Rodeo roundup
In 25 years, the Road Runner Regional Rodeo has grown to be one of the biggest events on the gay rodeo circuit

Stories by Stacey Jay Cavaliere and Glenn Gullickson

About 150 cowboys and cowgirls are expected to participate when the Road Runner Regional Rodeo celebrates its 25 annual event.

The rodeo will take place Feb. 13 and 14 at Rawhide at the Wild Horse Pass, 5700 W. North Loop Road, Chandler.

First held in 1986, the rodeo has grown to be one of the biggest events in the gay rodeo circuit, according to George Immerso, rodeo director.

The rodeo, previously held in January, was moved to a February weekend to take advantage of better weather, Immerso said. The later date was also better to distance the event from the holiday season, he said.

New to the event this year is a cowboy cookout on the night before the rodeo. Finalists in the Country Idol karaoke competition will perform and there will be dancing and a drag show.
Then there are two days of rodeo action. The grand entry starts at about 1 p.m. each day, with flags carried into the arena and the playing of U.S. and Canadian national anthems.

There will be 13 rodeo competition events, Immerso said. He’s rodeo director for the first time this year after being assistant director for the past four years.

Immerso said rodeo participants come from as far away as New York, Chicago, Denver and New Mexico. He said he’s noticed a trend in more women participating in the rodeo.

Entertainment will start in the afternoon and “will go as long as people are there,” Immerso said. Vendors will also set up shop in the pavilion.

This year’s event will include activities for children. “We’re trying to promote a family-friendly rodeo,” Immerso said.

Between 2,500 and 3,000 spectators are expected to attend the rodeo, Immerso said. He noted that up to 8,000 people attended the year after the Brokeback Mountain movie was in theaters.

Staying true to the concept of “community” and “giving back,” numerous charities and organizations will benefit from the weekend’s festivities.

Arizona’s first first gay rodeo was held on the south side of Phoenix at a humble facility that was then a Mexican Charro rodeo arena with an attached dance hall known as the Corona Ranch.

Arizona was the fifth state to host a gay rodeo. Arizona Gay Rodeo Association was one of the founding members of the International Gay Rodeo Association, the group that sanctions the rodeo.


Echo Magazine is among the rodeo’s sponsors.

A guide to the rodeo

The main rodeo events will be on Presidents Day weekend, Feb. 13 and 14. But there are related activities in the days before and after the rodeo, including events at various bars.

Feb. 10:

• Get ready for the weekend at Charlie’s Mini-Rodeo. The evening starts at 9 p.m. and will include some games like stick horse barrel racing, cow paddy toss, wild drag, pole bending, human goat racing and more. All money raised will benefit AGRA/IGRA. www.charliesphoenix.com

Feb. 12

• Rustle up your Wranglers for a pre-rodeo cowboy cookout that will include finalists from the Country Idol karaoke competition. Winners from contests staged at six local bars will compete for the title. There also will be dancing, drag shows and continued registration for rodeo entrants. The event, to be held at Rawhide, is $30 (including dinner) or $8 for show/dancing only. www.rawhide.com
• Join Homorodeo.com’s Harley and local cowboys Stacy Lewis and Bill Travis will be at Bar 1 for the Homorodeo.com Meet-N-Greet. The Web site is a social networking organization that helps bring together cowboys from all over to gay rodeo events. The event starts at 7 p.m. www.bar1bar.com

Feb. 13

• The Road Runner Regional Rodeo officially begins. Spectators can cheer contestants at rodeo events, including bull riding, calf roping, pole bending, barrel racing and goat dressing.
• In the pavilion, there will be drag shows and AGRA royalty contestants will compete for 12 different titles. The Men of Charlie’s will be on hand greeting the crowd and vendors will sell western wares.

All day entry for all activities is $17.

Feb. 14

• The rodeo events continue all day and culminate in an official awards ceremony for the winners, including AGRA royalty contestants.
• A wrap-up party with entertainment and dancing will be at Rawhide.

Feb. 15

• After a weekend of cowpoking, wrap things up at the Rodeo Survivors Brunch at 11 a.m. at Charlie’s. This free event will include food, contestant meet and greets and entertainment.

NOTE: Spectators may enjoy all weekend activities by purchasing a $50 VIP All Access pass.

For more information, visit www.agra-phx.com.

Rodeo benefits good causes The Road Runner Regional Rodeo is not just a sports and entertainment event. For the past 25 years, AGRA has given thousands of dollars back to local community organizations that work on behalf of LGBT issues. For the first time, this year the rodeo is naming its beneficiaries before the event. Community Church of Hope, a spiritual resource for the LGBT community. The church not only provides ministry, but also hosts support and advocacy groups such as AA, Affirmation, H.E.R.O. and 1n10. Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Phoenix affiliate provides education, mammograms, screening and treatment for those in need. Their signature event is Phoenix's annual Race for the Cure, which draws thousands of volunteers and supporters to empower Arizonans to conquer breast cancer. The Joshua Tree Feeding Program assist clients in Phoenix by providing a hot nourishing lunch, food to take home, and an opportunity to socialize in a compassionate and loving atmosphere at noon every Tuesday. The program also provides clients at home with free supplemental groceries and food boxes. Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network works within faith communities to promote education and prevention of HIV/AIDS. Their work is done through educating clergy and assuring the availability of spiritual care, respecting each individual's faith and tradition, while advocating in the community for those affected by the disease.

Top