WGRF: A worldwide event of great magnitude
The World Gay Rodeo Finals come to Oklahoma
- by Robin Dorner
Editor in Chief
Putting on an event of the magnitude of the World Gay Rodeo Finals takes a lot; many hours and people come together every year to make it happen, said Weston Crow-Tucker, a Great Plains Rodeo Association (GPRA) Trustee and World Gay Rodeo Finals (WGRF) Assistant Rodeo Director.
The committee’s hard work has also landed the WGRF in Oklahoma for the next five years. The events will be held in El Reno, Oklahoma, at the Canadian County Expo and Event Center.
“We have a committee that is made up of members from all different associations that put in many long hours to make finals a success,” he said.
“The people on this committee range from a sponsorship chair that helps to fundraise and get partnerships, to rodeo directors making the rodeo itself happen, a vendor coordinator getting a wide range of local and out-of-state vendors for the vendor hall, and another whole group of people that plan and set up and put together an entire production for the International Gay Rodeo Association Royalty Competition.”
Planning begins as soon as the previous year’s rodeo ends. The team meets monthly in December, usually after the event ends in October, so there is never much downtime.
“This will be my second year since I applied and got on the board/rodeo director team for World Gay Rodeo Finals. Last year was my first WGRF on the team in Reno, NV, where we celebrated the kickoff to our 40th year as the International Gay Rodeo Association and the 50th year of gay rodeo.”
Crow-Tucker said Reno is where gay rodeo started 50 years ago, so everyone felt it was right to celebrate that huge milestone there.
“I am and have been a part of a few of the gay rodeo organizations across IGRA,” he said. “I actually got into the gay rodeo scene nine years ago with the Colorado Gay Rodeo Association, which is where I held the title of Miss CGRA before COVID happened, then again as Mr. CGRA in 2022, before going on to win Mr. IGRA in 2023.
“I have also been a part of the Red River Rodeo Association, which is one of the Texas associations, for five years and an Assistant Rodeo Director for two years for the New Mexico Gay Rodeo Association, and this is my third year on the board in some capacity with our local Great Plains Rodeo Association, as I am the trustee, which is the liaison between our local association and IGRA.”
There is not a gay rodeo association in every state. IGRA currently has 17, but it used to have more. There’s AGRA (Arizona), ASGRA (Washington DC, NYC, Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, and New Jersey), CRGRA (Alberta, Canada), CGRA (Colorado), DSRA (Arkansas), FGRA (Florida), GSGRA (California), GPRA (Oklahoma), ILGRA (Illinois), MIGRA (Michigan, Ohio), MGRA (Missouri), NGRA (Nevada), NMGRA (New Mexico), NSGRA (Minnesota, Wisconsin), RRRA (North Texas), TGRA (Texas), UGRA (Utah) and currently working on developing the UK, Spain, and Germany.
“We most always have a few from our Canadian Association join us every year, but I also know we have some people coming from Mexico and Europe, as they have made it into a yearly tradition to come and join us,” Crow-Tucker said.
Contestants from other countries don’t usually bring their horse or cattle, though.
“Most typically, if someone is coming in from another country, they will do what we call catch-riding,” Crow-Tucker said. “In other words, they will fly in and borrow someone else’s horse, sometimes even one that that person has never ridden before, to compete in mounted roping and speed events.”
The cowboy reflected on his favorite memories with the Gay Rodeo Associations.
“I have so many great memories with rodeo; it’s hard to narrow down just one,” he said. “Winning Mr. International Gay Rodeo Association 2023 is a big one. That is a big title and part of making history, the fun times and laughs, meeting new people and traveling over to compete in the arena and represent on numerous stages for many different systems; it’s something you can never take for granted, and I was lucky enough to do that.”
He went on to include, “Winning my first buckle in the Wild Drag Race with a couple of my close friends. The list could go on and on!”
“I think my favorite would have to be the Wild Drag Race. It’s a team of three: one must be in drag attire, so a wig and female clothing, and they let a steer out of a bucking chute with a halter and lead attached. You then have to get said steer out of the chute across a line that is 70 feet out and the ‘drag’ on the back of the animal, and it back across the line while the drag is mounted. It is always a fun event to do and even better to watch.
“Some of the outfits that you will see, and some teams will even all three be in costume. While it is hilarious to watch, it still takes plenty of skill and coordination to complete, especially under the 60-second time limit.”
The World Gay Rodeo Finals will be held October 22-25 at the Canadian County Expo and Event Center located at 3001 Jensen Rd E, El Reno, OK 73036. For information, visit www.igra.com and www.gay-rodeo.net/world-gay-rodeo-finals, where you can become a volunteer or sign up to be a vendor or even buy your rodeo tickets ahead of time. You can also find WGRF on Facebook by searching IGRA International Gay Rodeo Association, or on Instagram at the handle igrarodeo.
The International Gay Rodeo Association Royalty Competition is held at the World Gay Rodeo Finals. It is held in the evenings after the rodeo events are over and is always a lot of fun to watch. It is similar to a pageant where contestants are judged by a panel in the categories of Interview, Western Wear, Public Presentation, and the contestant’s choice of either Entertainment or Horsemanship. Within IGRA, titles include Miss, Mr., Ms., MsTer, and Mx.
2026 Royalty
Mr. IGRA 2026 - Kyle McCann (TGRA - Texas)
Miss IGRA 2026 - Anna Konda Williams (NMGRA - New Mexico)
Ms. IGRA 2026 - Tanya Owen Standards (TGRA - Texas)
MsTer IGRA 2026 - Buck Sallday (ILGRA - Illinois)
Mx. IGRA 2026 - Daddy Duchess (ASGRA - Atlantic States)
2026 1st Runners-Up
Mr. IGRA 2026 1st Runner-Up - Ryder Gently (NMGRA - New Mexico)
Miss IGRA 2026 1st Runner-Up - Southryn St. John Comfort (TGRA - Texas)
Ms. IGRA 2026 1st Runner-Up - Bobbie Rene Cat (AGRA - Arizona)
MsTer IGRA 2026 1st Runner-Up - Dakota Aire Paris (UGRA - Utah)
Mx. IGRA 2026 1st Runner-Up - Felinda Bush (NGRA - Nevada)
2026 2nd Runners-Up
Mr. IGRA 2026 2nd Runner-Up - Kody Kay (CGRA - Colorado)
Miss IGRA 2026 2nd Runner-Up - Devina Ross (AGRA - Arizona)
Mx. IGRA 2026 2nd Runner-Up - Opa Leez (NMGRA - New Mexico)
The Gayly online. 10/15/26 @ 6:50 p.m. CST.