The Grand Marshal of Rocky Mountain Regional Rodeo is an honor bestowed on some of the hardest working, talented, and inspirational members of the rodeo family and community. The Colorado Gay Rodeo Association is proud to mark the 30th anniversary of Rocky Mountain Regional Rodeo by honoring an incredible cowgirl, Taryn "Ty" Teigen.
Ty's love affair with rodeo, specifically horses, began at the tender age of two. Born in Kimball. NE. the family moved to Scottsbluff. NE when she was three. Starting on her mother's Palomino mare "Fleet", Ty rode many different horses through the years. Her dad would bring home horses to try, some of them barely broke, and they would be "lunged out" by Ty along with her sister Tracy and brother Todd. By the age of eight, she had moved through the saddle clubs and horse shows Into Little Britches Rodeo. Here she found an outlet to combine her love of horses and competitive spirit, excelling In roping, goat tying and pole bending. During these years she competed on "Wise Robin: aka "Robby~ a horse that still holds a special place in her heart. She even found time to compete In the rodeo princess contest, skills she would later draw on to win the coveted CGRA Snow Queen contest.
Ty's love of horses and rodeo stayed With her into adulthood, joining CGRA in 1995. Always willing to help teach folks how to rope and offer a suggestion, but most always in the background. For several years she competed only at the rodeos in Colorado. That's before the arrival of a beautiful brown pony, "Show Me Roan" aka "Hershey". Ty found Hershey on a trip to visit her Dad over Father's Day in 1999 and she fell in love with the green-broke stud colt doing most all the training herself. It didn't take long to realize she had something really special. This soft spoken, sometimes shy cowgirl was about to blossom into one of the toughest and talented Cowgirls on the IGRA circuit. In 2001, she loaded up with a friend and headed off to her first out of state rodeo on the IGRA circuit.. Since then Ty has been a top competitor at most every rodeo she attends and holds several GRA finals Championships. She won the first of many All-Around Cowgirl Titles in 2003 at the Calgary Rodeo, with her proud Dad In the stands.
Ty often speaks or the gift of the IGRA "Family" In her life and she has ~ponded with hard work In many different reasons. She has served on the CGRA Board of Directors as Metro Outreach Chair, Rodeo Events Chair, Membership Chair and two terms as President. She was instrumental In the formation of the CGRA Rocky Mountain Challenge 8arrel Race held in conjunction with RMRR. Her skills have also been Utilized on the 1ntematlonal level, serving as IGRA Contestant liaison, an IGRA University chair and Rodeo Rules Co-Chair.
Recently Ty has inspired us with more than just her hard work and rodents In the rodeo arena. After being diagnosed with ovarian cancer, Ty has shown incredible courage and determination, not only in battling the disease, but in continuing to live her life to the fullest. With Janie by her side, Ty has continued to compete in rodeos and support educational and fundraising events. Her "get'er done" attitude in the face of such adversity is an Incredible Inspiration to all of those who know and love her.
Congratulations to Ty on all of your accomplishments and thank you for all of the work that you do.
