Founding member Barbara Cook has been active in the the Colorado Gay Rodeo Association for 20 years. Barb brought to CGRA a wealth of rodeo background garnered through her years of competent work on the rodeo circuit of the Pro Rodeo Cowboy Association. In the early years of gay rodeo, Barb was a key to the education of timers and scorekeepers for our rodeos, and she has seldom missed working CGRA gymkhanas, buckouts, or rodeos.
Barb's love of CGRA, its history and its members, places her always in the lead to preserve, record, and store our memories. She worked hard and effectively to create the Ron Jesser and Daniel Bahr awards in honor of their dedication to the education and growth of our rough stock riders and our participants in horse events.
Barb's partcipation in the gay community ranges far beyond the walls of the rodeo arena, and she has actively supported many AIDS and other charity evenfs throughout Colorado. Never to miss a beat, Barb has always been there to bring people together for the good of all in the name of the sport of rodeo and in the spirit of the community.
The Colorado Gay Rodeo Association takes great pride in naming Barb Cook as Grand Marshal of Rocky Mountain Regional Rodeo 19 and is pleased to honor her for her continuing dedication to Colorado and CGRA.
Ron Jesser Award is given to an individual who, although they did not place in their event for roughstock, demonstrated exceptional participation and support of others and their efforts throughout rodeo weekend. It is named in honor of founding member Ron Jesser, who participated in many steer and bull riding events himself. Ron was a firm believer in rodeo safety. He encouraged as well as taught safety to new and experienced roughstock riders.
Daniel Bahr Award is also given to an individual who, although they did not place in their event for horsemanship, demonstrated exceptional participation and support for others during rodeo weekend. It is named in honor of CGRA member Danny Bahr, who spent much of his time traveling the IGRA circuit in hopes of placing in his horsemanship events, but was never able to. This award is dedicated to his memory and spirit.
Chuck Webb Award is given to any volunteer, arena crew, or chute crew member who has demonstrated exceptional participation as a volunteer for the Rocky Mountain Regional Rodeo. It is named in honor of CGRA member Chuck Webb who spent many years with chute crews and arena crews setting up patterns and preparing for events at Rocky Mountain Regional Rodeo. His tireless dedication and spirit are memorialized in this award.
