Dirt Is Just Rodeo Folk Glitter

The summer sun beats down over the packed stands, alighting the swirling dust motes with a golden twinkle, a bright blue sky dotted with fluffy white clouds overhead. Around the arena, horses neigh, steers bawl, and music plays, but the crowd in the stands has gone tense and quiet, eyes focused on one particular chute.

Suddenly, the signal is given, the gate swings wide, the crowd erupts into cheers, and two thousand pounds of solid muscle, bone and hooves leaps airborne from the chute, the rider holding on with one hand tied into a braided rope hand grip and the other held high, staring down at the longest six seconds imaginable as they sit astride this whirling tornado of muscle-bound bovine.

Most people couldn’t imagine walking up close enough to touch to a fully mature bull, let alone attempting to ride one, but the folks of the North Star Gay Rodeo Association aren’t your run-of-the-mill stock. These hardy people live their lives to the fullest as they ride, run and rope their way through some of the most grueling sports around—sports borne of necessity in the lives of those who worked the ranches and the ranges of the American West, and who now celebrate that history and keep it alive by competing in the variety of events at their annual rodeo.

The NSGRA was founded in October of 1989 by five individuals who, after attending the Phoenix Finals Rodeo, had the vision of bringing gay rodeo to the Upper Midwest. Brainstorming ideas and pooling resources, they began to implement all of the necessary components required to see that dream become reality. Bylaws were drafted and ratified, officers were elected, and they quickly achieved incorporation with the state of Minnesota. Membership in the International Gay Rodeo Association rapidly followed, and the life of the NSRGA began shining brightly as they represented Minnesota and Wisconsin in its first Parade of States in 1990 in Phoenix’s Road Runner Regional Rodeo.

Through the years, NSGRA flourished, and the North Star Gay Rodeo is now one of the highlights of summer for many LGBTQ+ folks in the Twin Cities and surrounding areas. According to Jorge Sanchez, President/Rodeo Director of the NSGRA, a couple of years ago, the group elected a new board of directors who came on board with a lot of ideas on how to make the rodeo even better. Sanchez says “we got more involved with the community. We made our rodeo free admission and family-friendly” in order to make everyone in the community feel welcome at the events.

While one might not think of combining the words ‘LGBTQ+ community’ and ‘rodeo’ in the same sentence, Sanchez assures me that nothing could be further from the truth. I asked Sanchez if the people that give life to the NSRGA tend to be mostly folks who grew up on farms or in rural communities, and spent their childhood around livestock. Although many are, there are just as many who have decided to dive into something completely outside their box to give it a try, and get well and truly hooked.

Sanchez remarked that “because NSGRA is open to everyone, we don’t like to use the words cowboy or cowgirl; we’re just rodeo people. Some of the members come from small towns but most are from the city. We fell in love with the group because we are all are so different, but at the end of the day have the same goal to be kind to people and to give back to our community.”

The North Star Regional Rodeo has all of the traditional rodeo favorites such as bull riding, barrel racing, bronc busting, and team steer roping. Other competitions on the two-day slate of activities include calf roping on foot, breakaway roping, pole bending (get your minds out of the gutter!), team roping, chute dogging, flag racing, and steer riding.

However, one needs to remember…this ain’t your granddaddy’s rodeo!

Sanchez said that the North Star Regional Rodeo also offers several fun, campy events to bring laughter to the crowd. One of these is known as Steer Decorating—a team of two wrangles one steer, with the first contestant bringing the steer across a designated line while the second contestant ties a ribbon on the animal’s tail. Then, the first contestant takes the rope loop off the steer’s horns while their partner races to hit the timer behind the chute.

The Wild Drag Race is also an event unique to gay rodeo. A team of three is in the ring with a steer wearing a halter and rope. Two members have to get the steer to the finish line. After getting the animal across the line, the third team member—kitted out in drag—climbs aboard the steer and rides (or attempts to ride!) the animal back across the line.

However, according to Sanchez, the perennial crowd favorite is Goat Dressing. What is that, you may ask? Well, you combine a team of two humans, add one goat, and throw a pair of brief style underwear into the mix. With underwear in hand, the team must catch the goat, get the underwear on its back end and over the tail, and run back to the finish line. As one can imagine, comedy often ensues!

Of course, as anyone familiar with rodeo can attest, no rodeo would be complete without rodeo royalty sparkling up the arena in elaborate spangles, sequins, crowns and sashes. Sanchez proudly said that NSGRA has “five categories for Royalty– MS, MR, MISS, MsTer and MX. We have a Royalty competition every year, and the Royalty help represent the organization throughout the year. We also have a Junior Royalty. If anyone is interested in running for Royalty, please let us know. All are welcome!”

NSGRA is a 501c(3) nonprofit organization, and money used to support it throughout the year and to put on the July event is raised through a combination of fundraising, donations and sponsorships. The organization is always grateful for any community support from individuals or businesses, and one can easily donate at the rodeo’s website.

This year’s North Star Regional Rodeo will be July 27 – 28^th at Dead Broke Arena, Hugo, MN.  Everyone is welcome to compete at the rodeo; they simply have to become an NSGRA member for $20. Registration can be done online or in person at Dead Broke Arena from 5:00—7:00 PM on Friday, July 26^th.

For information or to register, visit www.nsgra.org