From the President
By-Laws
Stampede coming
Volunteers needed
NYC Pride
ASGRA Awards
Idaho where?
WMZQ Fest
Music Review
ASGRA History in review
Coosie's Corner Recipe of the month
Monthly Calendar What's happening

From the President

I want to share with you all some of the things that are going on in our association.

In recent months, we changed our phone service carrier, and are saving about $30 a month in charges. Today (Memorial Day), the board was up at our storage facility. We have had two units and a parking space for the rodeo equipment for about 2 years. We emptied out one of those units, threw out a lot of things that were no longer usable, combined containers, sorted, cleaned and took inventory. With the emptying of the second unit, we will be able to save the association about $200 a month in storage fees. Between the time the phone was changed over and the end of this budget cycle, those two actions will save the association approximately $1,900. We are constantly looking for ways to better use the money we have, thus be better guardians of your membership fees and sponsorship money.

By this point, you should have all received the mailing from the By-Laws committee. I want to thank our By-Laws chair; Tom and his committee for putting a wonderful packet together to better the association, assist us in running in a more efficient manner and put us into the 21st century. If you haven't taken the time to read the proposed changes and vote on them, please do. Your vote is important in the running of your association.

Elections are coming up on us quickly. The offices of President, Treasurer and IGRA Trustee are up for nomination and election. Mike B. was appointed by the board in January to fill the vacancy of Lonni L. in the position of IGRA Trustee. Mikes appointment only carries thru to this election. The term of Trustee is set by IGRA. So for this position, the person that is elected would only serve for 1 year. The By-Laws call for this position to be put to the general membership at the next election after the appointment. If you would like to run for any of these positions, please email the Secretary with your interest and check the By-Laws for the requirements and responsibilities of all of these positions.

That's it from me. I hope to see you all out at the various Pride events this month.

Mike S.
President

By-Laws

The By-Laws committee appreciates all of you for taking the time to scan the changes and vote.

We sincerely hope more will review the changes and give us your opinion by voting. Thanks in advance for your caring and time.

See you at the General Membership Meeting / By-Laws Meeting on June 23rd. Watch the announcements section on our main page for time and place.

Tom
By-Laws Chair

September's Just 3 Short Months Away

All kinds of links are up and running, including:
Buckle Sponsorship
Ordering Stampede tickets
Fill out the Volunteer form
If you'd like to entertain during the weekend, you can submit an application
Membership renewal
And a lot of other things.

You will also notice new events listed…we have added 2 events for the kids this year. One for the kids alone and one for them and an adult

Join us for the 16th Annual Atlantic Stampede, and be sure to invite all your friends

Mike S.
Assistant Rodeo Director

Calling All Volunteers

Beth Brockelman
Volunteer Coordinator

New York City

ASGRA Awards

We are currently accepting nominations for our Golden Lariat and Outstanding Volunteer awards. The deadline for submissions is July 31.

The coveted Golden Lariat award is given by ASGRA to individuals who have contributed an unimaginable amount of their time and efforts to the betterment of our association. Their volunteering accomplishments are exceptional and have provided ASGRA focus and achievement which would not have been attained without these exceptional volunteers.

To nominate someone, simply send an e-mail to the ASGRA secretary () with the person's name and a paragraph or two of why you believe they should be honored with the award.

The first inductees were chosen in 1999 and the list has grown to include the following individuals.

To make a nomination just send an e-mail to the ASGRA secretary () including the person's name and a paragraph why you think they deserve this award. The ASGRA board of directors will chose the winner at a board meeting after the conclusion of our rodeo.

Frank Harrell
Secretary/Webmaster/Newsletter Editor

Why would anyone want to go to Idaho?

Friday night kicked off with a bonfire at the Ranch. Though the air was a little toasty for getting close and cuddling next to the fire, it did provide a great background atmosphere for the barn dance and BBQ. About 50 cowboys and cowgirls came out to eat some tasty grilled up steak made by Chef Jeff who came complete with his own picnic set of pie-plate dishes. This made us all feel as though were on a real chuck wagon train.

