“My motivation (to rodeo) is to keep alive the tradition,” says 16-year-old Meghan Proctor. “If I didn’t do rodeo, I wouldn’t have anything else to represent what I am and what I do. Rodeo is my way of keeping that alive.” Meghan, the 2013 Miss Wyoming High School Rodeo Queen, has been competing in rodeo for more than 10 years. Her older brother, Miles, is the main reason that she decided to start rodeoing. “He is quite a bit older than me, so I’ve always looked up to him. Growing up, he was basically my only friend, so I wanted to do just like him.” Meghan followed in her family’s bootprints and, like her parents and brother, entered the world of rodeo. Today, she competes in breakaway roping and pole bending in the WHSRA.
As a result of her enduring love for the sport of rodeo and its traditions, Meghan was inspired to serve as royalty. She won the title of Miss Wyoming High School Rodeo in June of 2013 at the NHSFR. Following that, she filled her year with grand entries, carrying flags, and representing the WHSRA in many other areas. At the beginning of 2014, Meghan went to West Virginia to the National High School Rodeo Association meeting. There, she met with the National rodeo and event directors from each state, along with other state High School rodeo queens. They discussed any changes for the association, as well as its budget. Meghan will have the opportunity to run for Miss Wyoming High School Rodeo Queen again this year, which she is considering.
Meghan and her parents, Bill and Geri, live several miles outside of Lusk, Wyo. They have a small arena at their house, but for major practices, Meghan says they use one of their friend’s arenas. Along with their horses, the Proctors also keep roping steers, who are almost like pets. Meghan’s rodeo horse is an American Quarter Horse named WD40. “She has a very large personality and she is very stomach driven, but she is very willing to learn.” Meghan competes in both of her events on WD40. In addition to rodeo and her queening, Meghan also competes in the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association (CMSA) on her horse Bailey. She has been competing in the organization since 2005. “It’s my favorite thing to do. There’s pylons with balloons on them and you have to hit the balloon. For every balloon you miss, time gets added, but you want to have the fastest time possible.” The CMSA has a year-end world competition that Meghan hopes to compete in someday.
A junior at Niobrara County High School, Meghan enjoys all of her classes, especially math. This year she is taking speech and debate, working in two events. In the poetry event, she chooses a poem to present as a speech at the end of the year, and in her second event, she interprets a story with a partner. Additionally, Meghan is highly involved in 4-H. Her projects include horse, market swine, market lamb, and sewing, along with being a Junior Leader. Meghan’s favorite thing to sew is western shirts, complete with snaps.
Meghan thrives on her full schedule. She says of her future goals, “My main goal is to go to college and get an education, then get a job. I’ve always wanted to be a large animal vet.” Meghan is also highly interested in competing in the PRCA someday, and in her down-to-earth way, she said, “That depends on how much time and money I have, but I’d like to (go pro) if I can.”
