2011 Royalty Team

Acting on behalf of the International Gay Rodeo Association, the IGRA Royalty Team is the prime source of raising money to fund a number of charities. They also create revenue to assist in operating the IGRA and accomplish all of this through a variety of methods including entertaining, soliciting corporate donations, and even car washes. The titles of Mr., Ms., Miss, and MsTer IGRA are awarded each fall during the IGRA Convention. After serving as local royalty during the prior year, contestants compete in the five categories of Interview, Western Wear, Horsemanship, Public Presentation, and Entertainment.

To learn more about Gay Rodeo Royalty in your area, contact your local Member Association. Be sure to check out our past royalty teams.

2012 Royalty Competition

This year’s royalty competition will be held in San Diego, California from November 9-11, 2011

• View the complete royalty competition schedule (PDF)
• Make reservations at the host hotel, the San Diego Mission Valley Hilton
• More details about the 2011 IGRA Convention

Introducing the Candidates for 2012

   2012 IGRA Royalty Team Announced

The 2012 IGRA Royalty Team were chosen on November 11, 2011 at the 27th IGRA Annual Convention in San Diego, California. Click here for the announcement with the winners as well as photographs of our new team.

25th Anniversary IGRA Royalty Team (2011)

	Mr. IGRA: Michael Butts (AGRA) mjbutts11@msn.com I moved to Phoenix Arizona in 2001 from Boston Mass. I have been active in AGRA since 2002. I have been active in AGRA in various aspects of my association. Entertainment coordinator for the past 4 years for the Road Runner Regional Rodeo and I have been the VP of AGRA for last 4 years. I have been very active in the royalty program as well as with different organization raising money for our community.
	Miss IGRA: Kimberli Foxx (NGRA) (Ric Franklin-Sewell) KimberliFoxx@gmail.com The journey to Miss International Gay Rodeo Association 2011 for Kimberli Foxx started 11 years ago when she followed her country roots and joined the Missouri Gay Rodeo Association in her birth state of Missouri. Throughout the next 11 years, Kimberli moved to various parts of the Midwest and along her travels she was fortunate enough to become a member of the Sooner State Rodeo Association and the North Star Gay Rodeo Association where her better “half” Ric was honored to hold the title of Mr. North Star Gay Rodeo Association for 2008. During his time as a member of the NSGRA Ric competed in several different rodeo events at IGRA sanctioned rodeos.It was during her time with the NSGRA that Kimberli met her husband at Big Horn Rodeo 12 in Las Vegas, NV and began her journey west. While attending this rodeo Kimberli was welcomed with open arms by the Nevada Gay Rodeo Association. Upon her move to Las Vegas the first thing Kimberli did was become an active member of the Nevada Gay Rodeo Association where she was honored to hold the title of Miss Nevada Gay Rodeo Association for 2010. As Miss NGRA, Kimberli continued her active role in the IGRA Rodeo circuit where she competed, in full face, in rodeo events and worked as an official timer for the 2010 World Gay Rodeo Finals® in Laughlin, NV. In November of 2010, Kimberli traveled to Reno, NV to compete in the 25th Anniversary IGRA Royalty Competition along side 7 other regional rodeo title holders. On Friday November 12, 2010 Kimberli was fortunate enough to have her Rodeo career come full circle where she was honored to be crowned Miss International Gay Rodeo Association for 2011, the Silver Anniversary Miss IGRA, in the presence of members representing the entire IGRA.Although her rodeo career has only encompassed the past 11 years, Kimberli has been a performer since the tender age of 17 when she picked up her very first can of spackle and industrial size teasing comb. Throughout her entire drag career Kimberli sees her proudest achievement as her ability to use her talents to help raise over a half million dollars for various local and national charities ranging from the Shiloh Horse Rescue to AmFAR. When asked what one bit of advice Kimberli would like to share with the rest of the world she simply states every dollar that you donate to your community counts and at the end of an event, whether you raised $1 or $100, you are still that much more ahead towards your goal.
	Ms. IGRA: Sharon Starks (AGRA) starkrazy56@yahoo.com I have been Involved in gay rodeo for 8 years and I love it. I compete in Calf Roping on Foot. Thank you to all that helped and encouraged me to try. In 2004 I ran for MS AGRA and received the 1st runner-up sash. Then in 2008 I became MS AGRA. In October 2008 I competed in New Orleans and was honored to receive the MS IGRA 2009 title. And in 2011 I was honored again with the title of Ms IGRA Thank you all for the wonderful support.Since my involvement with Gay Rodeo, I have met many wonderful people from all over the country. “Live like you are dying.”

