  | Volume XVII, Issue 4 April 2007 | Last update Jan-21-2020 Advertise in Thirteen Spurs |
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Rodeo School May 12-13
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Rodeo School is HappeningMay 12-13, 2007ASGRA is hosting another Rodeo Training School. Training sessions begin at 9:00 a.m. each day and run until about 5 p.m. with a noon break. Lunch will be provided by ASGRA for all participants. The event will take place at Classic Rodeo Ranch, in York Springs, PA. The ranch is located off Route 15 just north of the MD/PA state line near Gettysburg. It is about one hour from downtown DC by car. The school will include beginning and intermediate instruction and practice in the following events,
Calf roping on foot, All events will be run both days. The price is $125 per student for the weekend, or $70 per student for a single day. For our planning purposes, we request that you indicate the days and events in which you intend to participate on the registration page. Pre-registration is required in order for us to provide adequate supplies and livestock for the weekend. The deadline for registration is April 23. Classic Rodeo Ranch allows camping on the grounds, $15 for the weekend, $30 with 15 amp electric hookup. Come on out and have a fun time with us and also learn. More details will be coming in next month's Newsletter including, food for the day, an after school bar night in Harrisburg and Hotel information if you want to stay overnight.
Saturday night of the rodeo school LGRA will be sponsoring a bar night at the Brownstone located in Harrisburg. It is about 20-30 minutes away from the rodeo school. Times are from 7pm to 10pm.
Membership Chairman NewsI am reminding all of our members to please keep me informed if you have an address, telephone number or e-mail change. I need to ensure our members are kept up to date on what is happening throughout the year, as well as ensuring your membership cards, are sent to the correct address.Also, if you have questions, concerns or recommendations please do not hesitate to contact me. Keeping you informed is my number one priority. The membership e-mail address is [an error occurred while processing this directive]. Jon
Hey there!THE RECAP*sigh* New York, New York ....what can I say about the Big Apple? For one, there are a lot of HOT guys that go to the NYC Eagle! They, along with my Rip Off Cowboys, made for a memorable night! Mine Shaft T-shirts donated by The Noose were a huge hit. Btw, The Noose is a great store for all of your leather needs, including this hot little chainmail number...oops, going off topic: stop by and tell Max, Jackie said hi!
Yours truly ended up in front of the camera as a bookend with Big Daddy & JezzieBell Bottoms, Mr. & Ms. ASGRA 2007 along with Pepper Mashay of the dance classics - 'Let's get soakin' wet! & Cha-Cha Heels fame. Miss Mashay rode the bull and then interviewed us for her TV show. I'll try to get a copy so we can add it to the website. Enough about my sordid NY weekend and no comments from the peanut gallery...you know who you are! Events coming up:
1) Rip Off Friday & Cowboys and cock...tails at the Baltimore Eagle, March 30! 1. Rip Off Friday is back and coming to Baltimore! ASGRA is heading to north on 295 to visit the Baltimore Eagle. Check out their website (and the hot cowboy) on their page dedicated to Rip Off Friday! http://www.baltimore-eagle.com/cowboys_and_cock___tails/ Dress up in your cowboy gear and head down to the bar early for Cowboy & cock...tails (lol, aka drink specials) from 9-11. Also enjoy 15% off their selection of chaps in the leather store. I think I'm forgetting something...oh yeah! Head's up to everyone that's heard of Boy Butter but hasn't tried it! Boy Butter has donated prizes along with Boy Butter t-shirts to winners of Rip Off Friday! If you are interested in being a Rip Off-ee, be you boy or girl, just drop me an email.
Raffle to start about 11:30pm! Don't forget Yuengling drafts for only $1!! What can I say? They do things differently in B-more. 2. Join Big Daddy, Mr. ASGRA 2007, as he hosts a benefit for the Yes Institute at Freddie's Beach Bar & Grill, on April 1 @ 9pm! The Yes Institute is a national non profit whose mission is to prevent suicide and ensure the healthy development of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and all youth by initiating dialogue, providing education, and creating support systems. That's all I've got folks...and yes, that's all you're getting out of me about my trip to NYC. As always, thank you for your continued support! Jackie A special thank you to B., who traveled to NYC for a future club brother in need. Honey, you can be one of my Rip Off-ees ANY day! Big Daddy & JezzieBell Bottoms, Mr. & Ms. ASGRA 2007, have raised over $2,700 for their charities to date! They would also like to congratulate R. Y. for winning the Rodeo Package of 2 Atlantic Stampede Weekend Passes & one night's hotel accommodation.
