42nd Annual Dinner & Auction
Saturday, November 7th, 2026 · 5:00-9:00pm
Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum & Parks-Janeway Carriage House
Sponsorship Opportunities and First Ride Tickets Available Now – Don’t Wait!
FIRST RIDE PRICING – AVAILABLE NOW THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30
$225 per individual · $1,600 per table of 8
After October 1: $275 per individual · $2,000 per table of 8
See below for Sponsorship Opportunities
For more than four decades, the Vaquero Benefit Dinner & Auction has brought together the ranching families, community leaders, and friends who make the Santa Ynez Valley what it is.
This is the evening the Valley waits for all year — and this year, it’s going to be one for the books.
The Evening Includes:
- Ranch-to-table gourmet dinner featuring premium cuts, local wines, and handcrafted cocktails
- Live Music
- Live Auction
- Opportunity Shopping
- Honoring our Two 2026 Vaqueros of the Year
Sponsorship Opportunities
Join the Valley’s most prominent ranching families, businesses, and community leaders in supporting the Museum’s mission. Sponsorships are available at multiple levels — from Title Sponsor to Ranch Hand — and directly fund youth education programs, historic preservation, exhibitions, and community outreach.
Contact Donna Reeves, Development and Grant Specialist
at development@santaynezmuseum.org · (805) 895-1259
Honoring Our 2026 Vaqueros
The Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum is proud to honor two individuals whose lives exemplify the traditions, stewardship, and spirit of the American West.
Two different paths. One shared spirit. Denis Carroll and Don Hanson have each shaped the American West in their own way — and this November, the Santa Ynez Valley honors them both.
DENIS CARROLL is a prominent businessman and the former owner of HatCo, the parent company behind iconic western brands Stetson and Resistol. As the founder of the Pro Equine Group, he quietly built an empire that includes Cactus Ropes and Cactus Saddlery, fundamentally shaping the modern equine and rodeo industries. Highly regarded for his humility and philanthropy, Carroll’s corporate backing and strategic investments have transformed the earning potential and legacy of professional cowboys worldwide.
DON HANSON has spent more than seven decades making a lasting contribution to the Western cattle industry — from Colorado’s mountain ranges and Hawaii’s historic cattle country to the ranches of California and Wyoming. His lifetime of ranching experience represents a legacy of leadership, innovation, and devotion to the people, livestock, and landscapes of the American West.