First Runners Up

Mr. IGRA First Runner Up: Jody Harvey (TGRA) RidemCowboy@yahoo.com I grew up on a cattle ranch in a rural East Texas sawmill community. Raised in a strict Baptist lifestyle and being gay was not easy, yet I survived. My dear ole momma taught me to be a good neighbor, stand up for what I believe is right, live life to the fullest, and allow those around me to live life the way they chose without regard to my opinion. Later in life I came to realize I could become so much more than what the stereotypical East Texas man was supposed to be. Today I have been a Registered Nurse for 20 years, and have given most of my free time for the past few years helping to raise money for the GLBT community charities across Texas. It was after moving to Dallas I entered the world of gay rodeo, and have come to love the sport, the comradery, and the family that comes along with it. I recently moved back to East Texas where I plan to re-enter the world of higher education with plans to become a Masters educated Clinical Nurse Specialist, and be there for my dad in his golden years. I would like to Thank everyone who helped me make it this far in the royalty program, and become a better rodeo competitor. I look forward to seeing all of you out on the circuit this year and for many years to come.

Miss IGRA First Runner Up: Rebecca Tucker (CGRA) (Donald Moore) mntboy75@gmail.com I was born in Colorado where I lived in the mountains and in and around the Denver area. Later in life I moved to small town in northern Wyoming where I graduated and went into life. I still call Wyoming home and go back home regularly to get back to my roots. I am currently living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I started entertaining about ten years ago as a dare…and Rebecca Tucker was born. In 1994, I was shown that there was a gay rodeo in Denver and I could be a part of something that I grew up with and loved so much, and I was hooked. I join the Colorado Gay Rodeo Association where in 2005 and 2010 I won the honor to represent them as their Miss Colorado Gay Rodeo both years. I was part of the IGRA team in 2006 where I got to meet a great many people! I look forward to seeing all of you both new and old throughout the year at various rodeos across this great land of ours. May God bless you all and keep you in his care till we meet in person.

Second Runners Up

Mr. IGRA Second Runner Up: Todd Garrett (FGRA) FloridaGayRodeo@yahoo.com A “geographically challenged educated redneck” Todd was raised on a farm in Winder, GA. After completing his undergraduate degree in International Affairs at Florida State University, he returned home and completed his graduate work in Administration at the University of Georgia. Because of his love of horses, in 2001 he made the decision to leave his profession to pursue his dream of designing and building his own ranch, Lonesome Oak, in Myakka Head, FL from the ground up. A Freemason who started working with special needs groups and non-profits when in High School. He has been racing Endurance rider (25/50/100 miles on horseback) for 26 years. In 2005 he gave up his 4th place endurance limited distance world ranking to co-found FGRA after a conversation over the hood of his truck in his pasture. In addition to endurance racing, he competes on several Rodeo Circuits including IGRA, where he does 11 events, Ranch Rodeo, and local scratch rodeos. Honored to have been chosen as the first Mr. FGRA in 2010 and now Mr. IGRA 2011 2nd Runner-up, he feels that Rodeo Royalty is a job not a title and looks forward to expanding his rodeo family.

Miss IGRA Second Runner Up: Ginger Kaye Belmont (MGRA) (Timothy Fellencer) GingerKayeBelmont@yahoo.com Ginger Kaye Belmont was born on a cold and windy Halloween when someone decided that “Drag” would be a good Halloween costume! Her debut in Kansas City as Ginger Kaye Belmont took place several years later when she decided to compete in a pageant. In 2008 she decided to throw her wig into the ring for Miss Missouri Gay Rodeo Association at the advice of the veteran court mistress of Alameda County, California, Jessica Avalon. Jessica is Ginger’s cousin and one of her supporters. Ginger balances her royalty duties with a two jobs and redoing her 1925 bungalow. To say she is busy is an understatement but then life should never be boring. My motto for my life is:”Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty, well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming WOW What a ride!”There are many things I would like to say but the one point that I want to make in this small space is that I have completely fallen in love with my rodeo family… each person I meet in this international community has effected me in one way or another. I love being part of such a large and grand family of the best people one can find on this earth. If you are reading this and questioning whether or not to become part of this family or part of the royalty program… stop questioning… you will never be sorry… this is the best group of people you will ever encounter and the experience is exhilarating.

Board Liaison

Board Liaison: Andrew Goodman (MGRA) andrewinlvnv@yahoo.com Andrew Goodman has been involved in gay rodeo for 11 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, and was reelected in 2009 for another 2 years. 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 Las Vegas and works in education.