boles

2005 - Yuriko Lily Kaku

2004 - "Corky" & Laura Wynn

2003 - John & Jean Hill

2002 - Don & Nancy Bessey

2001 - Teresa Serna

2000 - Gene & Teresa Biddle

1990's 

1999 - Wilma Hill

1998 - Keith & Ellen Sprague

1997 - Fran Porter

1996 - Bill & Peggy Sanders

1995 - Robert & Barbara Tienken

1994 - Hal & Helen Munter

1993 - Myron & Helen Butterbaugh

1992 - Mr. & Mrs. Mike Webster

1991 - Robert & Phyllis Webster

1990 - A.W. & Jean Jessup

1980's 

1989 - Wayne & Gayle Wolf

1988 - Walter & Kathryn Kimball

1987 - Norman & Daphne Ingoldsby

1986 - Connie Kinsel

1985 - Don & Peggy Burr

1984 - Richard Schroeder*

1983 -Don & Lois Jackson

1982 - Paul & Myrtle Steele

1981 - Jay & Hazel Webb

1980 - Neil & Rhoda Barker 

1970's 

1979 - Tony & Mary Hernandez

1978 - Allison Hostetter

1977 - Bill & Bessie Blue

1976 -  Herve & Alliene Coday

1975 - A.R. & Dora Wakefield

1974 - "Scotty" & Hazel Scott

1973 - John & Florence Fillmore

1972 - Forest & Bertha Bretlinger

1971 - Ray & Florence McNeil

1970 - Theodore & Ione  Cairns

1960's 

1969 -Walter & Juanita Baxley 

1968 - Kenneth & Gladys Chapman

1967 - Ralph & Anne Keeley

1966 - Mel & Lottie Jenvey

1965 - Ralph & Darrel Wolf

1964 - Ford & Mabel Chatters

1963 - Guy & Elizabeth Webb

1950's 

1957 - Al and Mae Tienken

Past OBF Logos

2024 Citrus Crossroads: Uniting Cultures and Communities

2024 Citrus Crossroads: Uniting Cultures and Communities

2023 There's No Place Like Orange Blossom

2023 There's No Place Like Orange Blossom

2022 Lindsay Oranges: Out of this World

2022 Lindsay Oranges: Out of this World

2021 Unmask the Goodness...Let the Sunshine In

2021 Unmask the Goodness...Let the Sunshine In

2020 A Slice of Family Tradition

2020 A Slice of Family Tradition

2019 It's Fiesta Time

2019 It's Fiesta Time

2018 Lindsay Oranges: Driven to be the Best!

2018 Lindsay Oranges: Driven to be the Best!

2017 85th Annual OBF

2017 85th Annual OBF

2016 Celebrating Our Roots

2016 Celebrating Our Roots

2015 Keep On Bloomin'

2015 Keep On Bloomin'

2014 Oranges...the Heart of Lindsay

2014 Oranges...the Heart of Lindsay

bottom of page