Standing Committees

Animal Issues & Concerns

Kelly Peebles (NMGRA)

Archives

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 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.

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 & 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. 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.

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 and Fundraising

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. See our Royalty Page for community outreach and Royalty contact information.

Dance

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.

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.

Finals Rodeo

	Brian Rogers (Committee Chair) (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.
	Tommy Channel (Rodeo Director) (CGRA)

 

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.
	Jack Morgan (NSGRA) Being a Colorado native, Jack has always loved the western lifestyle and sport of rodeo. Originally being a part of CGRA, Jack moved to Minnesota where he became a member of NSGRA and served on the Board of Directors for NSGRA. Jack also has been a member of ASRGA while living in Washington DC area for 4 years before relocating and moving back home to Colorado in June of 2010. He also serves IGRA as a certified Rodeo Judge and Judges Committee Co-Chair. Jack also has been given the nickname of “Judge Judee.”

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.

Nominations

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!

Public Relations, Marketing, Media

Doug Graff (NGRA) Douglas has been involved with Gay Rodeo since 1993. He began as an organizer of the Michigan International Gay Rodeo Association and began competing in 1994. In 1996 he moved to California where he held many offices at the state and chapter level with the Golden State Gay Rodeo Association (GSGRA) and the Bay Area Chapter. He served as Mr. GSGRA 1998 and as the rodeo director 5 times for the Best Buck in the Bay. After 12 years of competition in Rough Stock and Camp events, he retired from competition in 2006. Douglas has also served IGRA as Mr. IGRA in 1999, the IGRA Public Relations Spokesperson, Rodeo Clown and an Announcer. He is currently a member of the Nevada Gay Rodeo Association.

Rodeo Rules

	Chuck Browning (FGRA ) Chuck has been Co-Chair of IGRA Rodeo Rules since 2007. Having competed in all 13 IGRA Rodeo Events, currently 17 IGRA Finals Championship buckles, he has won well over 200 buckles to date. In 2009 he was the High Point Season All-Around Cowboy, and was inducted into the IGRA Hall of Fame in 2008. Born in Casper, Wyoming the youngest of 5 he picked up rodeo at the age of 30 along with his best friend Brian Helander. He has lived in Arizona for 23 years. Chuck has also been instrumental in the development of several Rodeo Schools in Arizona, New Mexico, Florida, and Calgary Alberta. He has also been an IGRA University Instructor presenting on Rodeo Safety, Stock Contractors, and Running a Safe Rodeo. He has been involved in several Rodeo Associations, and was instrumental in starting the Sonoran Rodeo Association in 2009.
	Ty Teigan (CGRA)

Social Media

Peter Calabrese (ARGRA)

IGRA University and Rodeo Resources

Patrick Terry (CGRA) 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. Patrick was very excited when he asked to co-chair University this year and will be running the testing center, for the degree qualifications that weekend.

Womens Outreach

Kimberley Kay (CGRA)