Rick first became involved in gay rodeo after the death of a good friend from AIDS back in 1990. He loved rodeo. And Rick decided that being a member of OGRA and helping with the local Gay Rodeo was a way to carry on his passion for the sport, as well as his own passion for rodeo. Wanting to become more involved, he competed for, and won the title of Mr. OGRA 1992. He says with a smile, "Little did I know what I had gotten my self into." He attended his first out of state Gay Rodeo in Dallas as Mr. OGRA, and at that rodeo competed in the "Wild Drag Race" for the first time, and won some money. Not bad for the first time.

That was an amazing first year as royalty and rodeo contestant, meeting new people, and learning about Gay Rodeo. He came out of the royalty program right into the Judge's program and judged his first Gay Rodeo in January, 1994, at Phoenix AZ, and went on to attend and judge 6 rodeos more that year. He says, "From my first rodeo until now its been one hell of a ride and look forward to many more years as a Rodeo Judge on the IGRA circuit."

After 12 years as a Rodeo Judge, this Finals Rodeo will be his 17th gay rodeo in the state of Texas. And he says, "these guys and gals know how to rodeo. So anytime I can come to Texas, and rodeo, I do get excited. Seems everything they do is Texas style, which means big. This Final's Rodeo should be the best gay rodeo ever, with new and upcoming rodeo contestants doing their best to win, and the old hands who have been around from the start of time trying to keep up with the youngsters. Who's going win?"

He adds one last thought. "Wouldn't it be something to be a judge at the rodeo that make sthe one dollar that helps find the cure for AIDS? High hopes I know, but not impossible."

Thom Sloan first became involved in IGRA back in 1989 in New Mexico. He volunteered to
help with the Zia Rodeo and was hooked. Thom grew up on a ranch. And he says, "in rodeo, it was a great way to connect to my heritage and to my gay community at the same time. I started competing and also become involved in NMGRA as a rodeo director."

HeI become a judge in IGRA after retiring from competion in 1996. He says, "I thought it was a wonderful way to continue to be involved in gay rodeo and in the arena. I love helping coach new contestants and being a part of rodeos."

"I am very pleased to be part of the Finals in Texas this year."

Jorge Ramirez was bowling on the Longhorn Bowling Association, the gay bowling league in
Ft. Worth when some guys from TGRA stopped by and asked for volunteers to help out with a rodeo they were holding in Dallas. "I worked arena crew at the next two Texas rodeos and was hooked. I joined the Ft Worth chapter of TGRA in 1988."

His story of his career as a Rodeo Judge: "Somehow leadership always finds me...Once I started working a few other rodeos on the circuit, I saw the opportunities to become an official and really help to make rodeos happen...Casey Jackson, legendary IGRA Rodeo Judge and Arena Director, took me under her wing, and I followed in her footsteps...I have been an IGRA Certified Chute Coordinator since the 1993 Tucson rodeo, Arena Director since the 1993 Oklahoma rodeo, and Rodeo Judge since the 1993 Finals in Ft Worth."

He does it all because he enjoys the comradery. "I love working together on a team and seeing something successful happen...and then getting together at the end of the day and
celebrating that success." If you've ever seen Jorge out on a Sunday night after a rodeo, you know that's right.

Gay rodeo touches Jorge on several levels. "Rodeo is something that reaches out to my roots of growing up in south Ft. Worth." But more than that he says, "it gives the gay community an enviroment to celebrate that country and western heritage in an atmosphere free of the everyday discrimination that has led more than a dozen states to inact constitutional amendments to intentionally discriminate against gay people." And on a personal level, "gay rodeo gives this world-traveling, high-powered computer geek a hobby that is an outlet that brings me back to the things that keep me grounded: the outdoors, nature and the animals."

He is really excited to bring Finals to Texas. "This is the first time that IGRA Finals Rodeo has been put on in a big-time atmosphere...the Resitol Arena, home of the legendary Mesquite Rodeo...I think this is the next step towards really bringing IGRA rodeo to the next level; especially in terms of bringing it to the community at large, and showing the world that gay people are, after all is said and done, just people too."

He adds, "Its not always easy working in an entirely volunteer organization of this scale and magnitude...but at the end of the day, I appreciate all the work, by every individual person and by sister organizations, that went into making it happen...and just that fact that we are making it happen, makes it a success for all of our communities."

Ashley Anderson has worked at several TGRA rodeos over the past few years. It's quite a trip for a guy who grew up in Calgary, Alberta. But Calgary has a rich rodeo history not so different from the tradition here in Texs. After all, it's home to the world-famous Calgary Stampede which is one of the biggest rodeos in North America.

And Calgary is also home to one of IGRA's biggest rodeos, the Alberta Rockies International Rodeo. Ashley serves as IGRA Trustee for the Alberta Rockies Gay Rodeo Association.