5 Girls Break Tradition, Seek Grand Marshal Post

THOUSAND OAKS —  Campaigns live and die by how well each daily crisis is handled, and it’s no different for the effort of five 12-year-old underdogs who are running for what may be this town’s most coveted office: grand marshal of the Conejo Valley Days parade.

The annual Western celebration is serious stuff in these parts, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for charities and giving residents a reason to picnic and party for a week every spring. It’s been around four times as long as these seventh-grade girls, who want to be the first group chosen as grand marshal.

The five friends carry themselves like little Spice Girls, each sounding off a Valley Days nickname. There’s “Rhinestone” Rachel Feldman, “Lasso” Lisa Gray, “Two-Gun” Tracy Elkind, “Sidesaddle” Audrey Ranieri and Asia Sepe the “Cactus Kid.”

“We want to be the first group of kids to win,” Audrey said. “Nobody’s ever done it before and that’ll be cool.”

The grand marshal gets to lead the parade in April that is the highlight of a weeklong carnival of rodeos, live bands and rides.

Competition for grand marshal can be fierce, with dollars raised for charity--not votes--determining the winner. There are crowds to work, events to plan and money to raise, all while trying to stay ahead of the competition.

Although last year’s contest drew nine entrants, this year there are only two. The girls have just one formidable opponent: 49-year-old Pastor Larry Wagner, who calls himself “The Ropin’ Reverend.” Wagner, with a well-known and well-organized campaign, finished second last year, making him this year’s favorite.

Grand marshal candidates have six weeks to host as many barbecues and bingo games as it takes to raise the most money for their respective charities.

“It’s hard work,” Lisa said. “You get a lot of ‘nos’ from a lot of rude people.”

The girls are doing well enough to be contenders, but today’s crisis is too big for even their mothers, who serve as their campaign managers, to control: The candidates are becoming teenagers.

The problem lies with the group’s name, “Animal Crackers.” The girls chose Agoura Animal Shelter as their charity when they first ran for grand marshal last year--at age 11--and “Animal Crackers” was the perfect moniker. But cute doesn’t seem appropriate now that they are in junior high school.

Mary Sepe, campaign manager and mother of Asia, held a recent strategy session informing the group of a fund-raising dance it will host at the Thousand Oaks Teen Center next month.

“Oh, God, I hope they don’t announce it at school,” Audrey moaned. “They’re not going to say ‘Animal Crackers,’ are they?”

All the girls hate the uncool name, but decided to keep it after getting a lesson in brand identity. Sepe explained that the headway the group made last year would be lost if they used a new name the community didn’t recognize.

“You can’t start a new company if people are used to buying their favorite brand,” Sepe told the girls.

They rolled their eyes, but got the message. One concession: no more dorky cowgirl outfits. The girls put on camouflage and fatigues, calling it an urban look. Sepe let it slide, figuring the new style says “fight for the animals.”

The girls still push for a name change. “How about ‘Commandos?’ ” Lisa suggested.

But the pressing issue at hand is saving face in school after that dance is announced. So Sepe invents a bait-and-switch strategy that will lure kids to the dance and raise money for “Animal Crackers” without having to utter the name that embarrasses them. Pizza and a skateboard raffle are still cool.

“We’ll just tell our friends to go to the dance for the free stuff,” Rachel said.

Asia said most 13-year-olds don’t see the value of Valley days. “The other kids either think it’s stupid, don’t know what it is or don’t care,” Asia said. “But raising money to help animals makes it important. They can’t speak for themselves, so it’s up to us.”

Conejo Valley Days general chairman Dave Melton admits the festival can get “a little corny” with parents and grandparents dressing up like cowboys once a year.

“The girls bring a new element, and that new blood is exciting for those of us who have been around a long time,” Melton said. “It’s great to see children get involved in the community that young.”

Even Wagner, who concentrates on youth outreach as pastor of Ascension Lutheran Church, said he is rooting for his opponent this year.

“I try to teach young people to be leaders in their community and faith, and here these junior-high-school girls are doing just that,” Wagner said.

Sepe, talking as mom instead of campaign manager, said the Valley Days experience has been good for Asia and her friends. It has also helped mothers and daughters bond.

“I’ve seen a lot of growth in these girls, besides their getting taller and discovering makeup,” Sepe said. “They’ve gone from shy and insecure little girls to confident and powerful young women.”

Lis DeBats, Rachel’s mom, said Valley Days has shown that teens can be interested in something more important than going to the mall or movies.

“It’s a take-take world as a teenager, so it’s nice to see them give something back and take the focus off themselves,” DeBats said.

And the girls realize what they’re doing is important. Each one said Valley Days will be something they’ll be proud to tell their own kids about.

“I’ll think, big deal--so we had a pathetic name,” Lisa said. “At least the cause was good.”

FYI

* The Animal Crackers will host a dance for seventh- and eighth-graders April 4 at the Thousand Oaks Teen Center. The dance will feature D.J. Audio Exotica and run from 7 to 10 p.m. Admission is $5; each of the first 25 teens will receive a certificate for a free pizza. The Teen Center is at 1375 E. Janss Road. Call 494-5156 for information.

* Larry “The Ropin’ Reverend” Wagner will appear Friday for a Western concert and barbecue at his Ascension Lutheran Church, 1600 E. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks. The barbecue will start at 6 p.m. and costs $10. The concert follows at 7:15 p.m. and also costs $10. For information, call 495-0406.