Committee Chair

Bob was born and raised 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 began his first term as the fifth President of IGRA, when two more associations joined IGRA. This was the year IGRA split the rodeo circuit into three divisions with plans for a fourth division if 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.
azrlp@qwest.net

Rodeo Director

Brian grew up in Texas where he developed a love for the sport of rodeo. After 10 years in New Hope Pennsylvania, Brian moved to Las Vegas to pursue a career in Gaming. He joined NGRA in 1996 and served that association in many capacities including President, Rodeo Director (three times), Assistant Rodeo Director, Treasurer and Trustee these past three years. Brian served on the NGRA Rodeo Planning Committee since 1996. Brian produced video presentations for BigHorn Rodeo in 1999, 2000, 2003 & 2004 in addition to designing and maintaining NGRA's websites at ngra.com & bighornrodeo.com and served as Co-producer of the monthly newsletter - The BigHorn Gazette.

Brian's IGRA accomplishments include a four year stint as Rodeo Resources Chairperson, during which he created the Rodeo Resources Guidebook still in use today. As IGRA University Chancellor for three years he reinvigorated that program and greatly expanded the curriculum. Additional responsibilities include three years on the IGRA Executive Committee as Division I chair, IGRA Convention 2000 Co-Chair and Division I Country/Western Dance Competition Committee Chair.

For the past three years Brian has served on the World Gay Rodeo Finals committee; first as Assistant Rodeo Director for two years and in 2010 as Rodeo Director. Brian is committed to staging a highly entertaining and professional Finals Rodeo event which is truly produced by IGRA and that focuses on the contestants.

1st Assistant - Arena

IGRA member since 1985. Mr. CGRA 1996. Mr. IGRA 1997. CGRA/IGRA Trustee 5 years. CGRA President for 3 terms. RMRR/CGRA Rodeo Director 3 years. 2006 IGRA Finals Rodeo Director in Reno, NV. 2008 IGRA Finals Asst. Rodeo Director in Denver, Co. 2009 WGRF Co-Rodeo Director in Albuquerque, NM.

2nd Assistant - Arena

Janie currently lives just south of Calgary, Alberta "The Heart of the New West" and has been a member of the Alberta Rockies Gay Rodeo Association (ARGRA) since 1995 and a competitor since 1999. She has also been an active member of the Canadian Rockies International Rodeo Committee since 2002 most recently as the 2009 Rodeo Director.

She believes strongly in promoting gay rodeo and the western lifestyle, and last year managed and coordinated the 40 person volunteer committee which was responsible for bringing a world-class rodeo to the small town of Strathmore, Alberta. She has been traveling and competing internationally since 2005 and has attended both IGRA Convention and IGRA University for the last 3 years. Janie brings to IGRA a strong background in Finance and Human Resources Management and truly enjoys working with people.
dewintoncowgirl@hotmail.com

3rd Assistant - Contestant Comfort

Clark Monk has been involved with horsemanship and horses for over 20 years. A past show horse person, he groomed, trained,taught and showed western pleasure and english. He competed in reigning classes and coached youth in equitation. He has been active in IGRA for over 10 years and has competed as a contestant in all events at one point or another placing and winning various buckles. He also was a competitor in the royalty competition and was first runner up in the year 2000 missing the title by 1 point. He has been active in promoting the royalty and the horsemanship portion of competition.

4th Assistant - Barn and Arena Side RV

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 returning to CGRA in 2000 where he became the Rodeo Director in 2003. Patrick has been a 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.

