ASGRA Board and Royalty
ASGRA Board
The ASGRA Board is responsible for the organization operations and administration. The Board meets officially once a month.
President - Patrick Hunter
Patrick Hunter joined ASGRA in 1997. As a new resident of the Washington, DC area, and country western music and dance lover, Patrick thought that the Rodeo Association would be a good way to make friends in a new town. As he got more involved in with ASGRA, Patrick began began to take an interest in competing. Though rodeo schools, Patrick learned how to calf rope and steer ride.
Patrick competed on the gay rodeo circuit in calf roping on foot, steer riding, cute doggin' and camp events from 1998 - 2007. In 2003, Patrick won the all around buckle at the Idaho Gay Rodeo Association Play Day, one of Patrick's favorite rodeo events.
Patrick has been ASGRA Social and Entertainment chair, Public Relations chair and has served as ASGRA's President since 2013.
Vice President - Lenny Francioni
Lenny joined ASGRA back in 2020. He discovered ASGRA when his brother found a trail ride group. Lenny and his brother came out for the horseback ride and it’s all been gravy since.
Lenny grew up around horses’; having his first when he was 3 yrs old. Never knowing before about the gay rodeo circuit, it’s been an interesting time learning all the aspects of the IGRA.
Lenny became the Vice President of ASGRA in January 2025. He hopes to participate in up coming rodeos and rodeo schools to understand better all the programs the rodeo circuit includes.
Acting Treasurer/Trustee - Michael Lentz
Mike Lentz is the founding President and current IGRA Trustee of the Atlantic States Gay Rodeo Association. He has a life-long love of music and dance starting as a five-year-old accompanying his grandparents on the square dance floor in rural North Carolina. Mike ventured into the Baltimore/Washington region contra, square, and community dance scene about 13 years ago, and has been fortunate to connect with dancers, callers, musicians and organizers who are a part of a vast network of dance enthusiasts in this region.
He is an amateur contra/square/barn dance caller and beginning fiddler and loves mashing musical sets from popular recorded music that can be danced “square” with contra, circle and barn dance forms yielding the “Contra Sonic” experience. His goal is to help “reluctant” dancers become dance floor enthusiasts.
Rodeo Events and Training Chair - Jay R Gayheart
Jay R Gayheart is a competitor, IGRA Student Judge, and former ASGRA and IGRA titleholder. He joined ASGRA in 2022 and began competing for ASGRA in 2023, winning a couple of buckles in Steer Riding for the association. That same year he became a royalty ambassador for ASGRA by board vote and then the first Mr. Atlantic States Gay Rodeo Association in almost 15 years.
As Mr. ASGRA, he championed funding new folks interested in rodeo schools leading to more than 13 new competitors over the few rodeo schools he funded. Jay R then went on to compete in the IGRA Royalty competition becoming Mr. IGRA 1st Runner-up 2025.
Outside of rodeo, Jay R is a communications and information technology Major in the Air Force working on IT and cybersecurity policy in his current position.
Finally, he's also member of the Potomac MC, a social leather group creating space and opportunities for leather people to express themselves and occasionally fundraising for charitable causes.
Reeves Gift is a seasoned horse-petter, an enthusiastic (if slightly chaotic) saddle newbie, and a devoted coordinator who thrives on helping people feel welcome.
Secretary - Reeves Gift
Membership Chair - Jen Vrana
Jen Vrana was born a Jersey girl and grew up riding horses throughout the New Jersey Pine Barrons. Life brought her to Philadelphia where she found the country nights in the gayborhood and embraced her love of country music. In 1992, she saw a poster for the first Atlantic Stampede Rodeo at her favorite club, Woodys. Going to D.C. with a group of friends, not only did Jen attend the rodeo but wound up competing and winning the Wild Drag Race. She instantly became addicted to learning more about the gay rodeo circuit and her adventures have continued since and she’s never looked back.
She has competed for 32 consecutive years on the IGRA rodeo circuit and still enjoys producing rodeo schools at her friend’s farm, Summer Jade Stables. She can be seen working the stands at rodeos, answering questions and encouraging people to get involved. Jen has donated a large collection of her buckles to the IGRA Archives and has made it a mission to rescue as much gay rodeo history as possible.
2026 Royalty
The ASGRA Royalty is a big part of the Associations fundraising and pubic representation. The Royalty Team travels to and competes in various International Gay Rodeo Association Rodeos, attends and represents ASGRA at area Pride events as well as holding their own fundraising events over their reigning year.
Ms. ASGRA - Helen Eastman
Helen Eastman is a Texas native living in New York; just a country girl trying to make it in the big city. She graduated college last spring, and hopes to someday, in between rodeos, get her masters degree in Ancient Greek Poetry. Among the many other instruments she plays, Helen is a passionate banjo player, and enjoys hopping in on a jam, leading a sing along, or performing for her friends and loved ones.
Helen is new to Gay Rodeo. She hopes to compete in, and win at, many rodeos going forward, and loves to rope. Helen is excited to become a more active competitor, performer, fundraiser, and be part of ASGRA's 2026 Royalty Team.
Duke puts the “boy” in “cowboy.” Originally from the Great Plains and prairies of Kansas, Duke now lives in Alexandria, VA. In 2021, he became Mr. Mayhem Leather, and in 2022, he was named Mr. Mid-Atlantic Leather, and that same year he placed first runner up at IML. When he’s not at work or at leather events, he can be found at the gym, concerts, or playing Texas Hold ‘Em. Duke is currently single; he’s the stallion no man could tame… but he encourages each of them to try.
Miss ASGRA - Shirli D'Vine
James Snyder, AKA Shirley D'Vine, grew up on a farm raising beef cattle and hogs in north central Pennsylvania. At the age of 21 he left the farm to pursue life. He met his husband Scott at the age of 25 and they have been together ever since. Along his journey he earned his LPN license, a bachelor degree in theology and his Master of Divinity. James currently works as a chaplain for a long term care facility and is the founding Bishop of St. Francis Mission of the Affirming Catholic Church of Christ, an independent Catholic Church. James enjoys horse back riding, attending rodeos and has been doing drag for 25 years now.