Saturday competition kicked off at high noon and this day held a special surprise for one particular cowgirl, Rebecca. This little lady had never roped before when she showed up at the Ranch for the Rodeo Play Date events. Cowgirling up to the clinic that was held in the morning, this gal took her first shot at a live steer and low and behold - she caught. It was cheers all around for a great way to start off the day.

The Rodeo Play Date included a mix of rodeo events with live animals: calf roping on foot, pole bending and goat dressing, along with some rodeoesque events: Barrel Riding to replace Bull Riding. Let me tell you this spring loaded barrel that PNWGRA has is not for the weary of heart. You get launched on that thing and you can see into the state of Montana. The Rodeo Play Date also included it's signature event the Martha Washington Race.

In this race two teams of three compete against one another in a relay race event. Three barrels are set up similar to the barrel race pattern. On top of barrel one are wigs, on top of barrel two are dresses and on top of barrel three are shoes; both boots and high heels. Team member one runs out; dons a wig; runs back and hands off said wig to team member two. Team member two runs out; dons a dress to go with the wig; runs back and hands off the wig and dress to team member three. Team member three runs out and selects some shoes and a purse to complete the outfit and runs back over the finish line. Best time wins.

What makes this even so unique is that cheating is allowed. While the two teams race against each other it is perfectly acceptable and encouraged to make it harder for your opponent to complete their relay tasks. Tossing the wigs out into the arena, yanking their dress over their head and other variations to help delay your opponent make for added hilarity in this event.

Rebecca once again showed her mettle as she played tug of war with an opponent who was determined to slow her down by wanting to yank her selected dress from her hands. Rebecca must have gone to a number of different early bird Day After Thanksgiving sales as she held tight to that taffeta, even down to being drug through the dirt before her opponent realized that getting her to let go would be a futile effort. I tell ya this gal has a future in Chute Doggin'.

Saturday night saw a bunch of cowboys 'Jailed' for varying offenses such as 'hitting on someone else husband' (mine), 'not having enough sex' ( also mine - guess you can't win for loosing), 'not having your hat, belt and boots match', 'drinking too much beer', 'not drinking enough beer', 'because I want you in jail with me' and various other payback offenses. The jail was set up right at the end of the bar at the Emerald Club in downtown Boise so we had full service bar tending service for those who were part of the 'not drinking enough beer category.'

Sunday morning had the always wonderful closing brunch. This is where the remaining cowboys and cowgirls and those that could actually get themselves up in time for the 11am food call, get together pot-luck style before closing out the weekend. The camaraderie that was shared all weekend is continued at this event before folks start to take off to the varying home destinations.

PNWGRA play date is also unique in that they only give out one buckle. The All Around to the best cowboy/cowgirl of the weekend. This year that honor went to Lester Liu, who did phenomenal in all his events. That continued as Lester handed over his buckle to the second runner up to the All Around. This was another lady who had shown up that day to start her rodeoin' career on the IGRA circuit and incidentally was also Rebecca's girlfriend. Lester wanted them to have something to really remember their first rodeo experience by and due to his generosity not only will that have something tangible in the buckle, but also something on which a material value can not be placed, great memories of the warmth and welcome from the PWNGRA folks. That is why you go to Idaho.

Patrick Hunter
PR Chairman 2007

Atlantic Stampede 2007 Bronze Nugget Sponsor

WMZQ Fest

Josh Turner was the most subdued out of the four acts. He actually seemed kind of rigid in his stage presence and somewhat nervous in front of the crowd of however many tens of thousands of people who were in attendance at the concert. His interaction with the crowd seemed forced and a being natural on stage seemed bit of struggle for him in front of the audience. None of this, detracted from the vocal performance of Josh. Known as the man with "that voice" of Long-Black Train, he delivers in person as he does on the radio and in CD. The warm, deep voice rolls over you like a bonfire at a fall barn dance, which makes the stiff stage presence from this artist forgivable. I'm sure that as Josh performs more and more his style of concerts will become more like that of "The King" George Strait, natural, laid-back and comfortable.

