The Greater San Diego Chapter of the Golden State Gay Rodeo Association announced the return of the Gay Rodeo to San Diego, after it was cancelled last year due to lack of funding. The 18th annual San Diego Rodeo will take place April 28-30 at the Lakeside Rodeo Grounds and the Four Points by the Sheraton.

The event, sanctioned by the International Gay Rodeo Association, will be one of 19 gay rodeos scheduled for 2006 throughout the U.S. and Canada. San Diego has a long tradition of producing some of the most well-attended rodeos on the IGRA circuit.

After a year of rebuilding, the Greater San Diego Chapter poised to come back stronger than ever in 2006, organizers said.

“We faced a number of challenges in 2005 which forced us to take a hard look at our event and its ongoing success,” said Steve Wollert, vice president of rodeo operations. “With a new rodeo venue, a new host hotel and the continued support of some excellent sponsors, we are headed in a new direction which will continue our success for years to come. We’re taking our rodeo back to the country, and have an amazing weekend planned.”

The primary objective of the all-volunteer Greater San Diego Chapter, a federally recognized 501c3 nonprofit organization, is to promote in a positive way the Country Western lifestyle within the GLBT community, to support amateur sportsmanship through participation, competition and recognition, and to give back to the community through charitable contributions.

Since 1988, the GSDC has donated over $162,000 to local San Diego charities.

“I’m excited about the plans that are shaping up for the San Diego Rodeo 2006. We have a core group of dedicated members who are working hard to make this the best event in our long history,” said Wollert. “And we are always looking for other individuals and groups interested in getting involved. We work hard and have a lot of fun.”

For more information, visit the Greater San Diego Chapter Web site at www.sandiegorodeo.com.