IGRA Standing Committee Chairs
Animal Issues & Concerns
Jim Mitchell FGRA
Jim served as Rodeo Director for FGRA's Inaugural Sunshine Stampede Rodeo and continued that assignment for the event in 2007.
Jim is entering his ninth year as Chief Financial Officer for a Florida based Corporation. Prior to his current position he served as controller for a 501(c)(3) Organization and brings six years of entertainment/event management to IGRA. Jim has also worked on events for the Senior PGA tour and has completed coursework in event management at Disney. Prior to his affiliation with IGRA, Jim spent many years performing with mounted drill teams and competing in Stadium Jumpers/Equestrian events.
Jim can also be seen at other IGRA rodeos serving as Assistant Arena Director or as part of the arena crew. Jim is currently "on loan" to OGRA and will be serving as Rodeo Director for the 2008 Great Plains rodeo and as Events chair for the 2008 IGRA finals.
Arena Directors
Russell Bleakney TGRA
Russell has been an active rodeo volunteer for more than 21 years, working in security, arena, chutes, vendor, and entertainment areas. He became a Chute Coordinator in 1991 and an Arena Director in 1993. He has been a Rodeo Director three times: IGRA Finals 1993, OGRA 1994, and ILGRA 1999. He has held several Committee Chair appointments at the IGRA level (Bylaws, Parliamentarian, Chute Coordinator, and Arena Director) as well as elected and appointed state level positions in the Texas Gay Rodeo Association, and in the Fort Worth Chapter. He started working rodeos as a member of CGRA, but is now living in Texas and is the current TGRA State President. Russell finds fun in all aspects of producing a rodeo, but really enjoys his role as Arena Director.
Auditors, Secretaries & Scorekeepers
Jeffrey Shaw CGRA
Jeff was the first membership chairman of ASGRA and was the first person from that association to become a certified official. He also served as the IGRA Trustee from ASGRA before relocating to Denver in 1993. He remains a long-distance member of ASGRA while being very active in the work of the Colorado Gay Rodeo Association.
Ron Trusley AGRA
Budget
David G. Hill CGRA
David began as a volunteer in the contestant's office for a professional rodeo in 1980 and he continues his involvement with that rodeo. He attended his first Rocky Mountain Regional Rodeo in 1984 and moved to Denver later that year and immediately became involved with CGRA. The next year, he began as a dance chairperson and moved up to treasurer rodeo weekend. He has been on the C.G.R.A. board, as treasurer, for several years. He also is the treasurer for I.G.R.A. David became the first rodeo auditor when the position was created within I.G.R.A. and remains in that position.
John King (Auditor) AGRA
John opened "Charlie's" in Denver in 1981 and soon after, helped Colorado form their rodeo association, host their first rodeo and lay the ground work for the first IGRA Convention in 1985. He served as the first chairman of the Trustees and was Chairman of the IGRA Audit Committee for 18 years. In 1984 John opened a second "Charlie's" in Phoenix and helped bring rodeo to Arizona and in 1993 he opened "Charlie's" in Chicago and helped Illinois establish their Association. He has served 1 year as Illinois' Trustee and 7 years as the Arizona Trustee, has been Rodeo Director 8 times, and Finals Rodeo Director 4 times.
Bylaws & Standing Rules
Benjamin Avant NGRA
Benjamin joined the Nevada Gay Rodeo Association in 1996 and hit the ground running as a delegate (and member of the Bylaws Committee) in Omaha at his first IGRA convention. From 1996 to 2004, he had many roles in NGRA, including Mr. NGRA, state convention coordinator, parliamentarian, Vice President, President, and IGRA Trustee. In 2000, IGRA President Craig Rouse appointed Benjamin as chairman of the IGRA Bylaws Committee, a position he has held since that year. He has also served as parliamentarian for the IGRA annual convention for the past three years.
