Today is National Black Cowboy Day.

Black cowboys have played a huge part in the western way of life. One of the earliest and most famous of all cowboys was Bill Pickett. Born in Texas in 1870 to former slaves, Bill Pickett is credited with originating the rodeo sport of bulldogging, also known as steer wrestling. He watching working dogs grab cattle by the nose to subdue them and even bring them to the ground. He performed this trick all over the world with the Miller Brothers Wild Ranch Show. Mr. Pickett died in 1932. In 1972, forty years after his death, Mr. Pickett became the first black honoree inducted into the National Rodeo Hall of Fame.  The Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo is held annually to celebrate the heritage and history of the African American Cowboy and Cowgirl and their contributions to the sport of rodeo and beyond. 

There have been many Nationally titled black cowboys and cowgirls in the PRCA and WPRA.  Most have come from Texas, including calf ropes Fred Whitfield and Cory Solomon. Whitfield is from Cypress, Texas and Solomon grew up in Prairie View. Locally, we have our very own Ben “Legs” Stevenson, who was one of only a handful to every successfully ride Bodacious a full 8 seconds. He did so in Denver, scoring 93 points back in 1993.

Happy National Black Cowboy Day from Arcola Feed!