The Crossroads of the West Regional Rodeo, presented by the Utah Gay Rodeo Association, returned to Ogden during Pride Month. The event took place from June 26-28 at the Golden Spike Arena located at the Weber County Fairgrounds.
The rodeo featured various competitions where gender did not dictate specific events. Men participated in barrel racing while women rode ranch broncs and bulls. UGRA President Steve Housley stated that participants do it side by side in the gay rodeo.
Popular events included Goat Dressing and Wild Drag, which offered opportunities for both gay and straight individuals to participate. The event was also family-friendly, featuring age-appropriate activities like Mutton Busting. Housley noted that people do not need to own a horse or boots to compete, as the goal is to welcome everyone into the community.
A new Rodeo School was established this year, led by rodeo director Kirk Critchlow-Speth. The school offered sessions for all skill levels aged 21 and older starting Friday, June 26.
The event also included a wedding on Saturday night under the rodeo lights. Steve Housley and his fiance were scheduled to marry at the location where they were engaged during the previous year's Goat Dressing event.
The first gay rodeo was held in 1976 in Reno, Nevada. The International Gay Rodeo Association (IGRA) is a 501(c)(3) that raises and donates funds to local LGBTQ+ communities.
The UGRA, which is part of the IGRA, began in 1979 and held its first rodeo at the Golden Spike in June 2000. Following a dissolution in 2006, the organization reformed in 2016 and brought the rodeo back in 2023 after a 19-year absence.
