Cowboys, Cowgirls Up for Gay Rodeo

Hot Rodeo 2011 is set to kick off Saturday morning in Banning.

On Friday, participants and organizers were getting ready at A.C. Dysart Equestrian Center for two days of competition sanctioned by the International Gay Rodeo Association.

"It's been a very busy day, hectic, getting everything set up, but it looks like everything's come together and everybody's pretty happy with the place," rodeo director Ken Smith, 50, of Palm Springs, said Friday afternoon. "It's going to be a great weekend."

About 60 competitors and support staff had arrived, including rodeo people from Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, Colorado and Idaho, Smith said.

"We've been getting it all set up, everything you see," Smith said. "Vendor tents, signage for advertisers and sponsors, getting the arena and water set up, the horses set up and taken care of."

Rodeo organizers also coordinated with emergency medical technicians and had an inspection with Cal Fire-Banning representatives, Smith said.

Sue Downing, 55, of Cypress, the rodeo stall manager, helped make sure Hot Rodeo 2011 participants had places to park their horse trailers and stall space for their animals.

"We've got broncs, bulls, steers, calves, plenty of animals for rodeo," Downing said.

"Today was a typical day before a rodeo, getting everything ready. Banners up, getting animals in, contestants ready," Downing said. "It's like the day before a big performance you know, the road crew comes in and sets everything up and the stars come in afterwards."

Smith advised spectators to arrive in time for a 9:30 a.m. start. The start time was pushed back "so people don't have to get up too early on a Saturday," Smith said.

Two days of rodeo include calf roping, team roping, steer decoration, chute dogging, barrel racing and bullriding, organizers said.

Events specific to gay rodeo, including goat dressing and wild drag races, are part of the mix Saturday and Sunday at the equestrian center, 2101 W. Victory Ave. in Banning, organizers said.

Gay rodeo events are set up for amateurs and first-timers to participate, and all events are open to men and women competitors, organizers said. Anyone is welcome to compete.

"Goat dressing is the most popular event," marketing coordinator Kirk Harris said. "We welcome first-timers, and because so many people enter this event, the cash prize is bigger and all the top cowboys enter it too."

Registration for competitors was scheduled Friday night at the Holiday Inn Resort, 1800 East Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs.

Tickets at the gate are $20 per day, and $10 for the country-western dance Saturday night at DiGS in Cathedral City.

More information on tickets, the four-day schedule and rodeo events in Banning are available at the Greater Palm Springs Chapter web site.

Profits from the event contribute to the City of Banning's Youth Scholarship Program, Greater Palm Springs Chapter president Jimmy Golden said.

"This is the third or fourth year they've had the event in Banning, and they've been very generous with scholarship donations," said Heidi Meraz, Banning Community Services director. "Their contributions have been in the neighborhood of $2,000 to $2,500 each year, in addition to facility rental fees and water usage fees."