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Tamara Marks, our Scorekeeper with a
Flair |
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TAMARA MARKS is a member of Heartland Gay Rodeo
Association, and has been involved with IGRA Rodeo since 1996.
Michigan is where it all started for her. Tamara was intrigued
to read in a gay newspaper about the Michigan Gay Rodeo and
its charitable fund raising. At that time, she worked within
the gay community raising money for charity by responding
to a call for entertainers to participate in fundraisers for
AIDS victims needing financial assistance for medical expenses.
When she was invited to perform at the 1996 Michigan rodeo,
she was looking forward to seeing how this concept of ‘gay’
and ‘rodeo’ worked and was yearning for a taste
of her country roots … plus it was all for charity!
It was from that experience that she ‘knew’ getting
involved and learning more about Gay Rodeo was for her. She
became the first Ms MIGRA later that year, and went on to
win the title of Ms IGRA 1998.
Wanting to get more involved, she started working toward
her Scorekeeper Certification at the Albuquerque rodeo and
was certified in 1999. Working as a scorekeeper is just a
small part of the big rodeo picture. It takes many volunteers,
all working together, to pull off this event. As a scorekeeper,
the contestants rely on you to record times and scores accurately,
honestly, and in a timely manner.
When she’s not scorekeeping, you’ll see her announcing,
timing, pulling gates, and working in the arena. She’s
a Gay Rodeo competitor, too, having won 2 Wild Drag buckles,
and is working to win her first Calf Roping buckle. Versatile
Tamara is still true to her first love as a singer, performing
at countless Rodeos and fund-raising functions throughout
the country. Tamara will be headed for Nashville the first
of the year to realize her dream of recording a CD.
When asked “why gay rodeo?” her response is,
“Because it’s a place where it doesn’t matter
whether you’re gay, straight, bisexual, or transgender,
we all work and play together without prejudices. It’s
like a family reunion at every rodeo!”
Tamara has also served as the IGRA Vice President from 2000
to 2003 and was the 2004 Finals Rodeo Director which was held
in Omaha. Having been through this process of producing Finals,
she knows what it takes to put it together. She is excited
to come to Dallas and participate as their scorekeeper. “Every
association has its own personality. It is fun to see what
each association brings to our rodeo program and I am looking
forward to all that is in store for us this weekend. I am
also really excited to be working in the legendary Resitol
Arena.”
Tamara and her partner, Bryn Geerdes, live on a horse farm
in Ashland, Nebraska. At last count, 19 animals were in their
care: horses, miniature donkeys, a cow, and assorted dogs
and cats.
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