2008 Atlantic Stampede Rodeo Director

We are well on our way to having a very exciting and successful rodeo this year. We still need to fill a couple positions, which are Vendor Coordinator and Publicity Promotions Coordinator. If you are interested, please contact me at [an error occurred while processing this directive].

Keep yourself up to date with what is going on by logging onto the website, asgra.org.

Rodeo Training School is scheduled for April 26th and 27th and the registration deadline is April 12th. 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, Pennsylvania. The ranch is located off Route 15 just north of the MD/PA state line near Gettysburg. It is about 1½ hours from downtown DC by car.

Calling all Volunteers

Yep it is that time again to mark your calendars for this year's Atlantic Stampede.

When: September 5 - 7, 2008. We need volunteers in all areas. Please fill out the online Volunteer Form. Any questions please contact Beth Brockelman at [an error occurred while processing this directive].

Thank you so much :-) Hope to see you there.

Beth Brockelman
Volunteer Coordinator 2008

Trustee's Corner

Dear General Membership

We missed you at University. In addition to IGRA rodeo business, many opportunities were available to learn the latest and greatest on how to run a rodeo. In addition, a new class was offered on the new rodeo checklist. Many hours were spent revising the document so that associations will better serve the contestant in ensuring that each rodeo is properly sanctioned. No longer is the document a "let's get the association," but instead it's "let's help the association put on a better rodeo."

Ok, so let's talk about the business items. The IGRA VP took a contingency to visit the convention location in Louisiana and it appears to be appropriate. Rainbow vision wants to sponsor a contestant since name is mentioned more times than their normal sponsorship package. Also, the Outreach Committee that the IGRA VP chairs, compiled a list of horseman that royalty can use to assist with their horsemanship requirements.

The Admin Assistant said that he has mailed out the rodeo rules handbooks to contestants. I should be getting a box of extras for new contestants. The Admin Assistant has also worked with an insurance carrier to ensure that we get a better insurance policy which gets us better coverage for just a few extra dollars more.

The IGRA board voted to solicit a professional fundraiser to help IGRA raise funds and gather more sponsors. One of my goals is to learn as much as possible from this individual so that ASGRA can increase our funds and sponsors as well.

Here's a bit of business that you should be aware of. The IGRA board is concerned about lack of control over these ad hoc bucket passing fund raisers that seem to take place at almost every rodeo these days. New policies and procedures are being drafted to ensure that when the bucket is passed, the funds are passed to the intended recipient. Please don't miss read that some misappropriation is going on. Instead, the IGRA board wants to ensure that such a possibility doesn't occur in the future.

HSRA (High Sierra Rodeo Association) has been reinstated into the IGRA fold.

And my final bit of news is that IGRA has obtained sponsorship from an online travel reservations site called YTB Travel. The site is similar to Orbitz and Travelocity. However, IGRA receives a small percentage from all travel arrangements made from the site. You can find the link on the ASGRA webpage. (It's the one with IGRA and a plane making a flight path.) I recently used the site to schedule a personal trip to Key West (yes personal trips are allowed as are the trips to IGRA rodeos.) Now this doesn't happen all the time, but in this case I compared what I would have received from Orbitz. I actually saved $1,000. Seems YTB Travel had an arrangement with the hotel I selected. Again, this doesn't happen ALL the time, but one never knows. Not only did I save money, but IGRA received a stipend from my trip.

My next IGRA board meeting is May 23 at the Great Plains Rodeo in Oklahoma City. Till then, may all your competitions be successful. Remember, you can reach me at [an error occurred while processing this directive].

Sincerely,
Mike Benner
ASGRA Trustee

The Cowboy Experience in the Shadow of the Beartooth Mountains

The ASGRA monthly trail rides and annual rodeos were just not enough to satisfy my inner cowboy. I needed free rein over rolling hills, wranglers working a real ranch, and, above all else, cows. For a cowboy without cows is just a boy.

