From July 1st to 3rd this year, Symons Valley Ranch in northwest Calgary will once again be the site for the Canadian Rockies International Rodeo. The event, now in its 12th year, continues to grow and draw participants and visitors from around the world. Run by the Alberta Gay Rodeo Association (ARGRA), this year’s event has a blend of old favorites and some fantastic new entertainment.

“This year we are welcoming back The Daughters, formerly The Farmer’s Daughters for the Friday cabaret. They played at the rodeo in 2000 and they are phenomenal. They are one of the best groups we have ever brought in so we are thrilled they are coming back,” Greg Holsworth, Director of Public Relations told GayCalgary.com. “We have the popular DC Cowboys dance troupe from Washington, sponsored by The Twisted Element, who will be doing two shows at the rodeo grounds as well as throughout the week at Twisted. This year will have the Retail tent with lots of vendors with amazing things on sale and display. We are expecting over 100 competitors at the Rodeo, and to shatter our attendance record of last year. Each morning we will have a Pancake breakfast. The rodeo starts at noon and then we have entertainment in the evening - Friday is the cabaret, Saturday is the dance and dinner, and Sunday is the awards. There are also events being held on Thursday and Monday at venues throughout the city.”

The rodeo itself consists of 13 events – ten mainstream events consisting of Bareback Bronc Riding, Barrel Racing, Breakaway Calf Roping, Bull Riding, Calf Roping on Foot, Chute Dogging, Flag Racing, Pole Bending, Team Roping, and Wild Steer Riding. There are also three “camp events” - Goat Dressing, Steer Decorating, and The Wild Drag Race.

”Not coincidentally the camp events are three of the most popular events that we have. Goat dressing, because it is so accessible, usually offers the biggest prize money because so many people can enter it. Money is determined by the amount of entrant money into each sport. Because so many people enter the Goat Dressing it usually has the biggest cash prize.”

Even if you aren’t a traditional rodeo fan, you will find much to entertain you while meeting new and interesting people.

“Everything that we do with our rodeo takes place on one site, which makes us unique. Once you park the car and bring out your camping gear, you are there for the weekend, and you can just relax and cut loose and wander. We draw in a lot of visitors from outside of Calgary. ARGRA covers Western Canada so we advertise throughout the major markets. We also advertise in the US and with other gay rodeos, letting people know we are here and a lot of fun. It is the week before the Calgary Stampede so they can get two rodeos and a side trip to the mountains. A couple of years ago we had a huge contingency of guys that came from South Africa, others from Australia, New Zealand, France and Germany. Word of mouth advertising is our most effective one.”

Planning begins for the next rodeo a month after it ends.

“Preparation starts in August. Work has to get done for the association year round. We start planning for each year’s rodeo 11 months prior, putting together all the volunteers that form the heart of the Rodeo committee, and electing the executive in September. We are 100% volunteer driven and without a lot of hard work by very talented people we would not be able to do an annual rodeo or exist. We owe a pile of gratitude to the many volunteers. We encourage anyone who wants to volunteer, whether just for the weekend or for the full year to contact us and find out how.”

ARGRA will also have many other exciting events, including their monthly fundraising dances and in October will host the annual International Gay Rodeo Association National Convention, held for the first time outside of the US. The group is always looking for volunteers year round and Holsworth encourages people to join in.

“The lifeblood of this association is its volunteers who have fresh ideas and new perspectives. I don’t want to discredit any work that people have contributed in the past; it laid the path, but we need to … attract new people so we can continue to grow and evolve.”

ARGRA Presents
The Canadian Rockies International Rodeo
July 1 – 3, 2005
Symon’s Valley Ranch
www.argra.org