Chute Coordinators
David Hallwood MIGRA
I have been involved with MIGRA and IGRA since 1994 when I was one of the founding members of MIGRA. I have served as the Budget Director, Treasurer and as the President of the MIGRA Trustee Board for 5 years. I became the IGRA Trustee for MIGRA in 2004. And the Co Chair of the Chute Coordinator Committee in 2005. Was certified as a chute coordinator in 2003 at the IGRA Convention in July. I have never competed in an IGRA rodeo but have served as a Chute and Arena Area volunteer for AGRA, NGRA, DSRA, HSRA, OGRA, CGRA, GGRA, AND GSGRA (LA, Bay Area, and San Deigo Chapters) I have served as the Assistant Chute Coordinator for ILGRA, MGRA, ASGRA, and Finials in Palm Springs CA. I have served as the Chute Coordinator for The North Star Regional Rodeo in St Paul, MN, and was very proud to be the Chute Coordinator at the Greater Motown International Rodeo last year when MIGRA came back on the Circuit.
Heather Murray ARGRA
In the traditional voice of Mini Pearl...Howdy! Like the song says... "It's the dust and the mud, it's the bulls and the blood, and it's the roar of a Sunday crowd..." The rodeo life is completely in this girl's blood. Raised in Alberta Canada, she calls Calgary her home along with her partner and many critters. Heather has been a member of ARGRA since 1995, during which she has been very actively involved at many levels of ARGRA leadership and the production of its rodeos. She has been involved with rodeo at the IGRA level for the past eight years where she has competed and gained her chute coordinator certification. Currently she has held the position of ARGRA's president in a two year term. Please feel free to e-mail her with any concerns or questions in regards to the Chute Coordinator program.
Community Outreach Fundraising
Andrew Goodman (Board Liaison)
Andrew Goodman has been involved in gay rodeo for ten years. During this time, he has served as a rodeo timer, certified scorekeeper, and on the 2004 IGRA Royalty Team. Most recently, Andrew has been a rodeo announcer at several rodeos in Kansas City and throughout Texas. Andrew served as the MGRA Trustee from July 2004 until December 2007.
At the 23rd Annual IGRA Convention in Kansas City, Andrew was selected to serve a two-year term as IGRA Vice President beginning in January 2008.
Andrew remains involved in his home association, MGRA, having served on the royalty team and in various capacities at the chapter and association levels. Andrew resides in Kansas City and works in education.
Mr. IGRA
Gary Rushton AGRA
Miss IGRA
Janet Jenkins CGRA
1st Runners up
Mr. IGRA 1st Runner UP
Randy Edlin TGRA
Contestant Liaison
Convention
Corporate Sponsors
Cowboy Luke FGRA
Cowboy Luke attended his first gay rodeo in Austin, Texas in 1994 and has been participating ever since as a volunteer and as a contestant in roping and camp events. He was seriously injured at the Oklahoma City rodeo in 1998 during Steer Decorating and ended up having both of his hips replaced. His orthopaedic surgeon recommended that he move on to greener pastures, and he now works as a rodeo announcer on the IGRA and amateur rodeo circuit.
Cowboy Luke is also the Trustee for FGRA and was a founding member of that organization. He lives on a 26 acre ranch in Central Florida with his partner, Cowboy Dan. They raise Brangus Beef cows and also provide a retirement home for several horses. He has been involved in several IGRA projects and is currently working on the Corporate Sponsors committee with co-chair Lorry King.
Dance
Ernie Bowers LGRA
Ernie Bowers had been a fan of gay rodeo since attending the first ASGRA rodeo in 1992, stemming from his involvement in the country dance community in New Jersey and Pennsylvania for the past 18 years. Earnie begian competing in rodeo events 2 years prior, he became involved with establishing the Liberty Gay Rodeo Association in Philadelphia in 2006. Ernie Lives in Yardville, New Jersey, halfway between New York and Philadelphia.
Finals Rodeo 2008
Pierre Cadieux (Committee Chair) ARGRA
Roger Coutemarche (Rodeo Director) CGRA
Roger is from New Hampshire, and moved to Denver to compete in IGRA Rodeos, KC 2000 was his first Rodeo. After moving to Colorado he was elected to the Board of Directors of CGRA, and was Assistant Rodeo Director for one year, then was Rodeo Director of RMRR for 2004 and 2005, and in 2006 was elected Trustee of CGRA.
Roger lives just West of Denver in Lakewood, Colorado, and works for County Government.
