The 2011 Sunshine Stampede Presented By Coors Light

• All times and locations subject to change
• Events subject to change

April 2, 2011 - Saturday

• Rodeo Week Kickoff Party - Scandals Saloon

April 7, 2011 – Thursday

• Horse Stalls Open for Early Check In
  NOTE: Stall Space Limited - Horse stall details will be posted in late 2010.
  Bergeron Rodeo Grounds.
  1:00 PM - 5:00 PM

April 8, 2011 – Friday

• Horse Stalls Reopen for Regular Check In
  NOTE: Stall Space Limited - Horse stall details will be posted in late 2010
  Bergeron Rodeo Grounds
  8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
  Stalls available for check in. We ask that you arrive by 5:30 PM to complete check in by 6:00 PM
   
• Vendor Set-Up
  Bergeron Rodeo Grounds
  10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
  2011 Vendor Application
  
  
• Rodeo School
  Bergeron Rodeo Grounds
  8:30 AM - Noon
  Rodeo School Information will be posted in late 2010
  
  
• World Finals Committee Meeting
  Hilton Hotel
  10:00 AM - Location TBA
  
  
• Lunch for IGRA Board of Directors
  Hilton Hotel
  12:00 Noon - Location TBA
  
  
• IGRA Board Meeting
        with Trustees Meeting to follow
  Hilton Hotel
  1:00 PM - Location TBA
  
  
• Blue Moon Welcome Pool Party and Mixer
  Presented by Blue Moon Belgian White Ale
  Non Ticketed Event – Cash Bar
  Hilton Pool Deck
  2:00 PM – 6:30 PM
  After you check in, relax by the pool, have a Blue Moon Belgian White Ale, enjoy the music and meet the cowboys and cowgirls coming in from all over North America.
  
  
• Contestant Registration
  Dania Ballroom, Hilton Hotel
  6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
  Credit cards will be accepted at Contestant Registration. We accept Visa and MasterCard and American Express.
  
  
• Rodeo Kickoff Party at Scandals Saloon
  Non Ticketed Event
  8:00 PM - ???
  8:00 PM - Shuttles Start -- Donations accepted, but no ticket required
  8:00 PM - VIP Dance and Bar Area Opens - Passes Required for Access to VIP Area‡
  2:00 AM - Last Shuttle to Hotels
  Hop the shuttles and join the cowboys and cowgirls at Scandals Saloon for the official Rodeo kick-off party in downtown Wilton Manors. The shuttles will be traveling between the hotel, Scandals Saloon, and Rosies and will be free this year. Donations will be accepted to help defray the cost - remember - "It's all for charity."
  
  
• Cowgirls Mixer
  New Moon Bar - Wilton Manors

April 9, 2011 – Saturday

• Contestant Breakfast
  Bergeron Arena - Free for contestants and officials - CREDENTIALS REQUIRED
  7:30 AM
  
  
• First Time (New) Contestant Meeting
  Bergeron Rodeo Grounds – Premium Seating Section, near the Contestant area and Announcer's stand
  8:30 AM
  Mandatory meeting for all first time Rodeo Contestants*
  *Meeting time subject to rodeo start time change
  
  
• Stampede Officials Meeting
  Bergeron Rodeo Grounds - Concession area
  8:15 AM
  
  
• 2011 Sunshine Stampede Rodeo, Day One - Presented By Coors Light
  Tickets Required for this event
  7:30 AM - Rodeo Shuttles Start -- Donations accepted, but no ticket required
  Bergeron Rodeo Grounds
  8:45 AM – Gates Open
  9:00 AM - Rodeo Starts – Morning Events
  12:30-ish - Grand Entry
  1:00 PM – Rodeo – Afternoon Events
  1:00 PM - Midway Tent Opens for Dancing and Entertainment
  
  
• Officials Dinner - TBA. Invitation Only
  
  
• Hoedown at Scandals Saloon
  Non Ticketed Event
  8:00 PM - ???
  8:00 PM - Shuttles Start -- Donations accepted, but no ticket required
  8:00 PM - VIP Dance and Bar Area Opens - Passes Required for Access to VIP Area‡
  2:00 AM - Last Shuttle to Hotels
  Hop the shuttles and join the cowboys and cowgirls at Scandals Saloon for the official Rodeo kick-off party in downtown Wilton Manors. The shuttles will be traveling between the hotel, Scandals Saloon, and Rosies and will be free this year. Donations will be accepted to help defray the cost - remember - "It's all for charity."

