Standing Committees

Animal Issues & Concerns

Kelly Peebles (NMGRA)

Annual Convention

Brian Rogers (NGRA)

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 has been an active member on the NGRA Rodeo Planning Committee since 1996. He has served the association in many capacities including President, Rodeo Director (three times), Assistant Rodeo Director, Treasurer and Trustee these past three years. 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. He now serves as Committee Chair for the IGRA Archives Committee. Brian’s recent joined the Gay and Lesbian Rodeo Heritage Foundation as a Director. Brian is committed to the mission of IGRA and NGRA; Sportsmanship, Camaraderie, Service to the Community and Preservation of the Western Lifestyle.

Arena Directors

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 Saturday & 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 and now her Arena Director certification. She has held the position of ARGRA’s president from 2005-2009 term. She feels very honored to have been asked to hold this position by her peers, and is very enthusiastic in her new position. Please feel free to e-mail her with any concerns or questions in regards to the Arena Directors program.

Auditors, Secretaries & Scorekeepers

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.

Bylaws

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. Benjamin has served as chairman of the IGRA Bylaws Committee since 2000. He has also served as Parliamentarian for the IGRA Annual Convention since 2003.

Bylaws Implementation Group

Chuck Browning (FGRA )

Chuck was born in Casper, Wyoming, and now resides in Laveen, AZ. He became involved in IGRA in 1989 as a Volunteer working behind the chutes, thinking these Cowboys are crazy! Chuck began competing in 1995 with his best friend and rodeo team mate Brian Helander, and by doing so joined the crazies. He has competed in all 13 IGRA Rodeo Events, has earned 18 International Championships, 15 All-Around Cowboy Championships, and over 200 Event Buckles. Chuck is the only five-time IGRA International Bull Riding Champion to date. He has been the co-chair of Rodeo Rules Committee since 2007, was an IGRA Hall of Fame inductee in 2008, has been a Rodeo School Facilitator / Instructor at more than 12 IGRA Association Rodeo Schools across the US and Canada, and has been an Instructor at IGRA University Consortiums presenting on Rodeo Safety & Stock Contractors. Chuck is the Past Vice President, President, Contestant Liaison, and Trustee for AGRA, and the Past IGRA Contestant Liaison, IGRA Division II Trustee Chair, and IGRA Trustee Chair.

Chute Coordinators

Jay Beck (RRRA)

Growing up in the Arizona desert, rodeo was something that my uncles and cousins in Texas were a part of, but I only saw the cowboys and cowgirls of the rodeo when they came to town once a year. But having all those relatives involved in rodeo must have put it in my blood, because once I came out and heard about TGRA and IGRA, rodeo became a major part of my life. I began working behind the chutes in 1992, and have enjoyed being a part of many rodeos all over the country ever since. I still leave every rodeo I work, wishing I could do it again next weekend. In May, 2008, at the Great Plains Rodeo, the first association that honored me with an invitation to serve as Chute Coordinator, I celebrated 10 years in that capacity. I have had the pleasure of being the Chute coordinator at 4 Finals Rodeos.

Community Outreach, Fundraising and Gender Diversity

Gene Fraikes (TGRA)

I first got involved with IGRA when I joined the Texas Gay Rodeo Association back in 1998. I competed in my first rodeo and I was hook. Over the last 13 years I have competed in many many rodeos and have won several buckles. I have been invited to IGRA Finals rodeo numerous times. But above all of this I learned the meaning of friendship and helping others. In TGRA I have served in most positions at the Chapter Board level as well as Vice President and Trustee on the TGRA State Board of Trustees. In 2000 I got involved with TGRA’s royalty program and became Mr. TGRA 2001. Then as some of us Mr’s do I ran for Miss TGRA 2007 and became 1st runner up. Can you believe it, I got beat by a REAL drag queen…go figure. As Vice President of IGRA I hope to bring a unique combination of contestant, royalty and operational experience to IGRA and continue a long legacy of great accomplishments.

Gene is joined on this committee by IGRA Royalty:

Rodd Smunk, Mr. IGRA
Kami Boles, Ms. IGRA
Victoria Weston (Mike Fulk), Miss IGRA
Shane Lee (Angela Parker), MsTer IGRA

Dance Competition Rules

	Gene Fraikes (TGRA) I first got involved with IGRA when I joined the Texas Gay Rodeo Association back in 1998. I competed in my first rodeo and I was hook. Over the last 13 years I have competed in many many rodeos and have won several buckles. I have been invited to IGRA Finals rodeo numerous times. But above all of this I learned the meaning of friendship and helping others. In TGRA I have served in most positions at the Chapter Board level as well as Vice President and Trustee on the TGRA State Board of Trustees. In 2000 I got involved with TGRA’s royalty program and became Mr. TGRA 2001. Then as some of us Mr’s do I ran for Miss TGRA 2007 and became 1st runner up. Can you believe it, I got beat by a REAL drag queen…go figure. As Vice President of IGRA I hope to bring a unique combination of contestant, royalty and operational experience to IGRA and continue a long legacy of great accomplishments.
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	Wade Earp (TGRA)

Finals Rodeo

Tommy Channel (Rodeo Director) (CGRA)

Hall Of Fame

Roger Bergmann (GSGRA)

Roger grew up in Montana where he loved going to watch the annual rodeo. After high school Roger spent his summers working on a Registered Polled Hereferd ranch, where one of his tasks was grooming the “show cattle” and driving them to shows around the west, including the Portland International, and the Grand National at the San Francisco Cow Palace. Roger is a Charter Member of the Golden State Gay Rodeo Association, and was in attendance at the first International Gay Rodeo Association (IGRA) Convention in 1985. Roger was President of IGRA in 1993, ’94, and ’95, and judged many of the IGRA rodeos for over 16 years.

Health & Safety

Linda Frazier (MGRA)

Linda has been involved with rodeo since 1987 and has served in various capacities at the member association level as well as the International level. Linda enjoys finding ways to improve IGRA sanctioned rodeos.

IGRA University

Mike Sanders (ASGRA)

Internet Technology

Don Harris (FGRA)

Joint Certification

Ron Trusley (AGRA)

Judges

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.

Marketing and Media Relations

Position Available

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.

Nominating

Justin Waldner (SMRA)

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!

Rodeo Rules

	Chuck Browning (FGRA ) Chuck was born in Casper, Wyoming, and now resides in Laveen, AZ. He became involved in IGRA in 1989 as a Volunteer working behind the chutes, thinking these Cowboys are crazy! Chuck began competing in 1995 with his best friend and rodeo team mate Brian Helander, and by doing so joined the crazies. He has competed in all 13 IGRA Rodeo Events, has earned 18 International Championships, 15 All-Around Cowboy Championships, and over 200 Event Buckles. Chuck is the only five-time IGRA International Bull Riding Champion to date. He has been the co-chair of Rodeo Rules Committee since 2007, was an IGRA Hall of Fame inductee in 2008, has been a Rodeo School Facilitator / Instructor at more than 12 IGRA Association Rodeo Schools across the US and Canada, and has been an Instructor at IGRA University Consortiums presenting on Rodeo Safety & Stock Contractors. Chuck is the Past Vice President, President, Contestant Liaison, and Trustee for AGRA, and the Past IGRA Contestant Liaison, IGRA Division II Trustee Chair, and IGRA Trustee Chair.
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	Ty Teigan (CGRA)

Social Media

	Peter Calabrese (ARGRA)
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	Laura Scott (NGRA)

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