5th Assistant - Vendor and Award Sponsors

Scotty has been involved with gay rodeo since attending the 2005 LA Rodeo and "catching the fever." A native of Georgia, Scotty has served as Vice President and President of the LA Chapter of GSGRA, Rodeo Director for the 2008 LA Rodeo and is currently serving as Vice President of Rodeo Operations for GSGRA. Scotty is actively involved in IGRA on several levels, including the Chute Coordinator program, and was awarded the IGRA "International Award" in 2009. Scotty lives in Burbank, CA with his partner and their two dogs.
ScottyShadix@yahoo.com

Arena Director

It has been almost 20 years since Jeanne attended her first IGRA / TGRA rodeo where she was intrigued with the people, the AIDS cause, and the rodeo. From that first encounter, Jeanne searched out ways to help and have fun at the same time. Volunteering at the rodeo got into her blood. Then came IGRA certification as a Chute Coordinator and Arena Director back in the 90's. Jeanne is proud to serve as the World Gay Rodeo Finals Arena Director for the third time.
jeanneaustin@aol.com

Assistant Arena Director

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.
Chutechickeh@yahoo.ca

Arena Crew Coordinator

Jim served as Rodeo Director for FGRA's Inaugural Sunshine Stampede Rodeo in 2006 and will be completing his fifth year in that assignment for 2010 5th anniversary event.

Jim is entering his twelfth year as Chief Financial Officer for a Florida based Corporation where his duties include leading the Finance, Information Systems, Operations and Human Resource divisions. 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.

Jim can usually be found at other IGRA rodeos working in the arena or on chute crews. He has chaired the Animal Issues Committee and currently serves as Chair of the Rodeo Resources committee. Jim will be joining the ranks of IGRA certified officials as an Arena Director for the 2010 rodeo season.

Chute Coordinator

Assistant Chute Coordinator

Secretary

Guy, more commonly known as "Porkchop" on the rodeo circuit, became a member of NGRA in March 2000 immediately following his first exposure to the sport of gay rodeo. With a passion for the sport of gay rodeo and the gay community at large, Guy has been a certified Scorekeeper for IGRA since 2000 and a certified Secretary since 2002. He travels to numerous rodeos each year representing NGRA and participating in the production of rodeos across the country. Guy works in Human Services Management and recently completed his Bachelor's in Business Administration.

Assistant Secretary

I joined GSGRA when I started volunteering at California rodeos and decided I wanted to be a part of this organization. I held several Chapter elected positions until I retired to Nevada in 2001, where I joined NGRA. I have been Member at Large, Vice President and Trustee, as well as election committee chair and state convention chair three times. I have served as Assistant Rodeo Secretary at 51 rodeos, including 5 Finals. I won IGRA Division II and Division I Dance Championships with my dance partner, Gorge Aguilar.

Head Scorekeeper

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 three times, once in 1995 representing Texas and then again in 1999 representing Nevada and again in 2010. DeShannon has earned many other titles outside of Rodeo working for charity. Yes you heard me right.

Assistant Scorekeeper

Judges

Jorge started volunteering with IGRA at the 1987 Texas Gay Rodeo in Dallas on the arena crew. This led to him becoming a Certified Chute Coordinator (Tucson 1993), Arena Director (Oklahoma 1993) and Judge (Finals 1993, in his hometown of Ft Worth). He has worked over 150 rodeos, primarily as Arena Director and Judge. He served as Trustee for NMGRA (2001-2004) and TGRA (2005). He has also served as Chair of the Arena Directors Committee (2000-2001), and has been a member of various IGRA committees over the years. In 2009, Jorge, along with Ron Trusley, co-chaired all 4 Certification Committees (Arena Directors, Chute Coordinators, Judges, Secretaries & Scorekeepers), to redesign the certification and re-certification processes. In 2010, he became president of another non-profit organization, MaleSurvivor (www.malesurvivor.org), the National Organization Against Male Sexual Victimization.

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.

2010 marks Amy's 18th 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.

Announcers

Doug is a member of the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of GSGRA, and was their rodeo director for several years. He served as Mr. IGRA in 1999 and later as the IGRA Public Relations spokesperson. Doug places a lot of emphasis on new contestants at his rodeo and this carries over into his important role in preserving the safety of our rodeo riders and competitors, while getting us to laugh with his wit and on-going antics.

Auditor

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 CGRA board, as treasurer, for several years. He also is the treasurer for IGRA. David became the first rodeo auditor when the position was created within IGRA and remains in that position.

Rodeo Clown