Terri Clark was by far the best performance of the evening. With an incredible voice and an ease on stage that well made up for Turner. She made the event feel like a frat party with your sister's band up on stage. She sang with soaring vocals, told stories behind the songs, and joked with the audience including, a few quick draw comments.

First off the voice that comes out of this woman is incredible! She is like the redneck Martina McBride. I found it hard to believe that such soaring sounds could come out of a human body. At one point I found myself thinking that maybe she was lip synching, but the variations that she inflected into familiar songs definitely proved that this lady was doing it all on her own.

Add to that her stage presence. She really includes the audience into her performance with fun comments like "If you know the words to this song sing along, if you don't, then, just drink some more and make up your own." Prior to singing a love song she asked the audience "how many are in love?" (applause), "how many are looking for love?" (applause) and "how many are bitter and jaded and don't want to have anything to do with love ever again?" (roaring applause). During the afore mentioned interaction she even picked up on subtle audience reaction. Noting that "This guy down here had to have his girlfriend raise his hand for him." Following it up with, "She's looking at you like, 'you are not getting laid tonight buddy.'"

One of the things that I found most intriguing about Terri's performance is that she does not end the set with her latest or most popular song. This makes this concert going experience, that much better. I don't like when you're sitting there waiting to hear one of your favorite songs or the latest and the artist saves that as the big bang for the end. Nope, Better Things to Do, Poor, Poor Pitiful Me or even Dirty Girl were all mixed into various parts of the set. Perhaps, this is because there is not a song from this gal's albums that is NOT a favorite of the fans. So it doesn't matter which song comes at the end. We'll sing along anyway even if it is making up our own words.

Montgomery Gentry was by far the most energetic of the night, but also the most disappointing. I know that it was in part due to problems with the sound equipment. I figured that out when Eddie Montgomery released his twentieth hay-maker on the microphone early into their set as the sound cut in and out, but even with the replacement of the mic, the rousing band overpowered the vocals of these two men. Even familiar tunes were so distorted by the insanely amped up instruments that it took me more than a few bars into the song to realize "I know this one."

The whole set was not a complete wash though. There were times where the voice of Eddie and T-Roy were clear enough to be heard. These were mostly on softer songs such as She Don't Tell Me To, but even on more raucous tunes like My Town and Something to Be Proud Of both could be heard more clearly.

The later of these tunes included a photo tribute to the Troops playing on the side screens; something that I much appreciated. A lot of acts have video playing on part of the set and it makes it difficult to figure out just what the heck you're watching on those screens. It was clear that for this, Eddie and Troy wanted the focus not to be on them, but on the video, which makes me feel even better about this band.

All in all the energy kept the crowd going and helped to make the evening fun, and if given a choice to see these two guys in concert again, I can answer that with a resounding "Hell Yeah!"

Patrick Hunter
Man about town

Music Review

Jason Aldean - Relentless (four stars)
Yeah, that cover is hot. If the photos on Jason's website are any indication, I'm looking forward to getting my hands on this jewel case. But enough about my desires for this Georgia Boy; onto the music.

For those of you who like a little more rock with your southern country, Jason Aldean is the man for you. With a voice that is somewhere in between Josh Turner and the other palm-leaf-hat-act on the circuit; Kenny Chesney, Jason voice floats along very well through this CD with the electric guitars that make up the majority of melodies; never once making the majority of the regrets-about-love songs seem tired or worn. Both are carried so well by the music and vocals that you can forget that the string songs such as 'Do You Wish It Was Me', 'Who's Kissing You Tonight' and 'Back in This Cigarette' are saying similar things and have been sung in numerous variant with other titles and lyrics time and time before. Though the album is not all poor, poor pitiful me songs.

'I Use What I Got' is about resilience in the confidence to be who you are as you follow your dreams and not to change because someone tells that will make it easier. (Something our community knows a little bit about.) 'Laughed Until We Cried' tells about those moments and memories in your life that bring tears to your eyes because you were having such a good time. Another 'memory' song that has a different take on the regrets-about-love song is 'My Memory Ain't What is Used to Be'; a song that reminds us that as time goes on our memories become selective in what we choose to recall.

