Miss Salinas Valley Fair

About Miss Salinas Valley Fair

The Miss Salinas Valley Fair Competition is held annually to select a young lady who has the desire and enthusiasm to serve as a goodwill ambassador for the Salinas Valley Fair. The Salinas Valley Fair Competition Committee has pledged to make the competition memorable for each contestant. The Miss Salinas Valley Fair Competition Committee is confident that the candidate chosen will represent The Salinas Valley Fair in a grand manner.

Miss SVF symbolizes the youth of our Salinas Valley Fair and in so doing, promotes the great western way of life. She is an ideal all-around, well versed young lady, who has a congenial personality, and knowledge of the Salinas Valley Fair, and the Salinas Valley. She is a young lady who enjoys travel and has a sincere interest in garnering educational experiences that assist in laying a solid foundation for her future.

Contestants may not be less than 16 years of age as of January 1, prior to the competition, and no more than 20 years of age as of December 31, of the year in which she competes. They must be a resident and a student in the counties of Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz, Southern Santa Clara, Northern San Luis Obispo, Parkfield, and Coalinga as per Salinas Valley Fair General Information & Local Rules and Area limits.

2024 Miss Salinas Valley Fair

Natalia Merritt is 17 years old Junior at King City High School and is the daughter of Jeff and Cory Merritt of King City, California. Natalias’ love of animals is showcased with her horse, Scarlett, and her two dogs, Sophie and Bailey. She is a Monterey County native and has attended local schools where she excels in academics.

Natalia has achieved her Greenhand Degree and her Chapter Farmer Degree. She has her sights set on completing her State Farmer Degree. Natalia enjoys working with wood and has completed Sprinkler Projects and a Toolbox Project through her agricultural classes in high school. Athletics is nothing new to Natalia, as she has been a member of the King City High School Junior Varsity Girls Basketball team for the past three years and has a great love for the sport. She currently holds the office of Vice President of the Interact Club at King City High School where she has been a member for the past three years.

Natalia’s love of horses and riding coupled with hard work earned her the title of 2013 Intermediate Champion of the Carmel Valley Western Series. She and Scarlet are a team to be reckoned with in the Western Please Showmanship arena. Scarlet is always up for a good parade. Natalia's goal is to represent the 2024 Salinas Valley Fair and help educate the public on a event that has been so near and dear to her heart. After High School Natalia plans to attend either Cal Poly San Luis Obispo or University of California Davis where she will major in animal science to become a Large Animal Veterinarian.