TOWN OF TIOGA, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) – A gay rodeo is returning to Tioga County tomorrow less than a year after its host farm was raided in what the owner calls an unjust animal seizure.
Adam Romanik is owner of Rainbow Rodeo Productions and the president of Keystone State Gay Rodeo Association.
On Saturday, his 71-acre farm on Glen Mary Drive in the Town of Tioga will stage the 8th annual gay rodeo, second at this site.
It will feature some traditional rodeo events like barrel racing, steer riding and chute dogging. But being a gay rodeo, it also features some unconventional competitions such as steer decorating, goat dressing, where contestants run a relay race while putting underwear on a goat and the wild drag race featuring a cowboy, a cowgirl and a drag queen.
Romanik says his event is much more diverse and welcoming than mainstream rodeos.
“Our rodeo events are some traditional and some very non-traditional as a way of being fun, competitive environment. You don’t have to know how to ride to compete and everyone’s welcome,” said Romanik.
Romanik says last year’s event was very successful with more than 300 spectators.
But he says that’s when the trouble with his neighbors began.
Romanik, who has raised livestock his whole life, says Tioga County Sheriff’s deputies began visiting his farm in November to investigate complaints of animal abuse and neglect. Romanik had purchased the property in April of last year and then bought nearly 70 head of longhorn and corriente cattle from a farmer in Arkansas based on photos.
Romanik says when the animals arrived, they were mostly bony and underweight. He says he and his partner devoted themselves to feeding and nursing the animals back to health.
But in January, the Sheriff’s Office visits culminated in a raid by deputies and members of the New York City ASPCA.
The animal welfare agency released a statement at the time saying they found more than 100 animals, cows, calves, horses and goats, living in poor conditions with limited access to food, water, or medical care. The ASPCA said some were underweight and living amongst filth, and at least one calf required urgent care.
All of the animals were seized and Romanik and his partner Patrick Champaign were charged with a variety of animal abuse and neglect charges.
Romanik says he felt trapped into accepting a plea deal stipulating that he no longer raise livestock. However, he later renounced that decision, appealed and a Tioga County Judge threw out the conviction on the grounds that the prohibition on owning animals was illegal.
The case is now back in court and Romanik plans to take it to trial.
He insists that the animals were well cared for. He accuses the ASPCA of fabricating signs of abuse in order to garner headlines that benefit their fundraising efforts.
Romanik, who is gay, says he’s the victim of his neighbors’ prejudice.
“This all started right after the rodeo. A number of things have happened since then, a number of things have continued to happen. The neighbors seem to want to put us out of business because we hold a gay rodeo,” said Romanik.
Romanik recently purchased 22 healthy cattle and 2 horses to use in tomorrow’s gay rodeo.
Tioga County Sheriff Gary Howard tells News 34 that Romanik’s sexual orientation had no bearing on the animal abuse investigation.
Howard says animals were dying in the field and Romanik had been given multiple chances to improve the conditions.
The ASPCA declined to talk with News 34, saying it’s too busy rescuing animals impacted by Hurricane Helene.
The gay rodeo starts at 11 a.m. on Saturday and runs to about 4.
Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34.
Local News
