Friday Performance Dedications
Marc DeBernardi is a dedicated agricultural educator at Santa Maria High School, where he has taught for the past 29 years. Raised on a local dairy farm in Santa Maria, Marc's deep-rooted connection to agriculture has profoundly influenced his teaching philosophy and community involvement. Marc and his students have collaborated with the Elks Organization in various capacities for more than 20 years. With the help of Santa Maria FFA members, Marc and hundreds of Santa Maria FFA members over the years have dedicated thousands of hours of service to a wide range of projects and events with the Elks Organization. Marc has been a member of the Elks Lodge 1538 for the past 21 years and has also been involved with the California Agriculture Teachers Association for 29 years. In his spare time, he has served as a basketball official with the Los Padres Basketball Officials Association and Central Coast Officials Association for over 30 years. Marc finds great fulfillment in serving his community, fostering young leaders, and working within the agricultural industry. Tyler Dickinson—educator, mentor, and hometown advocate whose dedication to agriculture and youth leadership has left a lasting mark on the Santa Maria Elks Rodeo and our broader Central Coast community. For the past eight years, Tyler has served as an agriculture teacher and FFA advisor at Pioneer Valley High School, shaping the next generation of leaders through hands-on learning, civic responsibility, and a relentless belief in student potential. Under his guidance, Pioneer Valley FFA has celebrated many recognitions and awards. Tyler’s roots run deep in the Santa Maria Valley. Raised on the last dairy in Santa Barbara County, he fondly remembers helping his grandparents host school field trips—memories that sparked a lifelong devotion to agriculture. His family’s evolution into cattle ranching and berry farming mirrors his own ethos: evolving with purpose while honoring heritage. Today, that legacy continues. For Tyler, the Santa Maria Elks Rodeo is more than just an event—it’s family. It’s tradition. It’s home. And it’s where his students learn to live the FFA motto: “Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, and Living to Serve.” Whether they come from generations of farmers and ranchers or are new to boots and belt buckles, Tyler believes in every student’s ability to thrive. Because of leaders like Tyler Dickinson, that future is brighter than ever.
MARC DEBERNARDI
TYLOR DICKENSON
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