The California Rodeo Association is thrilled to announce our 2024 Golden Circle of Champions delegate, 6-year-old Jaizel Mendoza of Salinas. Jaizel was diagnosed with neuroblastoma in April 2022 and is currently living with an inoperable chest tumor. The Golden Circle of Champions, a non-profit organization, provides support to pediatric cancer patients and their families through financial aid and additional resources.
Originating in Santa Maria, CA, the program expanded in 2018 to include 20 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association-sanctioned rodeos. These rodeos sponsor a child, funding a trip to Las Vegas for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. The children and their families are honored at an annual banquet and paired with professional rodeo athletes who teach them about the sport and spend quality time with them. Following the banquet, the children and their families attend a rodeo performance, cheering for their new friends, the professional rodeo athletes they met at the banquet. Jaizel and her family are thrilled to travel to Las Vegas for the festivities.
The California Rodeo Salinas’ Golden Circle of Champions Committee is dedicated to helping local families who are battling or surviving cancer. The committee offers activities to take their mind off cancer, financial assistance, and works to expand the program beyond the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo trip.
“The Rodeo Association recently expanded the Golden Circle of Champions program locally by hosting a family playday with Hope, Horses & Kids, inviting all past champions along with Jaizel and another local cancer patient, nearly 6-year-old Addison McWherter, who is also battling neuroblastoma,” said the Rodeo’s Marketing Manager, Mandy Linquist. “The day included lessons with horses, interactions with bunnies and chickens, fishing, lunch from Salinas City Barbecue, desserts from Rancho Cielo, and more. We loved seeing the smiles on the kids’ and their families’ faces.” It was fitting that the event was held in October, as it is Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month.
Partial proceeds from the Flair on the Farm bar, held November 23rd and 24th at the Salinas Sports Complex, as well as a dinner fundraiser scheduled for March 13, 2025, will raise funds for the Golden Circle of Champions program.
Learn more about the current and past champions and the Golden Circle of Champions at https://www.carodeo.com/p/about-us/community/golden-circle-of-champions.
About California Rodeo Salinas
The 115th California Rodeo Salinas is set to take place from July 17-20, 2025. As a not-for-profit organization, the California Rodeo Association is committed to preserving and celebrating the rich traditions of the California Rodeo Salinas and the Western way of life, while fostering community involvement and cultural heritage. Through its annual rodeo and the year-round operations of the Salinas Sports Complex, the Association provides valuable support to the community and other non-profits. In 2024, these efforts generated over $796,000 for local non-profit organizations and community groups through donations, vending, and fundraising opportunities. For more information, visit www.CARodeo.com or call the California Rodeo Office at 831-775-3100.