8. Time Line of Gay Rodeo Facts 125 contestants First gay rodeo held in Reno NV 1976 Phil Ragsdale comes up with the idea of holding a gay rodeo to raise money for the local Senior Citizens Thanksgiving Feed 1975 $214 raised for MDA Reno Rodeo group becomes the Comstock Gay Rodeo Association Gay dace troupes first become part of gay rodeo 1977 12,000 attend Reno rodeo First gay rodeo outside Reno held in Colorado, June 3 Reno Rodeo allows Royalty to designate 50% of raised money to MDA and 50% to other gay relate charities 1983 $40,000 raised for MDA in Reno 10,000 attend Reno rodeo Colorado Gay Rodeo Association founded in Denver Reno rodeo and related events brings 40,000 gays to Reno 1981 Pacific Coast Gay Rodeo Association founded in California 1980
9. Time Line of Gay Rodeo Facts IGRA founded with members including Colorado, Texas, California and Arizona First IGRA convention held in Denver Oklahoma Gay Rodeo Association (OGRA) founded and seated at IGRA convention 1985 9th Reno Gay Rodeo marks the last of the original gay rodeos in Reno 3rd gay rodeo outside Reno held in Texas Golden State Gay Rodeo Association (GSGRA) formed Arizona Gay Rodeo Association (AGRA) formed 1984 Oklahoma GRA combines efforts with Kansas and Missouri GRAs to host first Great Plains Regional Rodeo Kansas Gay Rodeo Association (KGRA) seated at IGRA convention Missouri Gay Rodeo Association (MGRA) seated at IGRA convention New Mexico Gay Rodeo Association (NMGRA) seated at IGRA convention 1986
10. Time Line of Gay Rodeo Facts Oregon Gay Rodeo Association seated at convention Cowboy State Rodeo Association (CSRA Wyoming) founded Chute Coordinator Certification Program begins with 6 people certified 1988 The IGRA Certification Program implemented at convention Silver State Gay Rodeo Association (SSGRA Nevada) seated at IGRA convention First country western dance competition held at IGRA convention First IGRA Finals rodeo held in Hayward, California 1987 Cowboy State (CSRA Wyoming) changes name to Big Sky Gay Rodeo Association (BSGRA) Big Sky Gay Rodeo Association (BSGRA Montana) seated at convention Utah Gay Rodeo Association (UGRA) seated at convention 1989
11. Time Line of Gay Rodeo Facts IGRA split into 3 regions Atlantic States (ASGRA, Md Va DC) Gay Rodeo Association seated at convention Southeast (SEGRA, Ga) Gay Rodeo Association seated at convention IGRA gets first International sponsor, Miller Light 1991 Northwest (Wa Or Id British Columbi) Gay Rodeo Association seated at convention North Star (Mn Wi) Gay Rodeo Association seated at convention Tri-State (Oh In Ky) Gay Rodeo Association founded Diamond State (Ar) Rodeo Association 1990 Arkansas joins the Great Plains Regional Rodeo Nevada Gay Rodeo Association (NGRA) seated at convention First area outside the US joins IGRA when NWGRA adds British Columbia to their area IGRA signs 3 year sponsorship agreement with Miller Light 1992
12. Time Line of Gay Rodeo Facts Tri-State (Oh In Ky) Gay Rodeo Association seated at convention Michigan International Gay Rodeo Association (MIGRA) seated at convention AGRA agrees to change their name to Alberta Rockies Gay Rodeo Association (ARGRA) to eliminate confusion with Arizona First IGRA sanctioned rodeo outside the US is held near Calgary IGRA split into 4 divisions to include new rodeos in the east Heartland (HGRA) changed territory to Nebraska and Iowa 1994 16 rodeos held Illinois Gay Rodeo Association (ILGRA) seated at convention Heartland (Nebraska) Gay Rodeo Association (HGRA) seated at convention Alberta Gay Rodeo Association (AGRA) seated at convention, creating some confusion with Arizona's acronym 1993
13. Time Line of Gay Rodeo Facts Big Sky Gay Rodeo Association (BSGRA Montana) dissolves SEGRA changes territory MIGRA changed territory to Michigan, Ohio, SW Ontario 1998 IGRA.com website goes on line June 14 1996 Idaho Gay Rodeo Association (IDGRA) seated at convention OGRA, KGRA, MGRA and Arkansas split efforts ASGRA expandes territory MIGRA reduced territory to Michigan only PGRA changed name to PONYGRA (PA, OH, NY Gay Rodeo Association) 1999 22 rodeos Pennsylvania Gay Rodeo Association (PGRA) seated at convention Tri-State (TSGRA) did not renew membership one year after being seated 1995
14. Time Line of Gay Rodeo Facts Florida Gay Rodeo Association (FGRA) seated at convention 2005 IGRA establishes Hall of Fame Gateway Gay Rodeo Association (GWGRA) was seated at convention ASGRA added New Jersey to their territory 2003 Sooner State Rodeo Association (SSRA) seated at convention High Sierra Rodeo Association (HSRA) (Washoe County Nevada) seated at convention 2002 IGRA University moves to Las Vegas with a new format and expanded classes Liberty Gay Rodeo Association (LGRA) seated at convention Central Canada Gay Rodeo Association (CCGRA) seated at convention 2006 Salt Lake City Rodeo ARGRA changed territory to Alberta and British Columbia 2000
15. Time Line of Gay Rodeo Facts Georgia Gay Rodeo Association (GGRA) dissolves IGRA Finals Rodeo changes name to World Gay Rodeo Finals Gregory Hinton, with assistance from Patrick Terry creates the Gay Rodeo Legacy Project where IGRA archives are prepared for donation to the Autry National Center 2009 Wayne Jakino, sometimes known as "the Father of IGRA" dies of cancer, July 16 IGRA history timeline page first posted CGRA looses domain name (cgra.com) when grabbed by an automated system upon expiring 2008 IGRA online contestant registration system goes live Louisiana State Gay Rodeo Association (LSGRA) seated at convention PONY (Pa Oh Ny) Gay Rodeo Association dissolves 2007