The Miss Rodeo USA Association is proud to have represented the International Professional Rodeo Association for over five decades. At the IPRA’s International Finals Rodeo in Guthrie, Oklahoma from Jan. 15-19, Ramona’s Megan Kelly, 23, was crowned 2025 Miss Rodeo USA.
Kelly’s pageant journey began as Teen Miss Ramona 2015, Miss Ramona 2018, and then became Miss Bulls Only Rodeo, serving as the IPRA’s sanction rodeo from 2020-2021. In 2023, she competed for Miss Rodeo USA, placing second runner-up.
Kelly graduated from California State University San Marcos in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies.
“I was going to be a teacher,” she said. “I have an elementary school degree to be a teacher and worked as a teacher for a couple of years during COVID. But then I found my passion in real estate and have now worked in real estate for three years.”
Kelly said as Miss Rodeo USA her platform is mission mentorship.
“Which focuses on mentoring our youth because at the end of the day, the youth are the future of our world,” she said. “I know that personally, much of my success has been due to my many mentors, coaches, and role models throughout my life. I want to turn that around and invest in the youth today, just as so many did for me. I do not believe I would be anywhere near where I am today without the people who guided me. I want to be that guiding beacon and guide others to be role models and mentors as well.”
Kelly said she has been riding horses her entire life.
“I like to say I was in the saddle before I could walk, which is true,” she said. “I took a few years off because I was so involved in 4H and raising goats. But I have always had horses and been in the Western industry. I got back into riding horses heavily in 2019, getting with trainers and getting serious about arena riding and learning the ins and outs as an equestrian.”
Kelly said she loves to ride trail with her mother and family.
“It is one of my favorite pastimes,” she said. “It is one of my favorite times that my family spent together. We have the privilege of riding outside of our house to open space preserves. That is what we did growing up and how I was raised. Most recently, I have been carrying flags at rodeos and grand entries at rodeos.”
Kelly said it is important to preserve rodeo as a Western way of life.
“Rodeo is important to many people across the nation. It goes back generations and is sentimental. I think it is extremely important that we continue this legacy and these traditions. It truly is a Western tradition and way of life, and rodeo is just one way of preserving it. It is important to keep it going and to encourage our youth to get involved,” she said. “It has been life changing for me in the sense of learning how to publicly speak, present myself, and has provided me an avenue for success and happiness. I believe many others across the nation could do this as well.”
Miss Rodeo USA is a week-long process. Kelly said she had to comprise two speeches, one on her state, the other on her platform. Numerous on-stage impromptu questions, interviews every day, and horsemanship patterns.
“We had to ride two draw horses, meaning horses none of the contestants had ever ridden before, or were familiar with. You were not able to warm up the horses. You just got on your horse and completed your pattern, which is challenging because you cannot understand the horse or communicate with them prior to the competition and being scored,” she said.
Kelly said contestants were judged on public speaking, knowledge, horsemanship, and competed against seven other contestants from various states.
“I represented the Bulls Only Rodeo, a fundraiser for the Lakeside Optimist Club, which overall is for the youth of Lakeside, so that title has a special place in my heart,” she said. “Competing with the other girls was good because we all became really good friends. We spent the whole week together. We spent time with the judges for breakfasts, lunches, and dinners throughout the week, along with the Miss Rodeo USA committee. We shared many stories, a lot of values, really getting to know each other on a personal level.”
Kelly said in her role as Miss Rodeo USA, she will spend the year travelling across the U.S. and Canada to advertise, market, and be the public ambassador for the IPRA and the Miss Rodeo USA Association.
“I will be able to travel to many rodeos throughout the nation and Canada promoting the sport of rodeo. Many times, these rodeos will hire me to do school visits, encouraging young people to get involved, which fits perfectly with my platform. I’ll be participating in grand entries, carrying sponsor flags, and ‘Old Glory’ that wonderful, large American flag we are all so proud of. I’ll also do media and news interviews, anything that will promote those rodeos at the local level. I really do not plan to be home at all this year. I’ll be mostly in the Southeast, where most of the IPRA rodeos are located,” she said.
Kelly said this opportunity would never have been possible without the “immense support” she has received.
“That is not only the Bulls Only Rodeo Association, the Miss Rodeo USA committee, not just Lakeside or Ramona. It is the entire East County. It is California. It is my family, friends, supporters, sponsors,” she said. “And it is not only during the past year. The people who have allowed me the opportunity today are because of the people who have believed in me for 20 years. My entire life I have been so involved and have had so many coaching me. Each and every one of them has a place in this, and credit to be given. I want that honed in. I really do appreciate those who have supported me because none of this would be possible without my village. I want to express my gratitude to everybody, and overall everyone in East County.”
