Derby Days Court

Meet the Yamhill-Carlton High School students representing Derby Days 2026

Five teenage girls sitting and kneeling on outdoor stairs, wearing varsity jackets with patches and smiling at the camera.

Your Derby Day Ambassadors

Our Derby Day Ambassadors are an incredible group of local high school seniors who represent the next generation of our community. They are leaders, role models, and familiar faces—students who have grown up here and are now stepping into a role that celebrates both where they come from and where they’re headed.

We have ambassadors to highlight and support these young individuals as they finish their senior year, giving them a chance to be involved in something bigger than themselves. Throughout Derby Days, they help welcome guests, support events, and bring an energy that reflects the heart of our town.

They also play a key role in connecting our community through advertising opportunities. Our ambassadors are your go-to for securing ad space in the Derby Day book, online features, and social media promotion—helping local businesses and families be part of this special tradition while directly supporting these students.

And perhaps most importantly—every dollar raised goes right back into supporting our beloved Beulah Park, helping preserve and care for a space that so many memories are made in year after year.

You can support our ambassadors by partnering with them for ad space, cheering them on, and showing up to the events they help bring to life. Every interaction, sponsorship, and word of encouragement helps make this experience meaningful and memorable as they step into their next chapter.

A young woman with long curly hair standing outdoors on a sunny day, wearing a black sports jersey with 'TIGERS' written on it, blue jeans, and white shoes, smiling at the camera with trees and a grassy field in the background.

Addison

Class of 2026

Info coming soon…

A young woman with long brown hair smiling outdoors, wearing a varsity jacket with letter patches, blue jeans, and standing on a grassy area with trees in the background.

Aubrey

Class of 2026

Hello my name is Aubrey Mortimore. I am 17 and a senior in high school at Yamhill Carlton High School. For the past several years I have worked as a childcare provider for many different families in Yamhill-County. I am also a team mate on the girls wrestling team and varsity lettered four times.  I am a two time district placer and a two time state participant in the 105lb weight class.. I also play on the girls flag football team and have also received three varsity letters.


A young man standing outdoors on a grassy area, surrounded by trees, wearing a black and orange varsity jacket with patches and the year 2026, blue jeans, and white sneakers, smiling at the camera.

Howdy! My name is Johnathan Hernandez-Rubio and I'm currently a senior at Yamhill-Carlton high school. I am a three sport student athlete and I have participated in football, wrestling, and track and field. I placed 4th in state for wrestling as well. I love making new friends, talking to new people and stepping out of my comfort zone.

Class of 2026

Johnny

A young woman with red hair standing outdoors on a grassy area, smiling, wearing a black and white varsity jacket, jeans, and sneakers, with trees and a fence in the background.

My name is Saige Hinckley, currently a senior at YCHS and a returning Derby Days Ambassador. I am quite involved around my school and community, currently serving as the Class of 2026 President and FFA Vice President, as well as the Derby Days Queen for 2025. Some of my hobbies include dancing (Tap and Ballet for 15 years), hunting, floral arranging, and showing chickens at the Yamhill County Fair. 

Class of 2026

Saige

A young girl in a floral skirt and white jacket receives a small toy or prize from a woman in a black t-shirt at an outdoor event. An older woman in sunglasses looks on, while a fire truck is visible in the background among other people at a park or community gathering.
A group of six people, including children and young adults, posing together outdoors in a park-like setting with picnic tables and trees, some holding baskets, with a stroller and plush animal, smiling and enjoying a sunny day.
Three young women standing behind a table with plush toys, holding toys and smiling at the camera. Behind them is a fire truck and other people at an outdoor event under a shelter with trees in the background.
Group of five young people, four women and one man, standing around a 'Welcome to Yamhill, Oregon' sign. They are outdoors in front of a rustic barn and greenery. The women are wearing matching light blue dresses, and the man is wearing a blue shirt and shorts.
Wooden ramp decorated with American flags, set up outdoors with trees and buildings in the background.

The derby ramp holds more than just the start of the race—it holds a legacy.

Lonnie Strode may not have been part of building the ramp itself, but he was deeply woven into the fabric of Derby Days in so many meaningful ways. Through his involvement in the national derby program—with his own family finding success at the national level—he brought that excitement, knowledge, and enthusiasm back home to Yamhill.

He became a steady source of encouragement for local derby families—showing up, cheering them on, and supporting kids as they built and raced their cars. His presence helped make the experience even more meaningful for so many in our community.

That legacy continues today. His family is still actively involved in Derby Days here in Yamhill, as well as in state and national races, continuing the tradition he cared so deeply about.

Every time those wheels hit the track, they carry forward the spirit of community, connection, and celebration that he helped nurture.

A group of children and teens dressed in light blue and white, standing on a staircase at the Lonny Strode Memorial Speedway in Yamhill, Oregon, celebrating with sashes for a parade or event, decorated with American flags.