By Milton Kirby | Denver, CO | November 25, 2025

The Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo ended its 41st season the same way it started—with packed crowds, big moments, and a whole lot of love for the culture that keeps this tradition alive.

BPIR President and CEO Valeria Howard-Cunningham expressed deep gratitude, highlighting how the event celebrates the history, family bonds, and the resilience of Black cowboys and cowgirls who keep this culture alive.

The 2025 tour stretched from Denver to Memphis, moved west through Oakland and Los Angeles, circled back to Atlanta, and touched down four times in historic Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth. The year closed in the DC/Upper Marlboro area, where the National Championship Finals brought out longtime supporters and new fans who wanted to witness the sport’s brightest stars.

A New Era in Country Music

A cultural shift is happening inside BPIR. The Soul Country Music Star partnership is giving Black country artists a stage they have long been denied. The Soul Country Rodeo Weekend brought immense talent and explosive energy, and the season ended in Burbank with the first-ever Soul Country Music Star Festival. When the dust settled, Atlanta’s Nathaniel Dansby walked away with the 2025 title.

Rodeo Meets Runway

Houston also saw something new when BPIR teamed up with SP5DER for the Sweet Tooth Rodeo. It was a mix of bucking bulls and bold fashion, and the arena looked more like a runway than a dirt floor. Fans are still talking about it.

The Champions Who Left Nothing Behind

The athletes are the heartbeat of BPIR. Riders young and old brought fire to every arena this season. Championship titles went to:

Lamarr Hankins in Ranch Bronc.

Haley Mason in Ladies Breakaway.

Harrel Williams Jr in Junior Breakaway.

Tony Aska in Bull Dogging.

Devon Johnson and Montrel Gilder in Team Roping.

Travoris Zeno in Bull Riding.

And a rising generation—Kinley Adair, Rylen Wilburd, Paris Wilburd—claimed their own victories.

Montrel Gilder earned All Around Cowboy. Paris Wilburd took All Around Cowgirl. The future looks strong.

Looking ahead

BPIR’s 42nd season is already shaping up with rodeos scheduled across the country, including dates in Fort Worth, Memphis, Atlanta, and Upper Marlboro, to keep the momentum going into 2026.BPIR’s 42nd season is already taking shape, and the movement rolls on with rodeos planned nationwide:

February 14     Fort Worth, TX (1:30 PM & 7:30 PM)

April 10           Memphis, TN (10:00 AM Rodeo for Kidz Sake)

April 11           Memphis, TN (1:30 PM & 7:30 PM)

April 17           Atlanta/Conyers, GA (Rodeo for Kidz Sake, Time TBD)

April 18           Atlanta/Conyers, GA (12:00 Noon & 7:30 PM)

May 16            Fort Worth, TX (1:30 PM & 7:30 PM)

June 20            Fort Worth, TX (1:30 PM & 7:30 PM)

July 11             Oakland, CA (2:30 PM)

July 12             Oakland, CA (2:30 PM)

July 18             Los Angeles, CA (7:00 PM)

July 19             Los Angeles, CA (3:30 PM)

August 1         Conyers, GA (7:30 PM)

August 2         Conyers, GA (3:30 PM)

August 15       Fort Worth, TX (1:30 PM & 7:30 PM)

September 18  Upper Marlboro, MD (10:00 AM & 7:30 PM)

September 19  Upper Marlboro, MD (1:30 PM & 7:30 PM)

October 17      Fort Worth, TX (1:30 PM & 7:30 PM)

Howard-Cunningham closed the season with a message of love and appreciation, emphasizing BPIR’s role in building unity and shared purpose, inspiring ongoing support for the movement into 2026.

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