On all counts, the Lazy-E L Ranch experience offered by OutWest Global Adventures fit the bill. For a full week, eleven of us wannabe-wranglers became a part of a family-owned working cattle ranch in the south central Montana, about thirty miles from Yellowstone National Park.

Every morning after a family-style breakfast in the cookhouse, we would saddle our horses and roam through the 12,000 acres of the ranch initially homesteaded by patriarch Malcolm S. Mackay in 1901. No "dude ranch" experience, we saddled our own horses, brushed them down after every ride, and shoveled the paddock muck. The wranglers helped everyone with riding and horsemanship skills, from the rankest beginners to the more experienced.

The most exciting part was the cattle drive: the guests worked alongside the ranch wranglers and neighboring ranch hands to move 2,000 head of cattle from one grazing pasture to another. Most everyone was involved in rounding up the cattle, moving them through the brush, and guiding them across the East Rosebud River. I worked with the cattle boss Jael to round up the strays and bring them into the herd. After a long morning, we celebrated our success with venison stew at one of the original homesteader cabins in the foothills of the Beartooth Mountains.

Since this was a working ranch, I was able to sit on wrangler training for dealing with wolves, to learn how goats are trained to eat only weeds in the pastures, to try my hand at "ranch roping" as opposed to the "breakaway roping" style I had learned, to find out more about the science of rotating cattle through different fields, and to hand-feed the orphan goats.

However, the entire week was not bound to the ranch alone. One afternoon was spent white-water rafting down the misnamed Stillwater River. Another afternoon found us high above the clouds on the Beartooth Highway on the way to Wyoming and Yellowstone National Park. And on one memorable evening, we rocked the town of Red Lodge with our own karaoke, after a day of great shopping and fine food and drink.

Four individual week-long ranch excursions are booked by OutWest Global Adventures, owned and operated by homesteader Malcolm S. Mackay's great-grandson Aaron Kempfe. Aaron grew up riding on the ranch, worked as a cowboy in his teens and during college, and shares his enthusiasm with his guests. Aaron may be willing to book a fifth week for July 27 to August 2 if a minimum of eight people are interested and send a deposit.

The basic price is $2,275 which includes six nights accommodations, ground transportation, daily horseback riding, tour of the Beartooth Highway, six breakfasts, five lunches, and five dinners. This does not include airfare, hotel accommodations for the Saturday before the trip, alcoholic beverages, two meals, or OutWest trip leader gratuities. An additional fee is requested for a private room or cabin.

I can guarantee you a great experience -- so let me know if you'd be interested in creating our own ASGRA cowboy and cowgirl week at the Lazy-E L Ranch! (E-mail: For more information on the Web:

Bart's photographs: http://www.bforbes.com/lazyel.htm OutWest Global Adventures: http://www.outwestadventures.com/ Lazy-E L Ranch: http://www.lazyel.com/

B. R. Forbes

Public Relations Chairperson Wanted

ASGRA is looking for a new Public Relations Chairperson to join its Board of Directors. Public Relations is responsible for the coordination of marketing efforts for the Atlantic Stampede Rodeo and ASGRA as a whole. Among the duties of the Public Relations Chairperson are:

• Coordination of Advertisements for Atlantic Stampede Rodeo and other ASGRA events including creation or soliciting for creation of print and electronic advertisements, scheduling of advertisements and negotiation of advertisement rates.
• Distribution of promotional materials for Atlantic Stampede Rodeo and other ASGRA events at local and national venues (bars, retail spaces, other clubs and organizations).
• Coordination of the Association's involvement in area events (Prides, Leather, Country/Western expositions/events/conferences)
• Coordination of program printing for Atlantic Stampede including solicitation and collection of written content and advertising.
• Being a spokesperson, along with the President, for the Association to help promote or respond to criticism of gay rodeo, the Association, ASGRA's promotion of the country western lifestyle, including interviews with local and national media, creation and distribution of press releases, editorial pieces, etc.

