Greetings Smokys!

April was a busy month for SMRA! I want to thank everyone that supported the Trailblaze to Rodeo in the Rock April 20th-22nd. Between those on the bus and others traveling independently, we had twenty- two Smokys in Little Rock as spectators, volunteers, chute & arena crews, timers, royalty and contestants. It was a great showing in Grand Entry and throughout the weekend. Mr. SMRA, Justin James, performed the Canadian Anthem on Saturday, and represented SMRA by performing at the Saturday night dinner & dance.

Congratulations to our contestants! KP took first in Barrels on Saturday, covering both days; Grigsby and KP placed 5th in Goats Saturday and covered both days; and I managed 5th on Sunday in Goats, covering both days.

In Ft. Lauderdale the previous week, the Sunshine Stampede enjoyed its second successful rodeo with attendance and rodeo performance right on par with last year. Prior to the rodeo, IGRA held its quarterly Board and Trustees meetings. One of the highlights was selecting a logo to brand the IGRA Finals Rodeo. In addition to increasing visibility, it will help us attract new sponsors with our new Sponsorship Plan adopted by the IGRA Board. We should see the final logo appearing very soon.

Of course in Nashville, SMRA has been busy with many events. April has been one of the busiest months with the start of Country Idol! Country Karaoke!, Gay Ol' Opry IV and our rodeo nights. And, it looks like May will be busy, too. Be sure to check out the SMRA Calendar so you can come out and support these great events. Thanks to everyone for continuing to develop these community outreach and educational events. They are important to our long- term growth and goals, especially in producing a Rodeo.

In closing, y'all are good people, having a good time, and doing a good thing. Keep up the teamwork so we can continue to support our charity partners, our community, and Gay Rodeo. I look forward to seeing y'all in June at Nashville Pride!

- Tam Keltner, Trustee

If you missed April's Rodeo Night & Beer Bust at the Chute Complex, you missed an egg-stravaganza!

Terry F. taught some serious dance lessons and the dance floor was full! Then, James H. as the Easter Bunny hopped on by and selling Easter eggs for our Charity Partners. The Easter Bunny brought some helpers, David and Hershel, to help with the Easter basket. Mr. SMRA 2007, Justin James, performed in the Chute's Rainbow Room to a pretty good crowd and donated his tips to SMRA's Charity Partners. And, as always, the Bud Light beer bust was a huge success! How can you go wrong with Bud Light?!

Another highlight of the evening was the presentation of an Honorary Membership to Miss Bianca Paige who has donated her time, talent and tips on countless occasions over the years. Grigsby W., President, presented Bianca with a framed certificate and told the crowd how grateful SMRA is for all of her efforts on behalf of our Charity Partners.

Thanks to all the other members that worked so hard to make our special Easter Rodeo Night & Beer Bust a big success by working the membership table, selling t-shirts, etc. It's our hard work and dedication to our Charity Partners while promoting the western way of life that has made us successful. Let's keep riding the wave!

Tickets are on sale for SMRA's annual Spring Pub Crawl. This year's theme is "Off Into the Sunset". The Celebrity of the FADD's party bus arsenal will be the bus of choice. It is air- conditioned, has room to dance and a DJ with great music. You can even bring your own drinks on the bus! How can you go wrong?!

Tickets are on sale now at $35 each until May 6th when the price goes up to $40 if any are still available. The ticket price includes transportation, admission into all of the participating clubs (The Chute Complex, Blue Gene's, TRAX, The Lipstick Lounge, Lucky's Garage and Tribe) and prize give-aways!

Watch for a special MYSTERY GUEST to make an appearance to add to the fun. You won't know who it is unless you come along and "Ride Into the Sunset" with us!

To purchase tickets, please call (615) 202-1992 or send an email to reserve your seats!

Howdy Smokys!

Well, April was another busy and fun month for SMRA with a good number of us on the TrailBlaze to Little Rock, AR. It was a blast! While we were away, a few remaining folks (James H., RJ and Stan, Terry F. and Ashley) stepped up to the plate and pulled off our Redneck Re-Ride Rodeo night. Thanks so much everyone!

April was the start of the Country Karaoke contest at the Chute every Thursday. All we have to do is show up at about 9pm and it's usually over around 11 or 11:30. So come on out, hang with the other Smokys and help SMRA raise some really easy money. Don, the manager at the Chute, really stepped up to help us with this! Thank you, Don!

As SMRA grows, we will have more fundraising and other events. This means we will need more man (and woman) power so we don't all get burned out. We want a rodeo here in Tennessee! We can do this but it will require some serious dedication and hard work. SMRA can only be as big as our membership allows us to be. So if you have any spare time to help with fundraisers like our Rodeo Nights (both of them), supporting the Country Karaoke on Thursdays at the Chute (by just coming out), our first ever Golf Tournament in September, selling ads in our Pony Ad-Press, etc, we'd love to have you along and you'll be helping SMRA and our charities. This is a good piece of what we are all about. If you have any questions about what fundraisers there are just go to www.smra.net and click on "calendars". Contact Steve Bloodworth (stevebloodworth@bellsouth.net) or Justin James (jameswall77@yahoo.com) with any fundraising questions or to volunteer. Volunteers are vital to the success and growth of SMRA.

