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
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
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