April Events
ASK BIG DADDYDear Big Daddy: I love your organization it is so intriguing to me that a gay rodeo circuit even exists. I've never even heard of it. It makes me happy that there are organizations out there who love the gay country and western lifestyle as much as I do. Can you tell me a little about how ASGRA was founded and why? I'll be at the Gay Expo in NY can't wait to meet you!Johnny S. (Trenton, N.J.)
I'm glad you came across our website and I must say what a great question for someone who wants to know more about who we are. Your question is so great that it is hard for me to fit everything in so I'll give you the gist of our history. ASGRA (Atlantic States Gay Rodeo Association) started as the dream of four men in 1991. Those admirable men are Phil Hastings, Phil Riggin, Mike Lentz, and Dave Hehr. Their dream from the beginning was to be an inclusive group that offered members of the gay community a chance to enjoy good times and friends with a country and western flair and to focus energies toward helping those in our community who need our assistance. Through their perseverance, this vision has blossomed into an organization exceeding their wildest imagination.
As the first year progressed, efforts were focused on expanding the membership base beyond the immediate Washington, D.C. area. An ASGRA clogging group, the Capitol Hill Cloggers, was formed. Growing contingents of members ventured to the Roadrunner Regional Rodeo in Phoenix and the Great Plains Regional Rodeo in Oklahoma. The flurry of activity continued through the summer as ASGRA members participated prominently in gay pride celebrations in Baltimore, Washington and New York City. And that's how ASGRA grew to what it is now. In the beginning the founders set what seemed like lofty goals for a fledgling rodeo association: become an IGRA member by 1992, enlist 50 members within a year, and prepare to host a rodeo by 1994. Instead, ASGRA received IGRA sanctioning within ten days, swelled to over 300 members, and held the first gay rodeo east of the Mississippi two years ahead of schedule. YEEHAW! I hope this answered your question and it was great to meet you the Saturday of the NY Gay Expo. You sure picked up bull riding fast, a natural. Hey Johnny, now that you know more about ASGRA and what we do perhaps I have persuaded you to become a member and share in the fun being a member has to give. Remember to squeeze those knees together! Cowboy up! Big Daddy (Mr. ASGRA 2007)
Coosie's CornerFrom ASGRA member TomCorn Pudding Ingredients
1 Can of Sweet Cream Corn (14 ¾ oz) Grease a deep glass baking dish with spray oil. Melt the butter in a sauce pan on stove Mix by hand all other ingredients in a mixing bowl. Add in melted butter and stir. Pour into baking pan and bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes. Remove from oven when sides of corn pudding start to get crusty.
ASGRA History In ReviewFrom the June 1993 newsletter
ASGRA Vice-President Dave H. became something of a media celebrity at the March On Washington. Wearing a "Queer Cowboy" t-shirt and carrying his lariat, he was approached by a number of reporters looking for a unique angle on the March. Dave gave interviews with the Baltimore Sun, the Associated Press, the Rockford (IL.) Tribune, and on-camera with WBA-TV, Baltimore. Reporters expressed surprise and curiosity about the existance of gay rodeo, particularly here on the east coast. Reporters were also amazed to learn Dave's line of work. (Firefighter/Paramedic) (You mean we're not all hairdressers? Surprise, surprise!) The most commonly asked question: "Why are you dressed like a cowboy?" The answer, of course: "Because I am a cowboy". Dave also attracted the attention of quite a few cameras. He says, "I can't ever remember having so many people take my picture". When one photographer asked Dave for a demonstration of his roping skills, he ably obliged with the help of a willing ASGRA volunteer. It's not known whether the interviews made it to print or air in Rockford or Baltimore. (Did any of our Baltimore-area members see anything on TV or in the paper?) The AP interview did bear fruit; a wire-service article discussing the diversity of people attending the march mentioned "gay cowboys from the Mid-Atlantic Gay Rodeo Association" (sic).
