1989 

The North Star Gay Rodeo Association was founded by five Rodeo enthusiasts in October of 1989. Frank Bohlander, Jim Chalgren, Bob Jansen, Don Olson and John Ritter bring Gay Rodeo to the Upper Midwest.

Organizational Meetings were held in Nov. and Dec. of 1989 to complete the election of officers. (including the founding Pres., Frank Bohlander) and filing incorporation with the state of MN.

1990

by mid-january, 1990, nsgra was officially recognized by the inernational gay  rodeo association as a member association.  nsgra paticipated in its first parade of states that very weekend in the "road runner regional rodeo".

Membership grew quickly from 5 - 75 in less than one  year.  the first "annual" meeting was held in september of 1990.

1991

the addition of borderline, a country western line dance troupe was formed in march, 1991 requiring its members to belong to the association, the dancers became community wide ambassadors and entertainers.

to enhance education about the "rodeo"  aspect of igra, nsgra attempted to produce a unit rodeo (a scaled down version of the larger event). The event was never realized as nsgra lost necessary support from its co-host.

focus quickly changed to a marketing campaign in an attemp to secure the 1992 igra annual convention for the twin cities. buoyed by a light-hearted video capitalizing on local claim-to-fame, mary tyler moore, "you're gonna make it after  all", the igra delegates overwhelmingly voted on the first ballot to award the 1992 annual convention to nsgra.

membership had toped 100.

1992

the new rodeo season saw a marked increase in participation by nsgra members. Participation in all aspects of rodeo  was seen as an important part of the preparation for hosting a full-fledged rodeo in the upper midwest.

august brought 75 delegates and numerous others to the twin cities for the 1992 igra annual convention.  at the convention, nsgra was granted the use of june 18-20 1993, dates to host the first ever "north star regional rodeo.

1993

in the new year, leadership on the entertainment/fund-raising committee spured a drive toward reaching the rodeo's $40,000 budget requirements. part of their focus was also put toward nsgra's support of other local non-profit organizations.

recognition for marketing and advertising reached a new high as nsgra worked for more national exposure. this included strategic placment of national advertising as well as staging visits to upper mid-west nightclubs.

for the first time ever, the local pride committee asked to have a representative of nsgra included at mettings on a regular basis.  officially sanctioned by the pride committee, this rodeo is the first major event of the 1993 family of pride celebration in the twin cities.

outside the rodeo itself, the borderline dance troupe has been officially recognized in the association's bylaws.  borderline members have also completed a professionally produced pair of line dance/partner dance video tapes that were distributed as far away as japan.

1994

after the 2nd annual north star regional rodeo, nsgra decides to reorganize the rodeo weekend as a tri-event called the "great northern shindig".  this includes the "step-that-step dance invitational, the community corral carnival and north star regional rodeo.  The evening dances have been expanded to include both a dance room and a cabaret, where local talents can sing or lip sync to their favorite tunes.

1995

the great northern shindig featuring the 3rd annual north star regional rodeo is held.

nsgra strengthens its community ties with other organizations.  the imperial court of the ice castle shares our nsgra dance tent at pride and co-sponsors the "salute to cowboys" whic helps rais funds for the rodeo.

a bylaw change makes our ambassadors now"royalty", and adds a miss category to this fundraising group.

1996

the great northern shindig continues featuring the 4th annual north star regional rodeo.

1997

the great northern shindig features the 5th annual north star regional rodeo.

recognizing the importance of our contestants, nsgra adds a new chair (contestant chair) to our board of directors. nsgra enters the age of the internet by having a web site.  unfortunatly, this year's shindig ends in debt.

1998

 the great northern shindig features the 6th annual north star regional rodeo.

fundraising becomes better organized and a sponsorship program is initiated. desite this, nsgra posts a significant debt because it had to pay off the previous years debts and our miata car raffle went bust due to st. paul pride having a miata car raffle at the same time.  the nsgra board decides not to host another rodeo until we are debt free.  this debt paralyzes nsgra for the next several years.

1999 - 2000

nsgra continues to field contestants at igra sanctioned rodeos.

2001

nsgra reaches a low point in the summer when the membership discusses disbanding at the annual meeting if progress isn't made at increasing visibility.  nsgra starts to imporve its web site, holds its first barn dance that benefits the victims of 9-11, 4 of hte 11 nsgra contestants that competed in  2001 are invited to igra finals rodeo.  with this progress nsgra elects a new slate for the board of directors with renewed optimism.

2002

nsgra starts sending out newsletters again. membership activities grow to include two barn dances, co-hosting the boots and boxers dance, trail rides and more.  thanks to the tireless work of garth g., nsgra retires our 1998 debt in time for nsgra to ask for igra sanction for a 2003 north star regional rodeo.

2003

nsgra hosts its first igra sanctioned rodeo in 5 years.  the rodeo is a twin cities pride endorsed event.  dead broke arena in hugo, mn becomes the new home for our rodeo.

2004

the rodeo is a twin cities pride endorsed event. nsgra adds shade to the stands.

2005

2006

2007 

Gay Rodeo History - click here

IGRA History - click here