The city of Ripon has carefully handpicked an Almond Blossom Queen since 1962, a tradition that is making its appearance early this year. For those who don’t know, Almond Blossom Queen is a title bestowed upon a young woman who is a highschool junior and either attends a Ripon school or lives in Ripon. 

However, before a Queen is given the name, a group of girls that qualify for the position and wish to become Ripon royalty must, among other things, apply and be questioned about their values and dreams by a panel of judges. These girls are known as “princesses.”

The ten Almond Blossom princesses for the 2024-2025 year are as following: Samantha Lackey, McKenzie Spear, Emme Wilbur, Addyson Wilmshurst, Rhianna Villanueva, Sage Peterson, Hayden Harper, Camden Downs, Jayden Quayle, and Sophia Hernandaz.

The tradition of Almond Blossom Queen is something that the majority of the candidates were raised with. Wilmshurst was one of the girls who had the experience of growing up adoring Almond Blossom Queens. 

“I want to be Almond Blossom Queen because I have been looking forward to it since I was very young, and it’s an extra way to get involved in the community,” Wilmshurst states. 

Each of the girls are excited to be a candidate for Almond Blossom Queen and admire the community of Ripon for its upstanding kindness.

Candidate Villanueva shares, “One thing I love about our town is that everybody kind of knows each other. We’re all friendly to one another.”

The tradition of Almond Blossom Queen is long-standing and opens new doors for the young ladies in our community.