My replay-until-its-worn favorite of the Album is 'I Break Everything I Touch', a clever self-aware song sung to a potential pick-up. (Yup, guys, this is one of those 'anthem' songs for me.) The lyrics explain why I'm a bad boy for you, but the driving melody that goes with it, helps to rescue it from being just another droning-don't-date-me-I'm-damaged-goods song.

The one misstep on this comes in the title of Johnny Cash. The song has absolutely nothing to do with the Man in Black, but more to do with running off with your baby to Vegas. A great song regardless of the misleading title, but it makes me think that someone was "cashing" in on the name to get airplay.

Gretchen Wilson - One of The Boys (four stars)
The Redneck Bisexuals dream does it again, though on this CD we see more of the softer laid-back side of this lady. The CD is not without the driving yee-haw-howdy tunes that we have come to expect from the Redneck Woman such as 'There's a Place in the Whiskey', 'Good Ole Boy', 'There Goes the Neighborhood' and my favorite of them all 'You Don't Have to Go Home' (you all know the next line in this lyric), but the CD is well balanced with some very powerfully pleasant ballads.

My most favorite of them all is 'Heaven Help Me', a song about the internal struggle that we all face with trying to walk the road of a good person amongst those times of--as the song puts it best 'wound[ing] those that love me and refused to take the blame.' Gretchen wraps her voice so hauntingly well around this tune that it will strike strong a chord in everyone's heart. The song's subtle self-examination is the hook that hits you and the real beauty of the song is that it pulls off its message without the preachy undertones of some of the more recent songs that fall into the same vein. If the agents don't release this song as single, heaven help them for not recognizing a potential number one.

There is not a flat song at all on this CD, not even the ballad with fellow Muzik Mafia member John Rich, which I understand from a recent issue of Country Weekly has gotten an icy reception on country radio. This puzzles me and the only explanation that I have for that is that the song does not exemplify the Gretchen Wilson that radio wants to sell. Hopefully, she will not wind up painted into the same box as that other Rough and Rowdy Honky-Tonker, Toby Keith. Another singer who can also wrap their voice around a ballad and send it straight to you heart.

The only reason that this CD does not deserve 5 stars is that while all the songs are good there are not to many of them that are repeat until their worn, but you'll still listen to this CD a couple of times over anyway.

Jason Michael Carroll - Waiting in the Country (5 stars)
Don't let the look of this fella fool you. Although he may look like he should be singing on the soundtrack to Gilmore Girls or One Tree Hill, this boy is all Honky-Tonk. He even has the voice; just a few gravel steps above Josh Turner. With hard driving hits such as 'Waiting in the Country', 'I Can Sleep When I'm Dead' and 'Anywhere USA', you'll have plenty of reason to turn up the radio as you go running through the mud or running over to Restoration Hardware.

Much like the two preceding artists in this review set, Jason sings songs about lost love and its regrets and heartache. However, the driving to mid-tempo beats keep these songs from just being another tearjerker sung by a man done wrong. It is also no drawback that the young Hag sound (meaning Merle, not the straight girls that hang around us) works very well with these songs. The one place where it could possibly be a potential wrong choice would be on the song 'No Good in Goodbye'. But what keeps me from saying goodbye to this song with the skip button is the complimenting duet vocals of Jewel. (Yes, for you thirtysomethings and above it is the 'Who Will Save Your Soul' Jewel. For your younger club set your "Intuition" is right about who you think Jewel is.) This lifts the song from sinking as low as Carroll's voice.

For those of you country fans who are also fans of those teen angst sudsers or want to remember your Melrose days, this CD closes out with the flowing 'Let it Rain', which is at home as a close out to this CD as it would be on the CW. Adding to this the could be a nod to Garth Brooks 'Honky Tonk Friends', make this CD definitely something worth having in your collection. Jason Michael Carroll is one of those sleeper singers who you know is going to go far in country music.

Patrick Hunter
Music Critic

Coosie's Corner

Ingredients

2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
¾ cup granulated sugar
¾ cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 cups chocolate chips
1 cup nuts

Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla extract in large mixing bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beat well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir chocolate chips and nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoons onto greased baking sheets.

Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes. Makes about 5 dozen cookies

ASGRA History In Review

Heart Rock Ranch, "Lessons Learned"
By Rocky Kuhn, Mr. ASGRA 1995

The last article promised you tales of a runaway yearlings, a rampaging bull, and the saddest day on Heart Rock Ranch. Since I didn't want to buy any more cow / calf pairs through the sale barn (high risk of sickness) and since it was too late in the year to get pregnant cows, I set out to purchase yearlings. In fact, I bought 106 head and turned them out to pasture. As it turned out, a lot of heifers has not been previously weaned so they went looking for their mothers. Two went through the fence - open headed north, the other south.

I happened upon the southern one on my way to get to the other yearling. I chased her into a neighbor's pasture and thought she's stay with his cattle. That night he and I went to check on her and she was no where to be seen. He spotted the next morning a couple of miles down the road and suggested I call another neighbor who has a national high school finals roping son. The son was unavailable but the Dad was willing. The heifer was six miles from home; he roped her, we dragged her into the trailer; I got stuck with the trailer and pickup; he road off to get a neighbor's tractor; and we eventually got the heifer home. The northern heifer was spotted in another neighbor's pasture. He and his son brought her in with their cows.

There are two morals to the story: 1) lock your yearlings in a corral for a couple of days until they settle down, and 2) having cattle get out is a very quick way to meet neighbors.

By June 1st, it was time for breeding so I purchased a 22 month old registered angus bull. He was a little ornery in the corral and bumped his nose hard enough to draw blood. When we got home and unloaded him in the pasture with the cows, he came out of the trailer like a bullet and immediately turned around to see who he could get. I was the closest so he came on and I scurried back into the pickup. Not caring about the cows, he ran out of the pasture and down the road. I headed after him with the pickup and trailer and go tin front of him to turn him around. He stopped but wouldn't turn so I got out to chase him and he again charged me: the first time I ran back to the pickup, the second time I got inside!

My brother and I got Doug's horses but the bull would not move for anything. He would charge the horse but that was it. We then got the tractor; he would move for that, but not in the right direction. We roped him but he tore the rope. We put cows in with him, but he wouldn't stay with them. The next day I called the roping neighbors again and the two sons came that evening to chase him home. Hah! After sizing-up the bull and the situation, they went home for reinforcements. Three ropers came back with three good horses. With three ropes on him, the bull finally hit the ground and we were able to drag him into the trailer. The bull spent the night on the trailer and I took him back to the owner. He felt so bad that he gave me tother bulls for the price of one (although one will be returned when breeding season is over). Moral of the story: don't get and unruly bull.

Now for the saddest day on Heart Rock Ranch. One morning I was checking the cows with the tractor since I was out digging post holes. Dakota was with me and a cow went after her. She ran to me for protection and ran right under the rear tractor wheel. Miraculously, she was still able to run in circles. I rushed her to the vet and he said to let her stabilize for a few days to see what happens. She had a huge lump on her side but didn't seem to have any broken bones. To make this long story short, she had her first surgery to sew-up her abdominal cavity since the insides were hanging out subcutaneously. As a result, she couldn't breathe well, would not lie down and would fall asleep on her feet. Her second surgery sewed up a diaphragmatic hernia and peeled her liver away from her heart where it wa attaching. Six weeks later, she seems to be on the mend to a perfect recovery and is returning to here energetic self. No moral here.

I really miss Dude - I needed him desperately for all three of these episodes. He went to see his third vet; this time x-rays were taken of his leg. The diagnosis: a clean cannon bone, no spurs or foreign matter; basically he's over it and will heal now that he abscessed out the front of the rear injury. The prognosis: healing will take up to a year. He'll never be 100% on that leg; no riding for a ling time. The solution: I bought another horse who knows nothing about rodeo events. I will work on him during the two weeks prior to the St. Paul rodeo and plan to take him. By the time you read this the rodeo will be history and proof will be in the pudding.

The July newsletter deadline is June 25. Send your articles to