Hollister's Megan Ford, who was Miss San Benito Rodeo in 2015, on July 21 was crowned Miss California Rodeo Salinas 2016 at the beginning of the rodeo performance.
Ford, a San Benito High School graduate, will represent the California Rodeo Salinas for a year, traveling to various parades and events throughout California. The other contestants were Isabeau Ennis – Miss Tehachapi Mountain Jr. Rodeo; Sylvana Talamantes – Miss Tuolumne County Sheriff Posse; and Samantha Turner – Miss LaGrange Rodeo.
The contest to determine the queen consisted of horsemanship, personality, appearance and scholastic categories. In addition to the title of Miss California Rodeo Salinas 2016, Ford will receive a $2,500 cash scholarship, a gold and silver trophy buckle, a gold and silver tiara, the use of a two-horse trailer for one year and many other gifts.
Here is Ford's bio, courtesy of the California Rodeo Salinas:
As a fourth-generation San Benito County resident, Megan Ford – Miss San Benito Rodeo is very passionate about representing her hometown rodeo. The daughter of George and Monica Ford currently attends Gavilan Community College with plans to transfer to the CSU Monterey Bay’s nursing program to become a registered nurse.
In addition to working in the pharmacy at a local hospital and working at a local coffee shop, she still finds time to give riding lessons to young children. Beginning at the age of four, Megan has participated in junior rodeos, ranch rodeos, high school rodeos, and college rodeos for Feather River College in the events of barrel racing, pole bending, goat tying, breakaway roping and team roping. Currently she is a member of the American Cowboy Team Roping Association (ACTRA).
Some of her favorite events to attend are brandings because helping other local ranchers builds a stronger sense of community and family which is something that is very important to Megan. Her other hobbies include fishing, snowboarding, going to the lake and rescuing animals.
​About the California Rodeo
The 106th California Rodeo Salinas will take place July 21-24. The California Rodeo Association is a nonprofit organization that strives to preserve and promote the traditions of the California Rodeo Salinas and the West. It supports the community and other nonprofit organizations through the staging of the annual California Rodeo Salinas and other year round operations of the Salinas Sports Complex. Through donation of its facility, vending and fundraising opportunities during Rodeo and other events, the California Rodeo Association returns more than $300,000 annually to local nonprofits. For more information about the California Rodeo Salinas, log on to www.CARodeo.com or call the California Rodeo Office at 831-775-3100. "Like" the California Rodeo on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CARodeoSalinas or follow them on Twitter @CaliforniaRodeo for updates, photos and more.