Sincerely,
Justin and Steve
Fundraising Committee Co-Chairs

I'd like to share my experience regarding Smoky Mountain Rodeo Association's recent Trailblaze to Little Rock, Arkansas. This was the first rodeo that I have attended with SMRA and I enjoyed it very much. They are a great group of people who do a lot for the gay community. I enjoyed learning the different aspects of each event that the rodeo offered and what all they did during the events. The weather in Little Rock was perfect for this time of year and the activities that DSRA had planned were great.

This is a sequence of events that happened: When we first arrived on Friday, we attended the Kick Off party at Sidetrax, which included food and dance, and the people there were hospitable and friendly. On Saturday we attended the rodeo followed by dinner and a dance. There were people from all over. Sunday was the final day of the Rodeo itself, it was a little windy and dust was flying everywhere, but I could still see that there were some good-looking Cowboys and some attractive Cowgirls out there in the arena. It was a sad experience when the horse with no rider was taken around the arena with the wreath of flowers. It seemed as if the horse itself was sad and knew that his rider was no longer with us. When the Rodeo was complete, the bus ride home was relaxing and we enjoyed watching movies on the trip back.

I would like to say "THANK YOU" to the bus driver (Robert) for all the transportation he provided to us, to and from the events, along with the trips to and from the clubs. AND not to forget to thank the SMRA officers for arranging the trip and allowing all of us to participate. I also would like to urge any person that has never attended a Rodeo, to attend at least one. I think they would enjoy the experience and would have a great time.

Hershel Nelms

Near the very end of March, I helping Nashville Pride Inc. raise money in they're annual Turn-a-bout. Rebekah Sonni-Brook appeared for a 2-number set, including Juice Newton's "Queen of Hearts" (which I sang live) and Celine Dion's "I drove all night" (which I know better than to sing live)! It was a lot of fun. No one recognized me. What do you think? Do you recognize me?

Also this month, I had the pleasure of helping the Easter Bunny sell eggs for charity at our Rodeo Night, April 7th. It was an experience in itself! LOL

I began my Phoneraiser fundraiser this month. So far the donations have been a little slow but it's only the beginning. I will continue this fundraiser until June 31st. If you have any old cell phones or ink cartridges, please contact me at jameswall77 @yahoo.com, or you can drop them off at any of the following participating establishments: Outloud Books and Gifts, Trax, The Chute Complex, and Blue Gene's, all in Nashville, TN. This is helping me raise money for our charities and helps me make my minimum requirements as Mr. SMRA for the year. I could use y'alls support!

I went to Little Rock's rodeo April 20-22 and let me say that I have never recieved 6 pins on my sash at one event. It almost makes me lean forward. I had a great time singing the Canadian anthem and performing in a fundraiser on Saturday night. I got to meet Mr. NGRA 2007, Mr. DSRA 2007, Mr. OGRA 2007, Miss TGRA 2007 and Miss TGRA Candidate for 2008. They were all great! I hope I didn't miss anyone! LOL

I'm proud to be Mr. SMRA 2007, representing SMRA at the many local and international functions I attend. Please come and support me at IGRA Finals this year October 11-14 in Denver, CO. Go to http://www.cgr a.net/cms_home/ for more information. I could use y'alls support.

If anyone has any questions about the Royalty program, SMRA or IGRA, please don't hesitate to contact me at jameswall77 @yahoo.com.

Sincerely,

Justin James
Mr. SMRA 2007

On Sunday, April 29, 2007, SMRA hosted Gay Ol' Opry IV at the Chute. It was a great evening of country music that included many live performances. Several members performed as well as preliminary winners of Country Idol! Everyone did a great job and the generous audience tipped accordingly. Thank you to all the performers, the staff at the Chute, and to Jack M. for organizing the event and doing a great job as emcee.

Watch for Gay Ol' Opry 5-DUETS coming soon!

It's time for another SMRA ROAD TRIP! Smoky Mountain Rodeo Association has been invited to Crossings Lexington for a night of Kentucky Cowboy fun. On Saturday, June 23, 2007, caravans of Smokys and friends will leave Nashville and Knoxville to meet up in Lexington, Kentucky.

Located in the heart of Downtown Lexington since 1989, Crossings has been a landmark fixture in the gay community. Crossings takes pride in being a friendly, down-to-earth neighborhood club, with a diverse crowd. They offer great drink specials, and the best Happy Hour in Lexington, all served up by their personable and attentive staff! While meeting friends, both new and old, you can enjoy their large collection of retro and current music videos on their 106" screen with a state of the art sound system. They also offer pool, darts, and video games for added entertainment. The hottest male dancers in the area perform monthly, and weekend events include Leather Night, Country Western Video Night, and loads of fun theme nights. Their goal is to provide us with superb, friendly service, in a comfortable and friendly atmosphere.

