Contestants...

2012 Rodeo School Friday, April 20th - Starting at 8:30 AM

Registration for Rodeo School starts at 8:30 AM. Students can reserve space in the rodeo school as instructed below. All payments will be accepted during rodeo school registration.

• Location:
  • The Bergeron Rodeo Grounds of Davie, Florida.
• Fees:
  • $15.00 per event, or $50.00 for four events.
• Payments:
  • Checks, Visa, MasterCard & Amex accepted on day of Rodeo School.

Instructors : Chuck Browning & Brian Helander 
Rodeo School Chair:   

This year we'll be offering these events:

• Goat Dressing
• Steer Decorating
• Calf Roping on Foot
• Chute Dogging

Lunch (Sandwich, Chips, Soda) will be provided by FGRA. Lunch will run from 12:30 PM to 1:00 PM.

All Rodeo School students/participants must view the Health & Safety Video at the IGRA web site prior to participating in Rodeo School.

Students shall provide their own safety gear, ropes, etc.

Insurance waivers must be completed during registration.

Registration for Rodeo School is in addition to registering to compete in the Sunshine Stampede.

Please contact  if you have any questions about this year's Rodeo School.

To reserve your space please send an email to  with your name, the events you plan to compete in during Rodeo School, and your rodeo association affiliation.

About our Rodeo School Instructors:

Chuck Browning

Chuck was born in Casper, Wyoming, the youngest of 5 very athletic and sport oriented kids. He started IGRA Rodeo in 1995 with his best friend Brian Helander. Chuck has competed in all 13 IGRA events, and has won 13 International Championships: (3 Bull Riding, 1 Bareback, 1 Steer Riding, 3 Chute Dogging, 1 Calf Roping on Foot, 3 Goat Dressing, and one Steer Decorating) & several All-Around Cowboy Titles.

Chuck has won over 200 buckles to date, and has donated several to Royalty for Auctions as Fund Raisers. Chuck is the only contestant in IGRA history to be invited to all 13 events for an IGRA Finals Rodeo, Palm Springs 2000. Chuck is working on the one Event Buckle he has never won: Barrel Racing. Over the years, he has suffered two broken arms, two fractured ankles, a torn ear, ripped lip, four cuts on the head, & several bruises.

Brian Helander

Brian has been competing since 1995 in roping, speed, rough-stock and camp events. He is a four time international chute dogging champion (2000, 2004, 2006 and 2008) He is also the international goat dressing record holder with his rodeo partner Chuck Browning. Brian is currently serving his third two year term as IGRA president 2006-2010. By day he is a college instructor in emergency nursing, a trauma nurse specialist and CEO of a health care software development and consulting company based in Phoenix Arizona. He lives in Phoenix, Arizona and Santa Fe, NM with his partner Don and dog pal Jax.

A number of Rule Changes were approved for the 2012 Rodeo Season. FGRA's Trustee, Bobby Fender, provided the following summary. Please note that the list below is not comprehensive, but just a highlight of the changes that are significant.

All IGRA contestants and members should refer to the new 2012 Rodeo Rules for full documentation of the changes. The 2012 Rodeo Rule Book is available on the IGRA web site.

• Friday Registration may be scheduled for a 2-3 hour time frame. Times must be published to contestants on the Association’s Web site, and e-mailed / mailed in Contestant Mailer.
• Late Registration Policy: Association must publish their policy a minimum of 90 days prior to their rodeo. Late Registration Fee cannot exceed $50.
• Pre-Registered contestant adding events – Association Policy must be published in the e-mailed or mailed Contestant Mailer. Fee cannot exceed $50.
• Judges are to make every reasonable attempt to notify a contestant of any penalties or disqualifications. They may incorporate the assistance of the Scorekeeper and or Announcer to do so.
• In Jr. Bull Riding, the word “Novice” has been added. Associations should advise their Stock Contractors that contestants in this event are beginner to amateur ability and request the appropriate level of stock.
• The 7” minimum horn length is specific to Chute Dogging only. Team Roping and Camp event Steers must have horns of uniform length.
• Photographs cannot be used in Rodeo Review Requests.
• Chute Dogging has been updated to include the Trustees Interpretation from 2010. The intent of the No-Turn / No Beginning to Dog prior to the 4th hove crossing the 10 foot line, is to provide the animal the advantage. “Turning” is in reference to a skill set used prior to dogging, and will not be interpreted to contestants using a controlled hold on the steer, or who use a slow turning method to slowly move the steer across the line.
• Announcers are not eligible to compete in any Rodeo Event.
• RULE 1.12 – Ambulance is not required to be on site – however, there are requirements for Medics, or Paramedics – (BLS / ALS) so make sure to review this rule. Medic Meeting Requirements are found as follow: Arena Director – XVII. 1. D & E Chute Coordinator – XVIII 1.F
• IGRA contestants are of an amateur ability and bucking stock provided must never exceed the level used in a high school rodeo.
• Calf Roping on Foot, a 10 second penalty will be assessed to a contestant for snaring, or laying the loop on, over, or in front of the calf in an attempt to have calf run into the loop, rather than skillfully throwing the loop to rope the calf.
• If any of the speed events are run back-to-back, and arena size & conditions permit, the pattern must be moved so as to not have barrel #3 (in Barrel Racing) or the end pole (in Flag Race and/or Pole Bending) in the same place.
• Those who choose to fill out the Optional Voluntary Medical Form must sign across the seal of the envelope.
• Fines for inappropriate stock are $100 per intended use in all rough stock, camp, and roping events.

