Royalty Rules (PDF 332k)

Mr. HGRA

Hello All,

Being Mr. HGRA has been one of the many highlights of my life. I was Mr. HGRA in 2005 and 2006, and have been asked to step up and represent the Heartland Gay Rodeo Association again for 2008. I guess you could say I have the rodeo bug real bad.

I love to ride my horses and hang out with all the cowboys and cowgirls in our community as well as around the country. I was born in California and loved to ride my horse on the beaches. Then I moved to the Midwest and became a real cowboy. I attended the University of Nebraska - Omaha, Medical Center. I currently work for an international company in Omaha. I can go from suit and tie to boots and spurs in a New York Minute! I love the country/western lifestyle.

I just wanted to take a moment to thank each and every one of you for all of your support, and I look forward to your continued support in the future. Our community is full of Champions and top entertainers that have dedicated themselves to raising money for rodeos, so that we can donate it to our favorite charities.

So I invite you to join us when you can, it all starts with YOU!

Let's RODEO

Pete Canfield
Mr. Heartland Gay Rodeo Association 2008

Miss. HGRA

I started performing the year after I came out. My first opportunity to perform on a stage was for a Metropolitan Community Church fundraiser. And the rest is history. I am active in the gay community and have been involved in many benefits. I was a show director at Club 15 and Club Manhattan. I have helped raise money for many causes including: The River City Mixed Chorus, Metropolitan Community Church, G.L.B.T. Sports League, Rainbow Outreach Center, Pride and I have been involved in the Imperial Court of Nebraska I am a drag queen for two purposes: to have fun and raise money for good causes. I continually strive to raise the awareness of the community at large and focus on the great things that the G.L.B.T. community contributes. G.L.B.T. or straight, we all need to work together for a better world.

I have competed in several pageants and now hold two titles, Miss Club 15 and Miss HGRA 2008. I make my own costumes and call them DragAnimals. Of all the titles that there are, the title I hold as "father" cannot be up-staged by any of my accomplishments. My son will be 17 years old in May and is a senior in high school. I love him so much. He is my world. My HGRA charity for this year is the G.L.B.T. Sports League. I admire the risks this group has taken to bring the community together for athletic endeavors that are family friendly. Thank you very much,

Miss Heartland Gay Rodeo Association 2008

Ms. HGRA

Hi!

My name is Tracey Renee Foster, a.k.a Aretha Spanklin. I am a 32-year-old married mother of 4 great kids ages 11 years to 18 months. My husband Frank and I have been married for nearly nine years and live quite happily in Council Bluffs, Iowa. I love being part of the GLBT community and have performed and been friends with several members of the community for years. I love singing! It's definitely one of the great passions in my life, aside from food. Anyone that knows Ms. Spanklin, knows that she loves showing off!

I love being part of the HGRA and giving back to the community. Now if the horse I plan to ride decides to cooperate, I'll be well on my way to becoming a great cowgirl too! I know that I am the first straight Ms. HGRA, and I feel very honored to be part of such a wonderful organization that brings help and hope to so many. I hope that other folks from the straight community learn that tolerance, patience, and love are what's needed to accomplish what IGRA and HGRA stand for! I'm just a big girl with a big heart who now belongs to an organization that has a lot of the same!