Motel arrangements and pricing are currently under negotiation. Please SAVE THE DATE and send an email if you plan to go so you're sure to receive details about the trip as they become available.

Road trips like this are excellent opportunities to expand our membership and to reach out to the communities in our territory. THIS IS NOT A MEMBERS ONLY EVENT. Please invite your friends! The more the better - and splitting the cost of gas and lodging never hurts!

This summer's PLAY DAY at Rarity Bay Equestrian Center (Saturday, July 14, 2007) is going to be a great time! The facilities are beautiful and the event is generating lots of enthusiasm from both the Knoxville community and our mid-state members. So far, plans include demonstrations of several rodeo events, hands-on opportunities to try out others, and plenty of food and beverages. The crowd will enjoy several "mock events" that are lots of fun.

After PLAY DAY ends, we've been invited to party at Kurt's Bar where it will be an all-country night. When SMRA visits, the staff at Kurt's Bar always makes us feel welcome! They even move their furniture to make room for country dancing! SMRA always has a good time at Kurt's!

To find out more about SMRA's special rate at a local motel, please send an email to membership@ smra.net. Get a group together and plan to play with the cowboys and cowgirls at PLAY DAY!

Hey everyone! Don't miss out on an inexpensive advertising opportunity that has the potential to reach all accross the US and Canada (via www.smra.net). SMRA, on behalf of its Charity Partners, is preparing the Pony Ad-Press that will be distributed at many of our events: Rodeo Nights, Pride Events, Play Days, Trail Blazes, Pub Crawls, etc. For a one time fee supporters can place an advertisement in the Pony Ad-Press for the remainder of the year. If they choose to update the ad to reflect current events prior to printing of the Pony Ad-Press, all they have to do is send us an updated advertisement and we'll be happy to place it in the current edition.

Ad prices are extremely reasonable considering the high amount of exposure that they will receive. CLICK HERE to learn about rates! And CLICK HERE to learn about ad specifications!

This is a great way to support SMRA and our Charity Partners for as little as $25! SMRA is flexible and understanding. Give us a shot! We are very easy to work with. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact us at jameswall77 @yahoo.com or membership@ smra.net.

Thank you,

Mr. SMRA 2007 Justin James and Steve Bloodworth
Fundraising Co-Chairs

Click here to see the current issue of Pony AdPress

Barry was born in Decatur, AL in 1964. When he was starting high school his mother remarried and the family moved to Lawrence County, Tennessee, where his stepfather's parents lived. His step grandfather had a 400-acre cattle farm, and while Barry was in high school he helped on the farm, learned how to drive a tractor, and was given a heifer calf. During that time on he fell in love with the country and farm life.

Today, Barry still lives in Lawrence County, near the town of Saint Joseph. He has a 78-acre farm and raises cattle, several which are daughters of that first heifer his step grandfather gave him. Farming is pretty much how he relaxes on evenings and weekends. For Barry, there is nothing like doing a little hard work on the place to clear his mine. As for his day job, he's an aerospace engineer at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Barry has been working there since 1989 and loves it! He has a Bachelors Degree in Physics and two Master Degrees, one in Mechanical Engineering and the other in Atmospheric Science.

Back in the mid 1990's, Barry went to IGRA rodeos in Atlanta and Little Rock and really had a blast. So when he met Kenn, who's a member of SMRA, and he told him about the group, he couldn't wait to get involved. Since joining SMRA in January 2006, Barry has made a lot of good friends in the group and enjoys all the various activities SMRA has throughout the year. He has always enjoyed rodeo and really likes the fact that one of the main purposes of IGRA and its member organizations is to raise money for charities. Barry represented SMRA at IGRA's University this past February in Las Vegas and learned there is a lot more work involved in putting on a rodeo than he had imagined. However, he thinks the members of SMRA are up to the challenge and he looks forward to gay rodeo coming to Nashville in the near future!

Article II - Objective & Purpose

Prohibitions

The Corporation shall not engage in any discrimination whether related to gender, physical handicap, race, religion, creed, sexual orientation, age or national origin.

CLICK HERE if you would like to print a copy of SMRA's current Bylaws. Questions or comments concerning SMRA Bylaws and Guidelines can be directed to the Bylaws Chair at bylaws@smra.net.

This is a good beginner's event, but not as easy as it looks. The rider has a "bull rope" wound around the steer just behind the front legs and then around his or her hand; no knots allowed. With this hand hold and the riders legs, locked like scissors on the steer, are all the rider has to count on to stay on top. A rider who is able to spur, or move their legs back and forth on the steer's sides, will receive a higher score.