Registration will be held from 6 to 9 PM on Friday, April 20th. Registration will be held in the Dania Ballroom at the Hilton Hotel.

Contestants can Register Online through the IGRA web site. The online registration deadline is April 5, 2012. To register online you need your four digit IGRA number. If you don't remember your IGRA number you can visit the IGRA Contestant Lookup page to find your IGRA number. If you still need assistance in finding your IGRA number please contact the  

You can also download the Contestant Registration form from the IGRA website and mail it if you prefer. All mail in registrations must be postmarked by March 30, 2012. Late entries are subject to late fees - per IGRA rules.

FGRA Mailing Address:

FGRA
PO Box 13001
St. Petersburg, FL 33733-3001

FGRA will be accepting credit cards (Visa, and MasterCard), cash, certified checks, or money orders for registration fees that are still due at Friday night's registration. Personal checks will not be accepted.

New contestants - please read the New Contestant Information section below for some helpful getting started information.

Late Fees: FGRA will collect a late fee of $50.00 for entries that were not submitted online or postmarked by the IGRA registration deadlines. New contestants (those who have not been assigned an IGRA contestant number) will not be subject to late fees. Late fees will not be charged for speed events. FGRA's policy is to not refund late fees.

IGRA Contestants who register late, or who add events after preregistration will be subject to the $50.00 Late Fee. The Late Fee will apply to preregistrations that are not submitted online or postmarked by the IGRA registration deadlines.

• Online Registration ends on April 5, 2012
• Registration forms must be postmarked by March 30, 2012

Late entry or additional event fees apply only to contestants who have been assigned a four (4) digit IGRA contestant number more than 30 days before the registration date. Late fees apply to rough stock events and roping events. Late fees are not applied to speed events or camp events. New Contestants are not subject to the late fees as long as they have not had their IGRA contestant number assigned more than 30 days before registration.

FGRA's policy is to NOT refund late fees.

If you've never competed in gay rodeo before but have always wanted to, here's how to get started:

• If you plan on bringing a horse for competition please see the Horse Stall Information and Florida Equine Information below.
• All contestants must belong to an IGRA member association.  You can join FGRA to qualify.
• New contestants can register for their events at Friday night's registration - to be held from 6 to 9 PM at the Hilton Hotel. All contestants must be registered by close of registration at 9:00 PM to compete in the Rodeo. New contestants are not required to fill out the registration form until Friday night at registration.
• New contestants can contact Tommy Channel, the prior to their first rodeo to be set up to use the online registration system. You must complete this process a minimum of 30 days before your first rodeo.
• It is your responsibility to be familiar with the requirements listed in the IGRA Rodeo Rule Book.
• There is a minimum registration fee of $50.00 to compete in the rodeo.  Each event is $25.00 per event, per day. All entry fees paid during registration can be paid with credit card (Visa, and MasterCard), or with cash, certified check, or money order.  Personal checks will not be accepted. New contestants are exempt from all late registration fees.
• Events are divided into four categories - visit the IGRA web site for complete event descriptions:
  • Rough Stock Events
    • Bull Riding
    • Bareback Bronc Riding
    • Junior Bull Riding
    • Chute Dogging
  • Roping Events
    • Calf Roping on Foot
    • Mounted Break-away Roping
    • Team Roping
  • Speed Events
    • Barrel Racing
    • Pole Bending
    • Flag Racing
  • Camp Events
    • Steer Decorating
    • Wild Drag Race
    • Goat Dressing
• New contestants MUST attend the New Contestant Meeting.  Meeting time and location will be posted at Rodeo registration on Friday night.
  • If you miss the New Contestant Meeting you WILL be disqualified from competing, and all entry fees will be forfeited.
• All contestants are required to wear the following when competing:
  • Must wear a long sleeve shirt for all events
  • Must wear long pants for all events
  • Must wear a western hat for all events
  • Must wear boots that minimally cover the ankle and have a heel
  • Note:  This dress code does not apply to any camp events, but you must wear closed toed shoes
• Contestants must wear back plate number when competing.
• Contestants can not drink alcohol while competing or while wearing rodeo back plate number.

