Stella Kraus is a student reporter who made this graphic above wondering why there isn’t more awareness of the World Gay Rodeo Finals coming to Reno for its 50th anniversary at the Reno/Sparks Livestock Events Center October 11th and 12th.
Here’s an explainer she wrote on this event’s history tracing back to the Biggest Little City, with a return in just a few weeks.
Why Reno?
The first gay rodeo was held in Reno, Nevada on November 3rd, 1976. Phil Ragsdale was the first organizer of the World Gay Rodeo. He came up with the event to raise funds for the local Senior Citizens Annual Thanksgiving Day feed. It was just supposed to be an amateur rodeo.
Ragsdale ran into many issues when organizing the event, as many ranchers wouldn’t allow ‘gays’ to use their land or animals for the rodeo.
Eventually, Ragsdale was able to source enough livestock and land to go through with the event. There were 127 participants and three crowning categories, “King of the Cowboys,” “Queen of the Cowgirls,” and “Miss Dusty Spurs” (the drag queen competition).
What is the history of the event?
Ragsdale founded the Comstock Gay Rodeo Association and ultimately started the National Reno Gay Rodeo. This event started to gain more recognition across the West Coast and was an avenue to gay liberation for the LGBTQ+ community at the time and still today.
Slowly, more gay rodeo associations were created and spread into the Midwest and the South. Inspired by Rangsdale and what he was doing, Wayne Jakino, a cowboy from Colorado set out to Reno with some buddies to see what everyone had been talking about.
Shortly after this, Jakino and eight other men formed the Colorado Gay Rodeo Association (CGRA). With more people joining each association, everyone decided there needed to be an umbrella association to encapsulate all the efforts.
The International Gay Rodeo Association was founded in 1985 naming their founding president Wayne Jakino. This association continues to grow and host rodeos all across the nation.
Why is there a lack of advertising?
The World Gay Rodeo Finals is returning to Reno to celebrate their 50th anniversary. Aside from some coverage and social media, there has been very little advertisement for the event leading to a lack of knowledge about the details and information on how to attend. Stereotypically, cowboys and members of the LGBTQ+ community do not mesh. Sadly, this stigma still exists and could be a reason for the lack of information.
How can you attend or participate?
To attend the event, you can visit the World Gay Rodeo Finals’ official website and purchase event tickets until October 5th. The two-day event will be held at the Reno-Sparks Livestock Event Center October 11th and 12th. The coordinators will be hosting other events including dances and dance workshops.