April 10, 2011 - Sunday

• Contestant Breakfast
  Bergeron Arena - Free for contestants and officials - CREDENTIALS REQUIRED
  7:30 AM
  
  
• 2011 Sunshine Stampede Rodeo, Day Two - Presented by Coors Light
  Tickets Required for this event
  8:00 AM - Rodeo Shuttles Start -- Donations accepted, but no ticket required
  Bergeron Rodeo Grounds
  9:45 AM – Gates Open
  10:00 AM - Rodeo Starts – Morning Events
  Noonish - Grand Entry
  12:45 PM – Rodeo – Afternoon Events
  1:00 PM - Midway Tent Opens for Dancing and Entertainment
  
  
• Awards Ceremony and Dinner- Presented by Sunny.org
  Awards ceremony itself is a non ticket event
  8:00 PM^† - Hilton Poolside - Awards Ceremony
  7:30 PM^† - Dinner Buffet begins - Dinner requires a ticket $10.00.
  Dinner tickets will be available at the Bergeron Arena ticket office and Friday night at Registration.
  
  ^†Awards ceremony start time and location is subject to change. Start time is based on actual end time of the rodeo. Listen for announcements on Sunday afternoon at the rodeo. Location is subject to change depending on weather conditions.
  
  
• Closing Party at Scandals Saloon
  Non Ticketed Event
  8:00 PM - ???
  8:00 PM - Shuttles Start -- Donations accepted, but no ticket required
  8:00 PM - VIP Dance and Bar Area Opens - Passes Required for Access to VIP Area‡
  2:00 AM - Last Shuttle to Hotels
  Hop the shuttles and join the cowboys and cowgirls at Scandals Saloon for the official Rodeo kick-off party in downtown Wilton Manors. The shuttles will be traveling between the hotel, Scandals Saloon, and Rosies and will be free this year. Donations will be accepted to help defray the cost - remember - "It's all for charity."

*Start times subject to change

FGRA welcomes vendors and organizations of all kinds to participate in the vendor fair at the Sunshine Stampede rodeo, held at the Bergeron Rodeo Grounds on April 8-10, 2011.

Download the 2011 Vendor Application.

The Bergeron Rodeo Grounds offers a prime vendor location. The central walking path from the main gate to the arena passes through the vendor area, offering all vendors easy access to the event guests. Vendor locations are set up on a well groomed, grass-covered lawn that is to either side of the central walking path. Also mixed in with the vendor area is the daytime entertainment tent. During our prior rodeos, event guests piled up five deep around the tent to watch the entertainment.

FGRA offers two sizes of vending spaces – single spaces (10x10) and double spaces (10x20). Vendors may bring their own canopies, tables, and chairs. Tables and chairs may be rented through FGRA. Canopies are not available for rent. Additionally, a limited amount of electricity is available for rent.

Rates for vendor spaces, tables, chairs, and electricity are detailed below.

Regular Booth Rates¹

• Single: $299.00
• Double: $399.00
• Not-for-Profit² - Single: $75.00
• 1 Table and 2 Chairs: $12.00
• Electric Hookup³: $15.00

1. Fees do not include table skirting or tents.
2. Not-for-profit rates are restricted to 501(c)(3) organizations. Proof of 501(c)(3) status is required.
3. Electric hookups are limited.