From the June, 1995 newsletter
Heart Rock Ranch, "First Impressions" Today marks thee weeks that I've been here on the ranch. To sum it up briefly, I LOVE IT. I make my own schedule, never wear a tie, and each day brings something new. But of course, like any new business, starting a new life is not without its travails. Here are a few of my first impressions. The weather is a huge factor. Seems there is quite a bit of rain here, in northwest Missouri, so it has been impossible to plant any grass, next to impossible to get into the pastures and fields to fix fences, and even horseback riding has been difficult. Although Dude and I were out checking fences about a week ago and he over reached BIG TIME, and cut his foreleg BIG TIME, and has been BIG TIME lame ever since. Finally he is getting better. As a result, he is not in rodeo shape, and because of that, we did not make the Atlanta trip. I'm sure ASGRA was well represented and I was rooting for you all.
Almost every telephone call out here is long distance. Get this, the nearest town with any store (hardware, service station, cage) is only five miles away, but the call is long distance. The biggest pest so far-ticks. They are multiludinous and everywhere. Dude's maine and forehead are full of them. I pick numerous ticks off Dakota's whole body every night. As for me, I've spent several sleepless nights because I feel one crawling on me and pick it off. This could happen four of five times a night. Then I start imagining them where they ARE NOT. I thought tick season was just in spring, but the gas man informed me that they'll be around all summer. And there is a foreshadowing of other pests. Every nook and cranny in every building has old hornet and wasp nests. I wonder what their season is. Fast food is a luxury. If I don't plan my meals, I don't eat. There's no ordering pizza or Chinese food for delivery. There's no running to the grocery store on a moment's notice. And there's very little driving 13 miles to a restaurant just because the fridge is bare. A stray dog found his way to Hart Rock Ranch. I thought it was temporary because Dakota was in heat. I chased him away for several days, but he persisted. He's nothing but skin and bones. But he has a collar so I figured he belonged to someone. I knew if I fed him, he'd be mine. I tried to be tough, but after talking to a friend in D.C. who couldn't beleive his ears, I broke down and started feeding him. Now I know he's mine and just yesterday I started calling him Roscoe (I have no idea why). Speaking of animals, the cat I inherited (Milo) had kittens one week after I was here. She whelped five in the house, but is nursing four in the garage. The only one that was a different color did not survive. Heart Rock Ranch has no cattle yet. Since the weather haasn't cooperated, the fences aren't secure, and since I don't have all the necessary equipment, no purchases have been made. But the time is coming soon. As for wildlife, I can confirm so far that Hart Rock Ranch is home to wild turkeys, pheasants, rabbits, and squirrels. Surely there are deer, racoons, and others. I hear the coyotes singing every night, but have yet to see them. Well rodeo partners, that's it for now. Here's hoping you all do well at future rodeos. I'll look forward to hearing. Next month, Getting Stated
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Mounted breakaway roping, 
We have a 10-15 room block at the Best Western Plantation in Mechanicsburg, PA, right off of Rt 15, between the rodeo school and Harrisburg. Room rates are $62.10 for one person and $67.50 for two plus tax with two double beds. $5.00 for each extra person in the room. Phone number is 717-766-0238. These rates are good for both Friday and Saturday nights that weekend. May 11-13. The block is under LGRA. They are giving us 10% off their regular room rates.
If you haven't been to the Original GLBT Expo, it is a must-do! Where else can you ride a bull, hear & see celebs like Kevin Aviance, Martha Wash or see one of the original Village People? Plus there are drink samples & raffles galore...oh and HOT Cowboys & Cowgirls! I can't tell you how many half naked men & women rode the bull *sigh* ...There were muscles, and thongs, and boxers, naked chests, lots of cleavage....hmmm, ok, back to the rest of the weekend.
Baltimore Eagle, 2022 N. Charles St. Baltimore, MD 21218-5926 (Charles & 21st streets)
Hey JOHNNY!
ASGRA officially became a sanctioned member of IGRA (International Gay Rodeo Association) in 1992 basing its organization out of the greater Washington DC area and right from the beginning ASGRA accelerated. Within three months of its founding, membership had grown to 107; ASGRA had held its first general membership meeting, began publication of a newsletter ("Thirteen Spurs"), and began holding rodeo events seminars, social activities and monthly trail rides. Perhaps most significantly, Atlantic Stampede 1992, ASGRA's first rodeo, was approved and set in motion.
