"Once upon a time..." in Las Vegas, seven men were sitting in a local bar called Badlands and they decided to bring gay rodeo "home" to the state of Nevada where it all began. Those men were Bob Edwards, Randy Larson, Tom Blythe, Robert Kingham, Tom Tyre, Gary L'abbe and Randy Parker. The year was 1992 and this group was a tight knit circle of friends who had already traveled to regional rodeos. They decided that Las Vegas must have its own gay rodeo association. They called it "The Southern Nevada Gay Rodeo Association" and in its first year of its existence, fifty members joined.

The highlight of this first year came quickly, when in July this "start up group" was seated at the IGRA convention in Minnesota; but not before IGRA officials asked the association to change its name to encompass the entire state of Nevada. Thus, to truly bring gay rodeo back to where it all began, the name was changed to the Nevada Gay Rodeo Association (NGRA) to pay respect to the history started in Reno and to honor all of the state organizations already in existence.

The purpose and goal of the NGRA mirrors what the history and story bespeaks: To produce gay rodeo and thus further enrich and enhance the western lifestyle and to raise monies for various local charities through on-going fund raising. NGRA currently supports the Nevada Aids Project, Pedrigal House, Aid for AIDS of Nevada (AFAN), Golden Rainbow and Reach Out, an organization dedicated to children afflicted with AIDS.

From 1992 - 1995, however, there was no IGRA sanctioned rodeo held in Nevada and the desire was strong to see this come to pass... to have an annual rodeo and bring our Nevada gay rodeo history full circle.

In June of 1994, Gymkhana was staged by NGRA at Horseman's Park in Las Vegas. This was a non-sanctioned rodeo event, put on to develop experience in running a full-scale rodeo event. IGRA officials attended and showed strong support and a desire to sanction the NGRA's first rodeo.

On a hot June weekend in 1996, the first Bighorn Rodeo, hosted by the NGRA was born!

Through hard work, deep heart and great spirit... as big and as blue as the western sky... the dream begun by seven men in 1992 is now being fulfilled and realized.

Gay Rodeo is back, in a big way and in its home state!

Thus, history does not always repeat itself... rather it comes full circle and the NGRA is proud to contribute to that process. As the NGRA continues to grow, future goals include the organization being accepted as one of the most recognized charitable groups within the local community. It is hope this will be successfully accomplished by continuing to raise ever larger sums of money for our chosen charities and by putting on ever more exciting rodeo events, ultimately becoming the premier rodeo on the IGRA circuit.

The NGRA wants everyone who loves rodeo to "come home" once a year and through our Bighorn Rodeo, to pay respect to all those that came before. To become energized and uplifted by our event, and to go back to their respective states enriched by the experience of an NGRA rodeo! Our rodeo has as its foundation the deep desire to promulgate the western lifestyle... the very idea that Phil Ragsdale held back in 1976.

Does the story end here?

This is the true mission of telling it night after night to the child. That the story may never end, that history is remembered and acknowledged both good and bad and with reverence and pride... That future generations will learn from the experiences of the past 22 years, so that they can make gay rodeo and charitable causes more successful than even we have done.

The NGRA, as well as the IGRA and its member associations are making the history - now. It is the hope held deep within the soul of every NGRA member that under the grandeur and beauty of the Nevada sky, and within our magnificent desert valley, that we pass on to future generations our spirit, our love of western culture and tradition, and also our devotion to our country, as embodied in the founding idea of the nation; that each person has the inalienable right to be forever free; Free to make one's own choices; Free from judgment by others... The pursuit of happiness and the freedom to become all that one can be... and for each to find acceptance, without prejudice or bias. Thus, to truly live the American dream in peace and love of one for the other.

This is the story.