Bob Pimentel (1st assistant Rodeo Director) NMGRA
Bob began working with gay rodeos in 1985 when he and two others started the NMGRA. After several years working with AGRA and CGRA, Bob was elected as the fifth IGRA President. During his term as IGRA President, IGRA added the Canadian Province of British Columbia to their group making IGRA a truly international organization. Additionally, IGRA entered into a three-year agreement with Miller Lite to become an International Sponsor of gay rodeo. Bob moved to Phoenix in 1996 and served as AGRA State President and Rodeo Director for several rodeos as well as AGRA Trustee for several years. Bob is currently in Albuquerque and is involved with NMGRA as their Trustee for a second term.
Brian Rodgers (2nd assistant Rodeo Director) NGRA
Brian has been a member of NGRA since 1996, during which he has been very actively involved at many levels of NGRA leadership and the production of its rodeos. He has been involved with rodeo at the IGRA level for many years as well.
Raised in Texas, he now calls fabulous Las Vegas home. His experiences learning to be a Rodeo Director lead to the production of the IGRA Rodeo Guidebook, a how-to guide he created for IGRA associations to use in producing their rodeos.
Jim Mitchell (Events Director)FGRA
He served as Rodeo Director for the inaugural Sunshine Stampede and has taken the same assignment for the 2007 season. As Rodeo Director Jim was responsible for recruiting and coordinating the volunteer team that produced the first gay rodeo ever held in the State of Florida.
Prior to his affiliation with IGRA, Jim spent many years competing as part of mounted drill teams and individually in stadium jumping and three day events. He is entering his eighth year as Chief Financial Officer for a Florida based Corporation. Prior to his current position he served as controller for a 501(c)(3) theatre and brings six years of entertainment/event management to IGRA. Jim has also worked on events for the Senior PGA tour and has completed coursework in event management at Disney.
Mitch Gill (1st assistant Events Director) HSRA
Mitch has been an active member of gay rodeo for 18 years. He started competing in Camp Events at his first rodeo in Oklahoma City, in the 80's. Mitch has been honored to serve on several rodeo boards through the country. Mitch has served on the boards of these great associations, TGRA, CGRA, NGRA, GSGRA, HSRA and the experience of that has filled his life with valuable lessons.
Mitch, as the lovely DeShannon has worked tirelessly over the years to raise money for charity. DeShannon has the special honor of being the only individual to hold the title of Miss IGRA two times, once in 1995 representing Texas and then again in 1999 representing Nevada. DeShannon has earned many other titles outside of Rodeo working for charity. Yes you heard me right.
Ric Legg (2nd assistant Events Director) ASGRA
Richard (Ric) Legg was born in Albuquerque, NM and has lived in Florida, Alabama, and Washington DC. After graduating from high school, he joined the US Army for four years and afterwards remained in the Washington DC area. Ric met Rudy, his husband, in November of 2000. It is then that he started as a male entertainer running for Mr. Titles all over the city. He was Mr. Remington's in 2003, and then during this reign he did a turnabout night and Destiny was born in April of 2003. Ric ran for title of Miss ASGRA 2004 and won. Ric and Rudy compete in wild drag race and goat dressing. In 2005, during his reign as Miss IGRA 1st Runner up, Ric started competing in steer deco and chute doggin. He has also tried flag and barrel racing, as well as steer riding. Then in 2007 he became Miss IGRA 2007 working hard, raising money, and competing.
Growth & Planning
Michael Lentz ASGRA
Michael Lentz has been involved in the work of IGRA since 1991. He was the Founding President of the Atlantic States Gay Rodeo Association in 1991 and served two years in that role. He served three full terms as IGRA Trustee representing ASGRA from 1994 to 1999 and from 2003 through 2005; in 1998 and 1999 he was the Chairman of the IGRA Board of Trustees. He was the first IGRA Animal Issues Committee Chairman in 1993 and 1994 where he led the effort to create and adopt the original IGRA Statement of Animal Welfare; he was the Rodeo Growth Committee Chairman from 1995 to 1999 and 2005 to present; he was Special Projects Committee Chairman in 2000 and 2001 where he developed a multi-year historical analysis of IGRA competition and attendance which he still maintains. He has been an instructor/moderator for the IGRA University from 2003 through 2007 and has been an IGRA certified rodeo judge since 1998. He is president of an economic consulting firm and lives in North Bethesda, Maryland with his partner Rob and their son Zachary.
