It is almost time to dust off your cowboy boots and find the jeans that make your butt look best. The 14th edition Bud Light Canadian Rockies International Rodeo will take place at Symon’s Valley Ranch in Calgary from June 29th to July 30th, 2007.

As one of the most popular events on the Western Canadian gay calendar, the challenge is up to the hard working board members and volunteers to continue to keep the Rodeo events fresh and exciting.

"That’s a question that we ask of ourselves every year.  Nothing happens by accident and we look at our event - from start to end - each year in the summer as we plan for the following year," said sponsorship director Greg Holsworth. "We started planning for this year’s rodeo last year, just weeks after the 13th rodeo. We know we have a great formula for our rodeo weekend and we don’t really want to mess with that, but we do always look for ways to improve what we offer and are constantly tweaking it."

While Calgarians make up the largest part of the attendance, the Alberta Rockies Gay Rodeo Association focuses it’s marketing locally, as well as across Canada and internationally.

"We make a concerted effort to market to western Canada’s other large cities.  Edmonton, of course is a huge market for us.  We try and make an effort to get our rodeo into the minds of the community in Edmonton.  Same goes for Vancouver and Winnipeg.  We have also advertised in the past in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax.  Last year, we were contacted by a gay and lesbian group of journalists from Germany, and over the past year our rodeo has been splashed all over the gay German media.  This year, we have heard from a record number of Germans who are interested in coming to this year’s rodeo."

ARGRA is a non-profit society, which can make it difficult to stretch its marketing as far as they would like. They rely on strategic sponsorship relationships to have a national presence that they could otherwise not afford, and work proactively with the media and sponsors. Holsworth explained why, without these sponsors and volunteers, there would be no ARGRA or CRIR.

"Wow, you know our volunteers and sponsors are both so very important to us.  ARGRA is 100% volunteer driven and we are nothing without our many, many volunteers.  Some are able to volunteer a few hours over the rodeo weekend, and that’s great.  Others volunteer at our monthly fundraising dances, and those folks are just as important.  [There are] those who are able to volunteer more help out at the rodeo committee level, which does entail more of a commitment.  And our Board of Directors all put in countless hours of volunteering.  We draw on the experience, enthusiasm and professionalism of all our volunteers.  ARGRA actively searches for volunteers and is always eager to find new volunteers who bring with them new ideas, fresh energy and passion.  For you readers who may be thinking of volunteering, please contact us at volunteers@argra.org and we’ll get you signed up to help out."

"Sponsors are also very critical to our success.  Their combined support helps keep our event ticket prices as affordable as they are," he continued. "By supporting our sponsors, folks are in fact supporting ARGRA.  ARGRA realized a few years ago the extreme importance of maintaining and growing sponsorship relationships, which is why the board created a new position of Director of Sponsorship; to bring a new level of importance of sponsors to the minds of all ARGRA members, and to create a consistent experience for all sponsors when they deal with ARGRA.  We look at each sponsor as entering a long-term relationship with ARGRA."

This year’s event is also getting an additional publicity boost from an unexpected source – the popular TV game show Deal or No Deal.  Past ARGRA president and board member Jamie Cumberland walked away from the Canadian version of the show earlier this year, $131,000 richer.  He openly admitted both his sexuality and his cowboy roots, which in turn resulted in media exposure for ARGRA.

"I was with Jamie when he won, as he’s a close friend of mine.  Jamie was able to do more for ARGRA, gay rodeo and the GBLT community in Calgary in a 30-minute game show than I think most folks realize.  He was able to show a different face of Calgary to the rest of the country and he certainly showed Calgary that yes, indeed, gay cowboys exist.  We’re so proud of Jamie that the rest of the ARGRA rodeo committee voted in favour of Jamie becoming this year’s rodeo Grand Marshal, which is ARGRA’s highest honour."

This year’s rodeo weekend promises to continue with traditional events like 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.  They also include three "camp events" - Goat Dressing; Steer Decorating and The Wild Drag Race. Friday Night’s cabaret event features Canadian country band Emerson Drive. The attractive group of guys has experienced a great deal of success including opening slots for country music powerhouses Shania Twain and Toby Keith, among others.

"That’s really thanks to another of ARGRA’s long-time sponsors and past Trustee, Stuart Aikins.  Stuart Aikins Casting Inc. has been able to secure the best of Canadian Country & Western artists for a good number of years.  We’ve had Julian Austin, Aaron Pritchett, Lace, Chris Cummings, Farmer’s Daughters twice, and more.  And this year we’re thrilled to host Emerson Drive.  Yes, I’m sure there will be many hearts aflutter...including my own."

Other events include warm up parties on Thursday, June 28th at Money-Pennies, The Calgary Eagle and the Backlot, as well as pancake breakfasts, post-event parties and the ever-popular Saturday night dance. The largest GLBT dance in Alberta takes place in the main hall and is a chance to see faces you may not have seen in a long time.

"Our Saturday Bud Light Barn Burner Dance feels like a home-coming in many ways.  We have upwards of 1500 people at that dance, making it one of western Canada’s largest GBLT events in its own right.  It’s THE night to party at the rodeo.  Our DJ saves up special cuts of popular songs and new songs too that he will debut on that night, so its not only the crowd.  Its the music and the fact that you do run into so many people, many of whom you’ve not seen since last year’s dance."

If you have never been to a gay rodeo, leave your expectations at the gate and head down to the grounds. It truly is a unique experience filled with old and new friends, rodeo action, fresh air and all in all, five days of hootin’,hollerin’, and one heck of a good time!