The Public Relations Chairperson is encouraged to form a committee of bright, hardworking, creative individuals to assist in the tasks as mentioned above. Graphics experience is not required for this position, but strong written and communication skills are a must. The Public Relations Chairperson should be comfortable speaking publicly and being visible and accessible to the GLBT community and general community at large. If interested in the position or if you have more questions, please contact Mike S. at [an error occurred while processing this directive].

Patrick Hunter

Meet Me In Montana

Pacific North West Gay Rodeo Association is having its third annual Meet Me In Montana Event August 1-3, 2008. Meet Me in Montana is a weekend of Camping, Cookout, River Rafting, Dancing, Dance Lessons, and great fun with some terrific cowboys and cowgirls. Meet Me in Montana takes place at the beautiful Cowboy Up Montana Roadhouse located in St. Regis, MT.

The roadhouse is 30 acres surrounded by beautiful forests and mountains. There is ample space for trailers, horses, campers and tents. For more information about the Meet Me in Montana weekend including schedule of events and pricing options visit http://www.meetmeinmontana.org. Space typically sells out, so those interested are encouraged to make their reservations early.

Patrick Hunter

Music Reviews

By Patrick Hunter, our man about town

Star System
Sucks, save you money and buy a beer
Borrow it from someone
Wait for it go on sale
Don't leave Wal*Mart without it
Stop whatever the heck you're doing right now, and download this puppy

Rissi Palmer
Country Girl

Let me start out by saying that this gal is gorgeous. For those of you lesbians or bi guys Rissi sure is a knock out. She just has a quality about her that gives her the hot-girl-next-door look. Physically, she has the beauty of a classical statue of the National Art Museum. I'd give her four stars just on her looks alone. Luckily, she is not just a pretty face, but a beautiful voice as well.

Be forewarned you country purists. Though Rissi's album is titled Country Girl her music has a decidedly soulful and at times funky sound to it. This is best exemplified by the title track of her album with its beat that defies classification and strains the brain for an apt description. Its lyrics are country and its melody is funk; similar to that of Big and Rich, but less driving.

Rissi's voice has a softer smoky sound to it that adds to the soulful feel; especially on the slower songs of the album such as "Hold onto Me", "Leaving on Your Mind", and "I'm Not of This World." As you listen to Rissi, she brings to mind some of the more recent young girl singers who have become a country staple: Carrie Underwood, Kelly Pickler and Taylor Swift, but she also echoes some of music's greats: Patti LaBel, Jennifer Holiday and Diana Ross; aptly fitting as Rissi is an African American herself. God has really blessed her with a voice that can do both country and can easily range into the lower levels of torch songs.

Honestly, this CD is really a country drag performer's dream; songs that are country and emotional without being dramatic. All carried excellently by Rissi's voice. I look forward to hearing more and seeing more of this "country girl."

Alan Jackson
Good Time

For those of you who are country purists Alan Jackson is back with a new album of what he does best; crooning traditionalist country music in a modern day world. For you country-pop or modern country listeners that means there is a lot of twang on this album. And I mean a lot. For those that love that kind of country music, you will be much pleased with this album.

The CD is overstocked - in a good way - with seventeen tracks. None of which to my knowledge are pulls off of pervious efforts or redos of earlier works (something some modern artists do in order to have a compete album). Everything that you think is Alan Jackson is on this CD. The songs range from good swing tunes such as "Good Time", "Never Loved Before" and "Laid Back and Low Key" to the reminiscing over yesteryear such as "Small Town Southern Man" the autobiographical "1976" and the "I Still Like Bologna" to what I like to call the country boy torch song: "If You Want to Make Me Happy [play every sad song on Jukebox]", "Long Long Way" and "I Wish I Could Back Up." There is even the trademark Alan Jackson humor song "Nothing Left to Do [now that we've done it]" ; a diddy about a couple keeping the fire alive during their relationship with the occasional date that follows the same pattern each time. Alan even throws in a Gospel song at the end called "If Jesus Walked the World Today" which could leave you feeling uplifted or frightened depending on if you are one of the MCC set or one of the religiously scarred among us. Take heart that there is no condemnation in this song, just an interesting and thoughtful look at what kind of life story Jesus might have in this day and age.

