Roping is on full display at the Bill Pickett Rodeo. (BPIR 2024)
Honoring one of the most important cowboys in U.S. history, the Bill Pickett Rodeo mixes education with entertainment.
Did you know that one out of every four cowboys in the Old West was black? Yet, if you watch any of the classic Western films—or even many of the non-classics—filled with memorable characters and impressive horseback riding and steer roping, you won’t see many Black cowboys represented.
Black History Month is an opportunity to learn about important contributions Black people have made to the world, and Black cowboys certainly made an impact on the development of the country.
The Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo, the longest-running Black Rodeo in the United States, is headed to the Fort Worth Stockyards for eight events throughout the year. While cowboys like Will Rogers and Buffalo Bill are well-known, Bill Pickett’s list of accomplishments is just as impressive.
Here’s a dive into the cowboy and how he inspired the Bill Pickett Black Rodeo.
Cowboys enjoying the calm before heading out to perform in front of the crowd. (BPIR 2024)
History of the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo
The Bill Pickett Rodeo has a simple mission: to celebrate and honor Black cowboys and cowgirls and their contributions to building the West. Today, the rodeo is a cultural event and gives families a chance to learn more about cowboy culture through reenactments, history highlights, and some good old-fashioned Western adventure.
Lu Vason founded the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo in 1984. A few years earlier, he had attended the Cheyenne Frontier Days in Wyoming and noticed a lack of Black cowboys and cowgirls at the event. He set out to change that with an inspired Bill Pickett Black Rodeo.
Originally from California before moving to Denver, Vason was well-connected with celebrities and a marketing guru. He helped launch the Pointer Sisters and other musical acts. He recruited Glynn Turman and Danny Glover for the debut Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo, with the celebrities riding in on horseback to greet the guests. That inaugural event was held in Denver, though word of the Bill Pickett Black Rodeo got out quickly, and the acts began to tour around the country, including taking trips to Texas.
Vason died in 2015, but other supporters of the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo have carried on his legacy and kept the event going strong. Valeria Howard-Cunningham serves as the current President and Producer.
This year’s rodeo includes a handful of events, including the bulldogging that made Bill Pickett famous. You’ll also see bareback bronc and bull riding, tie-down roping, breakaway and team roping, steer undecorating, and barrel racing. The saying goes that you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. Here, you can lead a horse to the rodeo, and it’s going to put on a wildly entertaining show.
The rodeo has also become a great way to give back to underserved communities through the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo Foundation. Aspiring Bill Pickett Black Rodeo riders can receive travel assistance to participate in events, earn regional scholarships and local grants, join health and wellness activities, and contribute to other community programs.
This statue outside the Fort Worth Stockyards highlights Bill Pickett’s classic “bulldogging” technique. (TexasEagle/CC BY-NC 2.0)
Who was Bill Pickett?
Bill Pickett was born on December 5, 1870, in Jenks Branch, Texas, which is between modern-day Leander and Liberty Hill. He was the second of 13 children born to former enslaved man Thomas Jefferson Pickett and Mary “Janie” Gilbert. Pickett dropped out of school in the fifth grade to become a ranch hand, working with horses and Texas Longhorns (the animals, not the football team).
Pickett invented the bulldogging technique, a method of leaping from a horse onto a steer’s shoulders, grabbing their horns, and wrestling them to the ground. After Pickett shared his bulldogging method with local cowboys, he quickly earned a reputation at local fairs, performing tricks and stunts for attendees. Pickett and his four brothers formed The Pickett Brothers Bronco Busters and Rough Riders Association, touring Texas, Arizona, Oklahoma, and Wyoming with their act.
Pickett’s legend continued to grow; he was once called “the greatest sweat and dirt cowboy that ever lived.” He joined the 101 Ranch Wild West Show in 1905, performing alongside Buffalo Bill, Will Rogers, Lucille Mulhall, and more. He made appearances in early movies and donned the name “The Dusky Demon” as he dazzled audiences across the country.
In many cases, Pickett had to claim he was Comanche to be able to perform since segregation was still prevalent across the United States. His bulldogging technique paved the way for modern-day steer wrestling, and in 1991, he became the first African American cowboy inducted into the National Cowboy Hall of Fame. The Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo continues to honor his memory and highlight other Black cowboys and cowgirls.
Interested in attending the Bill Pickett Rodeo?
The Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo tours a handful of locations, but the Texas Connection Series in Fort Worth is the main event, with eight Saturday shows throughout the year. Here’s everything you need to know for 2025:
- Show dates:
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- February 15, 2025: 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
- May 17, 2025: 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
- June 14, 2025: 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
- August 16, 2025: 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
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- Location: Cowtown Coliseum at the Fort Worth Stockyards—121 E Exchange Ave, Fort Worth, TX 76164
- How to get tickets: Visit the Cowtown Coliseum or PBR websites to purchase tickets or jump directly to the matinee or main show ticket pages. Tickets start at $15 for general seating, with food and drinks available for purchase. Platinum tickets range from $100 for VIP entrance, private bartender, and exclusive restrooms, or $175 for the same perks plus popcorn, open bar, and in-arena photo.
Few events in Forth Worth mix entertainment and education quite as well as the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo. Get a taste of last year’s event, and saddle up for a bulldogging, rope-swinging good time.
The Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo is fun for the whole family, with riders engaging with the welcoming crowds. (BPIR 2024)
This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