Hall Of Fame
Bob Pimentel
Bob was born and raided in the San Francisco Bay Area. He moved to New Mexico in 1972. Bob started working with Gay Rodeos in 1985 when he and two others started the NMGRA. After several years working with and training with AGRA and CGRA Bob was elected IGRA President.
In 1991 Bob Pimentel began his first term as the fifth President of IGRA. Where two more associations joined IGRA. This was the year IGRA split the rodeo circuit into three divisions with plans for a fourth division when at least one more rodeo was scheduled in the eastern part of the country. IGRA's first International Sponsor came on board when the Miller Brewing Company agreed to have the Miller Lite brand provide support for all rodeos around the country.
The 1992 rodeo year was Pimentel's second term as IGRA President. The 8th IGRA Annual Convention was held in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. This was the year IGRA added the Canadian Province of British Columbia to their group making IGRA a truly international organization. In October, IGRA finalized the negotiations and entered into a three-year agreement with Miller Lite to become an International Sponsor of gay rodeo.
After his terms as IGRA President, Bob stayed on and servered as Trustee for NMGRA and served as Rodeo director for some of the first Rodeos that NMGRA put on.
Bob moved to Phoenix in 1996 and served as AGRA State President and Rodeo Director for several rodeos as well as AGRA Trustee for several years.
Bob is now back in Albuquerque and is still involved with rodeo and is now serving as NMGRA Trustee for his second term. Bob is currently chairing the IGRA Hall of Fame Committee and was recently appointed as part of the new IGRA Finals team. He will be the assistant Final Rodeo Director for the 2008 Finals in Denver Colorado and the Rodeo Director for the 2009 Finals Rodeo in Albuquerque New Mexico.
Health & Safety
Travis Gardner GSGRA-BAC
Travis is a member of GSGRA-BAC, has held both State and Chapter Board positions. He is a retired rodeo contestant, but is very active with local rodeo production. He lives in Northern Califorina with his partner.
Information Systems
David G. Hill CGRA
David began as a volunteer in the contestant's office for a professional rodeo in 1980 and he continues his involvement with that rodeo. He attended his first Rocky Mountain Regional Rodeo in 1984 and moved to Denver later that year and immediately became involved with CGRA. The next year, he began as a dance chairperson and moved up to treasurer rodeo weekend. He has been on the C.G.R.A. board, as treasurer, for several years. He also is the treasurer for I.G.R.A. David became the first rodeo auditor when the position was created within I.G.R.A. and remains in that position.
Internet Technology (Webmaster)
Frank Harrell ASGRA
Cowboy Frank is a member of ASGRA where he serves as their webmaster and secretary. Frank is a computer fanatic, and enjoys digital photography. He lives in Northern Virginia, near Washington DC with his life partner of 24 years.
Judges
Amy Griffin ILGRA
2008 marks Amy's 16th year with IGRA. She has served on local, state and IGRA executive boards, is a past IGRA royalty team member, past rodeo director, scorekeeper, and semi-retired contestant. Amy has been a member of the Judge's Committee since 2001.
Rick Jones OGRA
Rick has been involved with IGRA since joining OGRA in 1991. He was certified as a judge at the Ft Worth Finals in 1993, and has since clocked up nearly 150 rodeos as an IGRA judge. Before becoming a judge he was a member of the 1992 OGRA and 1993 IGRA royalty teams. Rick has also served as President and Trustee for OGRA. This will be Rick's 5th year as Co-Chair of the IGRA's Judges' Committee.
In additon to their IGRA training, Amy & Rick attended PRCA judge's school in 2004
Membership
Larry Lindstrom CGRA
Larry has been an active member for 19 years. He started competing in the camp events in the mid-80s winning his first buckle in Steer Decorating in 1988. From there he was elected to the CGRA board as secretary and then became their 5th president and presided for 3 years in the early 90s. He was also their rodeo director five times during this decade.