Good Time is the perfect example of how country music can still hold onto its roots in this day of more polished radio ready country music and work well. No one does it quite so well as Alan. If George Strait is the King of Country music, Alan Jackson is country's Duke. For those who do like traditional country as well as more modern types of country heard today this album's listening is definitely a "good time".

Trent Willmon
Broken In

We are on a roll with this month's selections. All three albums are great. With "Broken In" Trent Willmon once again nails it good. It's a wonder to me why he does not get more airplay. He's got a nice ragged, rough voice (like an adolescent Trace Adkins) and his tunes are driving and memorable with good lyrics. With a couple of songs that do what a song should: speak to you as a person.

"Doesn't Mean I Don't Love You" is one of those songs. It is about all those actions that are sometimes read into by your partner, but in reality as, the song says, actions that don't diminish how you feel about them. "Good Ol' Days Are Gone" is another; fondly remembering your good ol days and wondering at the same time just how you ever survived them. "Little Set of Horns" is a cute song about the devilish side of those little angels that we love. Those emotional fortresses among us (guilty here) will get a kick out of how you identify with "How a cowboy lives" and make sure that you are paying attention to the funny WD-40 line contained in "Dry County". The title track also has a cute and clever twist at the end which I won't spoil here, but is worth a listen and potentially using as your next rebuttal for those that tell you "I've been hurt."

And among all the good music and lyrics contained on this CD, let's not forget that Trent is not only nice to listen to, but is also nice to look at. I know that there are other cowboys and girls out there like myself who would like to help Trent be "broken in" or be just "broken in" by Trent. Though he is not a knock out of a man, he's got that interesting face like so many cowboys. You know what I'm talking about, the one that looks like it has lived a working life and that is part of what makes it attractive. Not to mention that nice cowboy body. Not model muscled, but farm filled out.

All of this, the man, the melodies and music make this CD one great package and one that you will want to take home.

Patrick Hunter

SPOON BREAD

Ingredients

• ½ Cup Flour
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1 tsp Baking Powder
• 1 tsp Sugar
• ½ Cup Cornmeal
• 1 Egg, beaten
• 1 ½ Cup Milk
• 1 oz Butter

Directions

1. Mix flour, salt, and baking powder.
2. Add sugar, cornmeal and mix well.
3. Add beaten egg, and 2/3 of milk. Mix until a smooth batter.
4. Melt butter until hot and pour into batter.
5. Pour remaining milk in and stir.
6. Cover tightly and cook over moderate heat for 30 minutes.
7. Spoon bread should be crusty on bottom and cooked through.

Call You Cowboy

Album: Call You Cowboy

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For a limited time, Cowboy Frank is providing a stream to listen to this great song as sung by its author. Listen while you read. (should play on any player)

This song was written for Jason Van Tassel, a cowboy who had come to a crossroad. And he's still a cowboy today.

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God saved some lucky men, to be cowboys
'Cause no ordinary man, can wear the name
Hearts of gold, and hands of leather
And that restless spirit, no one will ever tame

Branded by the land
Befriended by the wind
You may never pass this way again
But somethin' in the wind is sayin' that your time is now, boy
Your daddy calls you a drifter
I call you cowboy

That voice of freedom is callin' you down the line
And you don't know where you're goin',
But you know what you leave behind
So you're saddlin' up now, to chase your dreams
To show yourself and the world
What freedom really means

Branded by the land
Befriended by the wind
You may never pass this way again
But somethin' in the wind is sayin' that your time is now, boy
Your daddy calls you a drifter
I call you cowboy

She's got eyes as blue as the sky
Whoever said cowboys don't cry
It's just somethin' deep inside
Sayin' your time is now, boy
Your daddy calls you a drifter
I call you cowboy

Yeah your daddy calls you a drifter, I call you friend
I call you cowboy
I call you cowboy
I call you cowboy

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The May newsletter deadline is April 27. Send your articles to [an error occurred while processing this directive]