Press room

welcome to our press room and the very latest press news about AGRA


2011

The Arizona Gay Rodeo Association is proud to share a new video trailer, promoting its 2011 Road Runner Regional Rodeo. The Youtube video can be found through the rodeo website, click here. The next rodeo takes place Presidents' Day weekend, February 18-20, 2011.

In addition to details about the 2011 Rodeo, our website has also posted a new web gallery of over 500 high-quality images from this year's rodeo weekend. Check out the line dancing, Cowboy Karaoke, rodeo events, and the thousands of people that made this year's Road Runner Regional Rodeo the best one yet!

peaking of rodeo... our Rodeo Committee is looking for a few more good men and women to assist in planning and preparing the 2011 event. If you share some time, talent, or experience with our volunteers, we guarantee you will learn a lot and have a good time doing it. Contact our Rodeo Director, George Immerso, at rrrrodeodir2010@aol.com for more information

25 years on and the RRRRodeo still Rocks

The Arizona Gay Rodeo Association (A.G.R.A.) proudly hosted its 25th year of rodeo at the Road Runner Regional Rodeo, held Presidents' Day Weekend, 12th - 14th February 2010.

Rawhide Western Town was busy all weekend and the arena and pavilion quickly filled with excited spectators from around the country and across the globe, including England, Norway, Germany, Ireland, Italy and Spain to name but a few.

In addition to two days of traditional to camp rodeo events, visitors had the chance to enjoy a packed night at the finals of our first Country Idol competition.

Throughout the weekend the air was filled with live music, plenty of dancing, great food and even a Ferris wheel and gigantic slide which only added to the excitement and atmosphere.

A.G.R.A. thanks the rodeo contestants, host hotels, Rawhide, the many sponsors and vendors who supported our 25 th Anniversary Rodeo and a special warm thanks to all our volunteers who without their help the weekend would not have been possible. They made the rodeo run smoothly and gave everyone our warm sunny welcome to Phoenix. Terrific job, everyone!

Looking back over the years, it's still amazing to know that Arizona became the fifth state to host a gay rodeo and 25 Years later the rodeo is still going strong and this year's event unfolded into one of the most talked about events in Arizona.

In case you missed this year's fun, believe it or not the team are already planning for the 2011 RoadRunner Regional Rodeo. So be sure you don't miss out and book the weekend of the 18th - 20th February.

Information will be updated on a regular basis live on the website, so keep checking www.agra-phx.com

Memberships
Due to the recent vote at the December Membership Meeting the new Membership year has been extended to the last day of February each year. This will allow our memberships to be in conjunction with the new rodeo year. All current memberships will now run out on the last day of February instead of on Jan 31, 2010. Please don't forget to renew your membership. applications can be obtained just outside the AGRA Office, on the AGRA Web site or from any of the Board of Directors.

Our new year end has created a need to quickly establish a set of meetings for February. The Board of Directors will meet on 3 Feb 2010 at the Charlie's offices at 7:00pm. The General Membership Meeting will be held on 7 Feb 2010 on the Charlie's dance floor at 5:00pm. These dates will assist in sharing last minute information just before our RoadRunner Regional Rodeo on the 12-14th of Feb 2010. The Branding Iron will reflect the new dates as well.

AGRA Website achieves 6th position

Over the years AGRA has been placed between 16th and 29th place in the ranking for best websites

In 2008 AGRA and the team at Pink Weddings put in motion a marketing plan to launch a new website that was current and up-to-date for everyone visiting the website. In 2009 at the IGRA convention AGRA was awarded 6th place for best website.  This amazing result has shown the change in AGRA and the ever increasing campaign to raise awareness.

Since the launch of the website, AGRA  has added a gallery, press room, host hotels and can now be found on Face Book and Twitter

The team will continue to work harder and strive for 1st place in years to come

On Friday, 13 November, AGRA sent 6 delegates and 4 alternates to the 25th IGRA Convention in Toronto, Ontario Canada. The convention also hosted the 2010 IGRA Royalty Competition. Our local AGRA association sent two of its current royalty, Mr AGRA Travis James and Miss AGRA Ionna Doublewide aka Kyle Ross. 