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Please remember - this is only a "getting started" list of information.  Be sure to read the IGRA Rodeo Rule Book for complete information.

If there are any discrepancies between this information and the IGRA Rodeo Rule Book the Rule Book takes precedence.

NEW CONTESTANTS - You are required to attend the mandatory New Contestant Meeting on Saturday morning at the Bergeron Rodeo Grounds. If you miss this meeting you will be disqualified from participating in any of your rodeo events. Per IGRA Rules there are no exceptions.

The Bergeron Rodeo Grounds of Davie, Florida are not equipped with permanent stall facilities. FGRA has arranged for portable stalls to be used during the Sunshine Stampede Rodeo Weekend and stall space is limited. Stalls will be assigned on a first come, first served basis. Tack stalls will only be assigned after all horses have been accommodated.

If you're bringing a horse to the Sunshine Stampede please send an email to Craig, our to let him know you're coming. He'll want to know how many horses you're planning to bring and the size of your horse trailer. Please see the RV and Horse Trailer Information below for 

Access to the horse stalls will be limited to contestants/badge holders only. Identification/badges will be required after 6:00 p.m. each day.

If you're bringing horses from out of state, or from the western panhandle of Florida don't forget to review the Florida Equine Information below for important information about bringing horses into the State of Florida - and where you'll find the agricultural inspection stations.

Horse Stall Check In and Check Out:

Thursday April 19, 2012 - Early stall check in: 12:00 Noon-ish
Friday April 20, 2012 - Regular stall check in: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Monday April 23, 2012 – All stalls must be vacated by 10:00 AM

NOTE: Stalls are limited and are for Contestants only. If you're not competing in the Sunshine Stampede we will not be able to accommodate a request to rent a stall.

Important Information About Bringing Horses Into Florida

The State of Florida maintains Agricultural Inspection Stations on Interstate 10 west of Tallahassee, and on Interstates 75 and 95 near the Georgia border.  All horse trailers are required to stop for inspection.

If you are bringing horses across the Florida panhandle you will be required to stop at the Interstate 10 Inspection Station - this includes Floridians who live west of the Inspection Station.

The State of Florida maintains an online Importation of Animals document covering health requirements for bringing animals into Florida.

• Please see Rule 5C-3.002* for general requirements and limitations
• Please see Rule 5C-3.003* for horses (equidae)
• Please see Rule 5C-3.009* for dogs

*These rules can be downloaded individually as Word documents.

NOTE: Per IGRA rules (RULE II - CONTESTANT REQUIREMENTS, Paragraph 3) - horse owners are responsible for knowing the requirements for bringing horses into another state.

The State of Florida online Importation of Animals document is the official source of information; however these are the basic requirements for bringing horses in from out of state:

• Negative Coggins - dated within the last year.
• Health Certificate - dated within the last 30 days.
• Horses traveling from states affected by Vesicular Stomatitis must have a statement on their Health Certificates stating that the horses did not originate from an area affected by Vesicular Stomatitis.  See the Vesicular Stomatitis section (Section 5, Subsection A) under Rule 5C-3.002 for the statement requirements. Veterinarians in the affected states should know to do this already, but be sure to follow up.
• The Equine Event Extension form is only required for Florida horses that are traveling in and out of the State of Florida on a regular basis.

Also note that if you are bringing dogs with you and they are seen by the inspectors they will also be subject to inspection.  Please see Rule 5C-3.009 of the online Importation of Animals document for the requirements covering dogs.

If you have additional questions you can send an email to and we'll get you an answer.

RV's, Campers and Horse Trailers at the Bergeron Rodeo Grounds

The Bergeron Rodeo Grounds are located in a residential area. As a courtesy to our neighbors in the Davie area, no social activities other than the rodeo are scheduled for this location. All local ordinances regarding noise shall be in effect during the rodeo weekend.  Vehicles with generators will not be able to park near the homes behind the arena.

In an effort to provide the best possible security and to respect our neighbors, Camping will be restricted to contestants and officials only.

Contestants

Space for RV’s, campers and horse trailers will be available for all contestants.  RV and trailer parking is free for all contestants.  Vehicles will be able to park within the fenced perimeter of the Rodeo Grounds.  Once the fenced area is full additional RV and trailer parking will also be available directly adjacent to the Rodeo Grounds, but will not be inside the perimeter fence.

The camper/trailer parking area will remain secure at all times.  Only contestants or staff with FGRA issued badges will be permitted access to this area. Identification will be required to access this area after 6:00 p.m. every day.

The Bergeron Rodeo Grounds were not designed with overnight camping facilities in mind.  Hook ups for water tank refills are available, but not at all parking locations.  Electric hook-ups are not available.

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Please see our Horse Stalls information above for questions about reserving horse stalls.