Promoting the sport of Rodeo to the LGBTQIA+ Commununity
Royalty Candidates
Meet the folks who are ready to share their love of music and dance with you.
ASGRA wishes to express our thanks to Giddy Up Philly and Voyeur Nightclub for making our 2026 Royalty Competition terrific. The venue was excellent. The stage allowed the crowd to see the competitors clearly, and the dancing kept folks entertained in between competition categories. Thank you so much Voyeur and Giddy Up Philly.
A big thank you to Voyeur Nightclub and Giddy Up Philly
About us
Cowpokes and other folks!
The Atlantic States Gay Rodeo Association (ASGRA) is a 501(c)4, charitable and social organization whose primary purpose is to promote the sport of rodeo and foster country and western lifestyles in the gay and lesbian community. ASGRA members enjoy the fellowship of numerous social, recreational and educational activities.
Since the founding of ASGRA in 1991, our Association has provided a space for LGBTQIA+ cowpokes, allies and fans. ASGRA has held training for horsemanship and horse speed events, calf roping, rough stock and camp events, country western dance instruction and competition.
ASGRA's social events include barbecues, horseback riding, dance events and group outings to rodeos, county fairs and concerts.
ASGRA Rodeo School 2026
Join Atlantic States Gay Rodeo Association for a weekend of rodeo event instruction. The rodeo school is geared toward those who have never competed before in a rodeo or are novice competitors. Participants will get hands on 101 training in horse, roping, rough stock and camp events.
Learn more about the rodeo school
Help ASGRA Research Venues for an East Coast Rodeo
Interested in helping ASGRA develop an East Coast gay rodeo? Join our Rodeo Events and Training commitee. Jay R Gayheart, Rodeo Events and Training Chairperson, is looking for folks to join the committee to seek out and explore locations and options for an ASGRA rodeo.
We are need of folks to research potential venues, stock contractors, vendors and food and beverage options. If you are interested, join the Zoom meeting.
If you have questions, contact Jay R Gayheart at john.roman.jb@gmail.com
Behind the Sash- Mx. IGRA 2026, Daddy Duchess
Mark Allen Smith, AKA Daddy Duchess, was born in NW corner of Missouri in a town named Tarkio. He was raised on a farm and loved the farm animals. His family moved to Delaware in 1981 and farming life as he knew it was over.
In 2005 he went to ASGRA’s rodeo at Montgomery County, MD. He knew he wanted to go back the next year and compete in ONE event, goat dressing. He then went dancing in Philadelphia where he met Jen Vrana and she invited him to a rodeo school in New Jersey where she kept her horse, Quinn.
Jen then taught Mark how to ride her horse Quinn and competed the next year at Montgomery County Fairgrounds back in Maryland. He competed in 7 events and walked away sore and beat up but had won 5 ribbons, 2 - 1st place 2 - 3rd place and the one that SHOCKED him the most in his first rodeo was 4th runner up all around cowboy.
Mark, aka Daddy Duchess, knew he was hooked from that moment on. Things progressed and eventually in 2018 he won an all round with Quinn, while being Miss KSGRA.
Almost 20 years later, at the age of 62, still competing and having the time of his life with his best friend Jen Vrana. With her by his side, encouragement and pushing with a cattle prod at times, LOL Mark was sashed as your International Gay Rodeo Association’s MX for 2026.
He is truly grateful for all the help, encouragement from ALL of His/Their rodeo family.
Forever in Rodeo and stage performance,
Upcoming Events
Below will find a listing of ASGRA events on the right, and the International Gay Rodeo Association on the left.
IGRA Events
Friday, August 7 - Sunday, August 10
Great Plains Rodeo - El Reno, OK
Grit meets Glitter at the Great Plains Rodeo Association's 2026 Rodeo. Come on out to the Canadian County Expo Center for a weekend of rodeo competition, Royalty entertainment and a Texas Tea Dance. Visit https://www.greatplainsrodeo.org/ for more information.
Friday, August 21 - Sunday, August 23
Zia Regional Rodeo - Santa Fe, NM
Zia's regional rodeo kicks off with a rodeo school and out-of-town Royalty show with dancing to follow. Saturday and Sunday rodeo competition will be held at Rodeo de Santa Fe with entertainment and dancing to follow.
Visit https://www.nmgra.org/zia-regional-rodeo for more information and registration.
Friday, September 11 - Sunday, September 13
Best Buck in the Bay - San Fransisco, CA
Bay Area Rodeo will be your hosts for this weekend of rodeo competition. Contestant Registration will be Friday at the Russian River Rodeo Grounds in Duncans Mills with rodeo competition on Saturday and Sunday.
Visit https://bayarearodeo.com/ for more information.
ASGRA Events
Wednesday, August 5 at 7:00 PM
• ASGRA Rodeo Events and Training Meeting via Google Meet. The ASGRA Rodeo Events and Training committee is looking for looking for folks to research potential venues, stock contractors, vendors and food and beverage options. If you are interested in in joining the Google Meeet meeting, please contact the committee chair, Jay R Gayheart at john.roman.jb@gmail.com
Thursday, August 6 at 7:30 PM
• ASGRA April Board Meeting via Zoom
Sunday, August 2 at 10:00 AM
• Monthly Horseback Ride - Piscataway Stables, Clinton, Maryland (see map)
An hour-long ride through the woods, fields and streams of Piscataway's 256 acre horse farm. Experienced and novice riders are welcome. All horse, tack and some basic instruction are provided. $40 for ASGRA members/$45 for non-members.
Sunday, August 2 at 12:30 PM
• BBQ Lunch Meet Up - Texas Ribs and BBQ, Clinton, Maryland (see map). Meet us for our monthly lunch at one of our favorite barbeque places in Clinton.
Gay Rodeo History
In its third year, the Reno Gay Rodeo, sponsored by the Comstock Gay Rodeo Association and the Silver Dollar Court, proved to be as much an excuse to get together for heavy-duty socializing and a little bull-throwing as it did for that dust-eating, gut-wrenching, butt-busting series of events common to this great Western tradition.
Gay contestants from California, Nevada and Arizona, vying for the $100 cash prize and "All Around Cowboy and Cowgirl" cups plus assorted buckles and other awards, participated in bull riding, saddle and bareback bronc riding, calf roping (on foot and mounted), barrel racing and team roping. A greased-pig catch, a non-traditional wild cow milk (featuring an amusing menage au lait comprising a lesbian, a drag queen and a gay man intent on getting a few drops of milk from a most uncooperative group of cows) and banter of clowns added to the fun and excitement of the two-day event.
Read the full article
See more gay rodeo history
Contact Us Today
For inquiries about Atlantic Stampede.
Email us
info.asgra@gmail.com
