When Megan Kelly stepped to the podium at the Statesboro Kiwanis Club meeting on Thursday, April 24, it was with a humble voice and a heart full of gratitude. As Miss Rodeo USA 2025, Kelly travels the country representing the International Professional Rodeo Association, promoting the sport of rodeo and sharing her passion for youth development through her platform, Mission: Mentorship.
But in Statesboro, she found more than a stop on her national tour, she found a kindred community.
“This town reminds me the most of my hometown,” Kelly said, speaking to the packed room of local leaders and volunteers. “The community and the love and the passion that you guys all have is something that really resonates well with me. You’ve really opened your arms and your hearts to me.”
Kelly hails from Ramona, California, a tight-knit community just outside of San Diego where her service-minded journey began in 4-H at a young age. There, she raised goats, competed in community service based pageants, and began mentoring younger kids, some just ten years old. One particular moment, when a young girl asked her for help learning to raise goats, has stayed with her.
“She was brave to ask,” Kelly recalled, “and I was quick to say yes. That’s where I first understood the power of mentorship.”
That story has become the heart of her platform as Miss Rodeo USA. As she travels town to town, state to state, she makes time for school visits, sponsor meet and greets, and community engagement events. In Statesboro, she’s spent the week alongside Kiwanis members, shaking hands, visiting schools, and encouraging students to find their voice, their passions, and their mentors.
“I tell kids: don’t be afraid to ask. Just say, ‘Can you help me?’ That can be a life-changing moment,” she said.
Kelly’s path to rodeo ambassadorship wasn’t traditional. She didn’t grow up competing in rodeo events. Instead, she entered through the community service side, inspired by a local Optimist Club fundraiser that needed someone to represent their hometown rodeo. “I didn’t even know what a rodeo queen was,” she admitted with a laugh. “But I studied the sport, I learned the rules, and I became that advocate.”
That same dedication led her to earn multiple local titles before eventually being crowned Miss Rodeo USA earlier this year at the International Finals Rodeo in Guthrie, Oklahoma.
Despite her title, her pageants, and her now-nationwide travels, Kelly remains grounded. She travels the country out of a truck loaded with rodeo gear and wardrobe, often riding horses provided by the stock contractors at each event. This weekend, she’ll ride one of Danny Hedrick’s horses, an honor, she said, given their history and the consistency it brings. “We have a system now,” she said. “We know how to work with one another.”
Her travels have already taken her more than 10,000 miles this year, primarily across the Southeast, with stops planned in Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and possibly Canada. Though she’s based far from Bulloch County, she said she’s rarely felt more at home.
“You guys have absolutely held true to what people say about Statesboro,” she told the crowd. “It’s a fun community, a blessed community, and I’ve really just enjoyed my time here.”
She wrapped her speech with thanks not just for the opportunity to attend, but for the warmth, laughter, and connection she found. “I’m going to continue to tell this story to future rodeo queens as they travel,” she said, “so they’ll know: when you go to Statesboro, you’re going to feel right at home.”
The annual Kiwanis Rodeo is set to bring top-tier talent, award-winning livestock, and a deep sense of community pride to the arena—and rodeo producer Danny Hedrick says this year’s show may be the best one yet.
Hedrick, owner of the Hedrick Rodeo Company out of Madisonville, Tennessee, addressed the club first, offering both gratitude and a preview of the action to come. “We don’t show up and make this happen,” he said. “There’s people working on this rodeo all year before we get here, and it shows.”
A seasoned rodeo professional with a career dating back to 1983, Hedrick’s experience spans roles as a top competitor, respected judge, and stock contractor of the year. His company’s events are known across the Southeast for their quality and excitement—and the Statesboro show is no exception.
“This year is again one of the best years we’ve ever had here, as far as contestants and turnout,” he said. Competitors are traveling from as far as Wyoming, Canada, New York, Texas, and Oklahoma to participate, including a three-time world champion bareback rider and a world champion calf roper. Several of Hedrick’s own livestock were recognized at the International Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma.
“You’re going to see different people all three nights,” he added. “If you want to come every night, you’ll see something different each time.”
Hedrick also encouraged Kiwanis members to get involved beyond the bleachers. “If you’re not on the rodeo committee, check in with Jimmy and the girls. I know they can use the help. It’s a fun job,” he said. “We look forward to another 15 years of being here.”
In addition to rodeo festivities, the Kiwanis Club continued its tradition of community support by presenting a $1,000 check to LaShai Campbell, founder of Restoring the Breach. The donation will help fund the organization’s upcoming Community Baby Shower, which takes place Saturday, April 26, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Campbell, speaking to Kiwanis members, thanked the club for its generosity and consistent investment in families and children. “These funds will be used for our Community Baby Shower… for diapers, for bottles, and other resources,” she said. “As many of you all may know, if you have children, it can be sometimes a lonely journey—but we are coming alongside these moms to let them know that we are there for them and that it still does take a village to raise a child.”
The baby shower is designed to support and celebrate new and expectant mothers in the community by providing them with essential items and encouragement. Campbell invited Kiwanis members to spread the word and encourage any new moms they know to attend.
The Statesboro Kiwanis Rodeo returns for its 14th year this weekend, promising three nights of thrilling events, family fun, and community pride. Held at the Bulloch County Agricultural Complex from Thursday, April 24 to Saturday, April 26, the rodeo kicks off each night at 7:30 p.m., with gates opening at 5:00 p.m.
Fans can look forward to classic competitions like bull riding, barrel racing, and team roping, plus family-friendly favorites such as the Calf Scramble and Wheelbarrow Race. Attendees will also have the chance to meet Miss Rodeo USA Megan Kelly and shop from local vendors offering food, gear, and western-themed merchandise.
More than just entertainment, the Kiwanis Rodeo is a fundraiser that supports numerous local organizations and youth programs throughout Bulloch County. As Rodeo Chair Stan Akins puts it, “The Statesboro Kiwanis Rodeo is a celebration of community spirit—bringing people together, supporting local causes, and keeping traditions alive.”
Rain or shine, the show will go on under the covered arena. Kids 3 and under get in free. Tickets are available now at statesborokiwanisrodeo.com. Come out, bring the family, and be part of a tradition that gives back.