After competing in interview, horsemanship, Western wear, and entertainment, nine contestants from across North American nervously awaited the final judging results at Fly Bar. 

AGRA is proud to announce that Travis won as 1st Runner Up as Mr. IGRA and Ionna was crowned Miss IGRA for 2010.

Congratulations to Travis and Ionna. We are very proud of you and commend your hard work and dedication at winning these achievements! 

IGRA convention is starting today Thursday 12th November in Toronto.

AGRA has sent a full compliment of six delegates and five alternates to represent.

Throughout the week, both business and pleasure await with Royalty competitions, business meetings, and convention floor legislation.

Rodeo Royalty, Candidates Announced
The Arizona Gay Rodeo Association (A.G.R.A.) is pleased to announce that six of its members are competing for sashes, buckles, and even a crown as 2010 A.G.R.A. Royalty.

At the 11 October rodeo membership meeting, Vice President Michael Butts introduced the candidates for 2010. Competing for Ms. A.G.R.A. are Vanessa Jimenez and Sharon Starks. For Mr. A.G.R.A., Michael Butts and Ferdy Quezada. For MsTer A.G.R.A., Christy Burnett, and for Miss A.G.R.A., Claudia B. (aka Joshua Sipe).

Rodeo Royalty represent their local rodeo association at fundraising events, community meetings, as well as compete in the annual International Gay Rodeo Association Royalty competition. At the local level, they are required to select and raise funds for a non-profit organization. In addition to using their stunning good looks and fashion sense, Royalty candidates also promote the Western lifestyle by competing in horsemanship.

Royalty judging will take place at Charlie's before the 2010 RoadRunner Regional Rodeo. A.G.R.A.'s 25th year of rodeo event takes place at Rawhide 12-14 February, 2010 during Presidents' Day weekend.

Thank you to everyone...
who helped with our rodeo booth at Rainbows Festival. We had record breaking sales this year. Since it was hard to find help with Tucson Pride we almost did not have a booth there.

At the last minute Jim Maher stepped up to the plate and took all of our rodeo t-shirts and bandanas and set up in Tucson. Jim said that Jason, Popper and Ed stopped by to help. If I missed anyone I'm sorry.
Thank you, guys, for helping out.

Our much anticipated Sponsorship Packet is done; Ferdy, Tim and I worked on this for many hours. We finished up at 11pm Thursday night as Ferdy was making the last changes to it. It should be up on the AGRA web site by today.

The Vendor Package is almost complete and will be on line soon.

Two of the host hotels are now up and on line. I just went on a tour of the new Wildhorse Pass Hoteland all I can say is WOW!!! The rooms are very nice and they have resteruants that will be open 24 hrs a day. They will be open by Oct 30th, 2009. The Grace Inn is also on board with us again. Many of you have stayed there in the past and know what a nice place it is. I'm working on a 3rd hotel so stay tuned!!!

We can still use help with Rodeo, so if you have the time please contact me. We sure can use you. Stay tuned for upcoming events and fundraisers George Immerso rrrrodeodir2010@aol.com

Rodeo Charities Receive Awards
18th August 2009

For Immediate Release from:
A.G.R.A. Public Relations Director Greg Gillum

At its monthly membership meeting on August 9, the Arizona Gay Rodeo Association (A.G.R.A.) awarded five Arizona non-profit organizations proceeds from the 2009 RoadRunner Regional Rodeo.

Representatives from each organization were invited to Charlie's bar in Phoenix to receive the rodeo donations. At a previous membership meeting, A.G.R.A. members voted to award the following:

TIHAN - $993.60, PFLAG-Phoenix - $1104.00, Joshua Tree Feeding Program - $1296.00, Susan G. Kohman for the Cure-Arizona - $638.40, Community Church of Hope-Phoenix - $768.00.

A.G.R.A. reminds the community that the RoadRunner Regional Rodeo will celebrate its Silver Anniversary when the event takes place Presidents' Day weekend, February 12-14, 2010. A.G.R.A. hosted its first rodeo in 1985, 25 years ago.

Groups or individuals interested in more information about the upcoming rodeo should contact George Immerso at 480-628-4949.