Merchandising
Mary Arbuckle
Nominations
Justin Waldner
I'm a South Dakota native that moved to Nashville, TN about 5 years ago! I was very fortunate to have stumbled into gay rodeo with the help of Tom Sheridan, and have now been involved with gay rodeo for about 3 years. I'm an active member of the Smoky Mountain Rodeo Association here in Tennessee and Kentucky, and have been president of that great association for the last 2 years along with being Mr. SMRA in 2004 and in 2007. I've also been chair of many different committees within SMRA for the past three years...too many to count. *smile* I was honored to be asked to be the IGRA Nominations Chair by Dot Treves of NSGRA last year and will do my best to uphold the integrity she has maintained. Please don't hesitate to shoot me any questions and/or nominations. This is going to be very exciting!
Public Relations
IGRA University 2008
Brian Rogers NGRA
Brian has been a member of NGRA since 1996, during which he has been very actively involved at many levels of NGRA leadership and the production of its rodeos. He has been involved with rodeo at the IGRA level for many years as well.
Raised in Texas, he now calls fabulous Las Vegas home. His experiences learning to be a Rodeo Director lead to the production of the IGRA Rodeo Guidebook, a how-to guide he created for IGRA associations to use in producing their rodeos.
IGRA University 2009
Patrick Terry ILGRA
Patrick joined the CGRA in 1989 and began competing the following year. He became heavily involved, holding numerous positions including Trustee from 1990-1992. In November of 1992, Patrick was hired as the second IGRA Administrative Assistant, a position he held for the next 10 years. He served as IGRA Sponsorship Chair for two years, and sat on several committees. Patrick has belonged to HGRA and ILGRA before retruning to CGRA in 2000 where he became the Rodeo Director in 2003. Patrick has been an IGRA Certified Scorekeeper since 1994 and has filled that position at almost 100 rodeos across the circuit, including 9 finals rodeos. He has stood as Grand Marshal at 3 rodeos, Heartland, in 1998, IGRA Finals Rodeo in Tulsa, in 2003, and Windy City Rodeo in 2004. Patrick is currently the IGRA Archivist, compiling memorabilia from past events and rodeos. Patrick was very excited when he asked to be Associate Chancellor at University this year.
Rodeo Rules
Candy Pratt RRRA
Candy grew up in Irving, Texas. After college she moved to Aubrey, Texas, better known as "Horse Country USA" where she still resides. She began competing in IGRA Rodeos in 1989 and has competed in ten out of thirteen events for many years. She has been international champion many times, in both individual events and in the All Around Cowgirl category. Additionally, she has won numerous individual event buckles and all around titles traveling on the IGRA circuit.
She has been a member of OGRA, NSGRA, TGRA, and RRRA and a former president of the Dallas chapter of TGRA, a former president of RRRA and is currently the trustee of RRRA, a rodeo association which she helped to found that is approximately 95% contestant based.
Candy competes in many barrel races and horse shows where she won two APHA World titles and one APHA Reserve World title. Each year she participates in several charity fundraisers, both by donating her buckles to be auctioned and hosting a charity event to benefit AIDS Services Of North Texas, a non-profit agency that serves five counties in North Texas.
Chuck Browning AGRA
Chuck was born in Casper, Wyoming, the youngest of 5 very athletic and sport oriented kids. He started IGRA Rodeo in 1995 with his best friend Brian Helander. Chuck has competed in all 13 IGRA events, and has won 13 International Championships: (3 Bull Riding, 1 Bareback, 1 Steer Riding, 3 Chute Dogging, 1 Calf Roping on Foot, 3 Goat Dressing, and one Steer Decorating) & several All-Around Cowboy Titles.
Chuck has won over 200 buckles to date, and has donated several to Royalty for Auctions as Fund Raisers. Chuck is the only contestant in IGRA history to be invited to all 13 events for an IGRA Finals Rodeo, Palm Springs 2000. Chuck is working on the one Event Buckle he has never won: Barrel Racing. Over the years, he has suffered, two broken arms, two fractured ankles, a torn ear, ripped lip, 4 cuts on the head, & several bruises.
Chuck has Co-Directed three IGRA / AGRA Rodeo Schools, has done much rodeo Volunteer work and served as AGRA Vice President, AGRA President, AGRA Secretary, AGRA Trustee, IGRA Division 2 Trustee Chair, and IGRA Trustee Chair.