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.

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.

2025 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 - Sarah DelRicci

Sarah DelRicci has dedicated her life to advocacy for her community, animals and individuals with special needs. In addition to running for State Representative, Sarah founded a non-profit organization, called Parkwood Therapeutic Riding Center. This center has become a place of healing and has given her clients and volunteers a place to find their identity through hard work, perseverance, and healthy relationships.

Sarah is a mom of 3 amazing teenagers, Eva, J.T., and Rocco, and proud wife to John DelRicci. Sarah acknowledges her success in helping others and changing the world, is magnified by the love and support she receives from her family and friends.

Mr. ASGRA - J. Nathan Bazzel

J Nathan Bazzel (“Jay”); is a true eccentric, who has done many things in many places. He is currently the Vice-President of Mayfield Social Club, also known as Voyeur Nightclub in Philadelphia. He works for Woody’s Bar and over the last few years he also owned a queer cafe on the University of Pennsylvania campus. Previously, he spent many years traveling the world portraying Thomas Jefferson and was a personal assistant to celebrity magician Teller, of Penn & Teller.

He loves riding, and recently got back in the saddle. His favorite Rodeo events are roping, and gymkhana. He is excited about being involved with ASGRA and IGRA.

Mx. ASGRA - Mark Smith

Mark Allen Smith grew up in a small town in Missouri and was a farm boy ever since Mark was born. Mark's family moved to Delaware and left that farm. In Philadelphia, Mark met this crazy woman who introduced him to gay rodeo. She invited me to learn to ride her horse. In 2007 Mark competed his my very first rodeo. After that rodeo in Maryland with ASGRA, Atlantic States Gay Rodeo Association, Mark was hooked.

Mark has always been interested in the country western lifestyle as well as rodeo. He once told his parents he wanted to compete in the junior rodeo coming to our home town in Missouri. Their response was you will get hurt or worse yet killed. Well since 2007 I have been competing and have been hurt but I am still kicking at 61 and still actively competing.

Oh and one more thing, that crazy women I met in Philadelphia is none other than my rodeo wife and bestie, Jennifer Vrana. Love you always my friend.