FGRA accepts Visa, MasterCard, and American Express for vendor payments.

FGRA is conscious of equal opportunity vending; therefore we reserve the right to limit the number of like vendors. Vendors are encouraged to submit their application promptly to receive priority placement. Placement is determined by date of accepted application, which requires a fully completed application, full payment, and a review of items for sale or organization focus.

Food/Beverage Vendor Note: The Bergeron Arena has an exclusive food and beverage contract with its own vendor. FGRA is unable to accept food and/or beverage vendors.

Download the 2011 Vendor Application.

We Support Animal Welfare*

The International Gay Rodeo Association (IGRA) imposes specified rules, which are strictly enforced, and penalizes any contestant found to be guilty of inhumane treatment of animals, the least of which is their immediate disqualification from further competition.

Gay rodeos operate under greatly modified rules of straight rodeo while still preserving this American tradition. Although consisting of traditional rodeo events such as bull riding and bronc riding, gay rodeo activities purposefully have been tailored to provide the animal and human participants with the safest environment possible, while still demonstrating the skill of the contestant.

IGRA bylaws are public record and include numerous rules which strongly protect animals from abuse, including passages that prohibit the use of lame, sore, sick, or undersized stock; mandate the availability of veterinary care; prohibit the beating or cruel prodding of animals; direct the release of any animal from competition that appears in danger of injuring itself; and forbid the use of metal or fiberglass rigging, any equipment judged to be too tight, or the concealed use of caustic ointments or burrs.

There are, however, groups who do not agree with the utilization of animals in any capacity. These animal rights groups oppose the keeping of animals as pets, the presence of animals in zoos and circuses, and the use of animals in the development of life-saving drugs.

Members of these groups should be able to voice their views and disseminate any information they feel is pertinent to their beliefs - that is, so much that it is factual, well-researched, and based upon first-hand observation, as most of the exaggerated accusations of abuse made by animal rights groups toward gay rodeo are based on erroneous information drawn mainly from straight, backwoods rodeos.

Animal rights supporters take the position that animals are equal or superior to humans based upon their inability to make choices for themselves, and that any use by humans is unjust. Further, these groups infringe upon the differences of the lesbian and gay community by attempting to persuade others to conform to their beliefs, giving the impression that the gay rodeo community is anti-animal. This is patently false, as the sponsoring organizations of the celebrations wish to demonstrate a positive force in the community while proving the diversity of the community.

Patrons of gay rodeo support animal welfare, and the humane, responsible treatment of animals in their housing, feeding and exercising, and hygienic and medical needs. These men and women further believe that the raising of animals in a humane manner to be pets or recreational companions is rewarding for both the animals and humans involved.

*This Animal Welfare Statement used with the permission of IGRA.

It's Rodeo Week and we're all down in Ft. Lauderdale getting ready for the weekend's activities. If you send an email this week you probably won't receive a reply until after Rodeo Weekend. If you have any questions we'll see you at the Bergeron Arena in Davie or the Hilton Hotel.

Sunshine Stampede Rodeo Round Table
Jim Mitchell:
Voni Whitaker:	Asst. Rodeo Director - Midway/Front of House
Rob Haskins:	Asst. Rodeo Director - Admin & Staff
Mike Fontenot:	Asst. Rodeo Director - Arena
Randy Reardon:
Steve Shadoan:	Ticketing Manager
Mike Fontenot & Gaither Pennington:	Registration Coordinators
Keith Huber:	Interested in sponsoring a buckle? Contact Keith!
Mark Robinson:	VIP Services
Dale Zentner:	Vendor Coordinator
Bobby Fender:
Mike Earley & Tom Runyan:	Security Director
Todd Eller:	Special Projects
Buddy Frey:
Mark DeForest:
Jim Soefje:	Grand Entry Coordinator
Lloyd Street:	Office Manager

 

Mailing Address:

FGRA
P.O. Box 13001
St. Petersburg, FL 33733-3001