Roughly 200 eager family members and friends gathered at the Western Yolo Grange Hall in Guinda to see several contestants compete in a battle of wits and charisma meant to challenge each individual’s public speaking skills.

Several local high school students competed for the title of 2023 Almond Queen, marking the second year in a row the pageant has been held in person since it was forced online in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Former Almond Queen Laura Gordon helped form the Almond Queen Association and has been passionate about continuing to support the Almond Festival and pageant because it was what people did growing up in the valley.

“This year was amazing because the hall was actually packed,” Gordon emphasized. “I haven’t seen it that full in years and we actually had seven contestants so even the amount of girls entering the contest doubled from last year, so the excitement is back.”

The Almond Queen Pageant featured seven local high school students; Alexis Carpenter, Alexa Gonzalez Jimenez, McKenna Hall, Rubi Luna, Elena Mendez-Casas. Xitlalitl Navarro and Brenda Villegas-Campos.

Rubi Luna from Madison was crowned Almond Queen and received a $1,000 scholarship for college from the Esparto Chamber of Commerce.

Runner-up Xitlalitl Navarro received a $250 scholarship and each contestant received a $50 sponsorship.

Luna has maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout high school and is the captain of the varsity cheer team. She is also a member of the Leo’s Club and volunteers at the Madison Food Distribution Center, delivering food to residents who cannot get to the center.

“I would like to give a special thanks to my friends and family and to the coordinators who helped,” Luna said after being crowned. “And special thanks to my dad, who inspired my speech.”

Her sponsor for the pageant was Woodland’s Savory Cafe.

For her speech, Luna responded to a question asking contestants what the Capay Valley could replace the Almond Festival with in the future if necessary.

“What if almonds were no longer able to be produced in the Capay Valley,” Luna asked in her speech.” I heard through the grapevine that grapes would make a perfect alternative to almonds for this yearly celebration.”

Luna’s speech highlighted the versatility of grapes and the water conservation benefits that transitioning to this crop from almonds would have on the valley.

“Grapes would make an amazing alternative to almonds for the festival because we already grow and harvest them in the area,” she stressed. “We already have many beautiful wineries and adding a grape festival that would honor grapes could help attract tourists and generate more income for our community.”

“This new grape festival can really get people to stop and smell the rosé.”

However, she assured that like with any other tradition, “what is most important is having fun and celebrating our beautiful community.”

“The timeless beauty of our tradition is something immutable and no matter what product we choose to celebrate, it is tradition and community that makes the Capay Valley so unique.”

Gordon applauded Luna’s speech and argued that she is a representation of the Capay Valley’s ability to come out of the pandemic stronger than ever.

“If you look at her and listen to her speak, she’s ready to take on the role of representing the Capay Valley,” she emphasized. “You see her as a leader who can take charge of a situation.”

“We’d be proud of her representing the Capay Valley as a strong, young, Hispanic woman in the community.”