BPIR Fort Worth, TX Bronc Rider
BPIR Bull Rider Texas Connection Series Fort Worth, TX
Valeria Howard Cunningham President & CEO of the BPIR
Soul Country Music Star 2026 Atlanta Regional Winner Jacqueline Merrill
Texas Connection Buckle Series Championship continues as Atlanta celebrated top Legacy Series competitors and Soul Country Music Star™ Atlanta Regional Winner
ATLANTA, GA, UNITED STATES, August 11, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — On Saturday, August 15, the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo (BPIR) makes its return to the legendary Cowtown Coliseum for the fourth leg of the 2026 Texas Connection Series. Audiences can catch two high-energy shows at 1:30 PM and 7:30 PM.
Those in Fort Worth will get to soak in the thrill, heritage, and atmosphere of the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo, where skilled Black cowboys and cowgirls go head-to-head in classic rodeo disciplines like Ranch Bronc Riding, Steer Wrestling, Tie-Down Roping, Team Roping, Ladies Steer Undecorating, Breakaway Roping, Barrel Racing, and Bull Riding. The event also includes youth competitions such as Junior Breakaway Roping, Junior Barrel Racing, and Pee Wee Barrel Racing, underscoring BPIR’s dedication to cultivating the next wave of rodeo talent.
The Fort Worth rodeo follows a thrilling wrap-up of the BPIR Legacy Series in Atlanta on August 1st & August 2nd, where packed audiences turned out to honor Black cowboy and cowgirl achievement, watch top-tier competition, and see the 2026 Legacy Series Buckle Champions take their titles.
BPIR LEGACY SERIES RODEO RESULTS
The August Atlanta Legacy Series events highlighted the ability, quickness, athletic prowess, and resolve of competitors from all over the nation. Over the two-day event, cowboys and cowgirls delivered remarkable performances in timed events, rough stock contests, barrel racing, roping, and the always-popular Relay Race.
The action was absolutely electrifying, with Jose Pedraza III of Bellwood, Illinois, taking first place in Ranch Bronc Riding by scoring 74.5. In Bull Riding, Travoris Zeno of Beaumont, Texas, secured the Round One win with an outstanding 78 points.
The roping events saw several impressive showings. Azja Bryant of Huntsville, Texas, claimed victory in Ladies Breakaway Roping with a 3.20-second run, while Trevor Whayne of Preston, Oklahoma, won Junior Breakaway Roping in 4.30 seconds. Harrel Williams Jr. of Prairie View, Texas, topped Junior Tie-Down Roping with a 10.60-second effort, and Richard Coleman of Wharton, Texas, finished first in Open Tie-Down Roping with a time of 7.91 seconds. In Team Roping, the duo of Devon C. Johnson and Camish Jennings posted the fastest time at 6.31 seconds.
Steer Wrestling had different winners for each round. Reginald McCullough of Houston, Texas, took Round One in 6.11 seconds, while Davenger Griffin of Natchez, Mississippi, claimed Round Two with a 6.44-second run. Paris Wilburd of Cabot, Arkansas, delivered one of the weekend’s swiftest times by winning Ladies Steer Undecorating in just 1.70 seconds.
The barrel racers also brought speed and accuracy to the Atlanta arena. Kanesha Jackson of Hempstead, Texas, won Round One of Ladies Barrel Racing with a time of 15.744 seconds. Kenadee Goodman of Beaumont, Texas, followed up with a Round Two victory in 15.571 seconds. Kinley Adair of Point Blank, Texas, took Junior Barrel Racing in 16.278 seconds, while Kalli Poole of Montgomery, Texas, captured Pee Wee Barrel Racing with a 17.133-second run.
Wrapping up the list of top finishes, the Texas Oklahoma Connection won the Relay Race with a time of 58.234 seconds.
In Round Two, the bulls had the final word, as no qualified rides were recorded.
2026 LEGACY SERIES BUCKLE CHAMPIONS CROWNED
With the final Atlanta performance now in the books, the 2026 BPIR Legacy Series has officially concluded, marking the end of another thrilling season of competition, perseverance, and honoring Black Western heritage.
The crowning of the 2026 Legacy Series Buckle Champions represented more than just receiving an award. These champions earned their titles through steady performance, skill, determination, and standout efforts across the entire series. Every time they entered the ring, they competed not only for points and recognition but also as part of a tradition that BPIR has worked to preserve, celebrate, and advance for more than four decades.
BPIR proudly congratulates its 2026 Legacy Series Buckle Champions:
Kinley Adair – Jr. Barrel Racing
Krishaun Adair – Barrel Racing
Tony Aska – Steer Wrestling
Jaedyn Bartell-Padraza – Ranch Bronc
Azja Bryant – Ladies Steer Undecorating
Niya Bryant – Ladies Breakaway
Camish Jenning – TR Heeler
Devon Johnson – TR Header
Kali Poole – Peewee Barrel Racing
Anthony Smith Jr. – Bull Riding
Deweldon Watson – Calf Roping
Trevor Wayne – Jr. Breakaway
Harrel Williams – Jr./55 Tiedown
Their accomplishments add another page to the story of the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo and show that the BPIR legacy continues through every generation of cowboys and cowgirls who step into the arena.
THE ROAD TO THE TEXAS CONNECTION CHAMPIONSHIP CONTINUES
All eyes now shift to Fort Worth, where the Texas Connection Series gives competitors another chance to pile up valuable points toward the Texas Connection Buckle Series Championship.
After the August 15 event, the Texas Connection Series will head back to Cowtown Coliseum on Saturday, October 17, for the Texas Connection Buckle Series Championship, with shows at 1:30 PM and 7:30 PM.
The August 15 Texas Connection Rodeo also serves as a crucial last opportunity for competitors aiming to lock in a spot among the BPIR Top Ten and earn an invitation to compete at the BPIR National Championship Finals in September.
With championship points, Top Ten rankings, and a trip to the National Finals on the line, Fort Worth is set to deliver another action-packed day of competition as BPIR’s cowboys and cowgirls push forward in their quest for championship glory.
SOUL COUNTRY MUSIC STAR™ ATLANTA REGIONAL WINNER
The Atlanta weekend also featured another exciting highlight as the Soul Country Music Star™ Atlanta Regional Competition showcased up-and-coming musical performers and named its Atlanta Regional Winner, Jacqueline Merrill.
The event continues BPIR’s tradition of blending rodeo, music, culture, and community to craft an entertainment experience that goes beyond the arena.
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
The ongoing success of the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo is made possible by the backing of Official Presenting Sponsors Ariat and Crown Royal, along with additional support from Visit Fort Worth, YETI, Upscale Media, Cavender’s, and valued partners the BPIR Foundation, Black Beauty & Wellness Foundation, and Anti-Violence Ventures.
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Tickets for the 2026 BPIR Texas Connection Series are currently available. Families, schools, youth groups, and community organizations are urged to book early for preferred seating and group packages.
Tickets and event details can be found at www.billpickettrodeo.com, the Cowtown Coliseum box office, cowtowncoliseum.com, and AXS.
For sponsorship, partnership, and vendor opportunities, contact the BPIR National Development Team at mladrew@billpickettrodeo.com.
Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo — The Greatest Show on Dirt.
About the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo
The Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo (BPIR) is the nation’s premier African American touring rodeo
association. Founded in 1984 by Lu Vason to celebrate and preserve the legacy of Black cowboys and cowgirls and their contributions to the American West, BPIR is proudly led today by President and CEO Valeria Howard Cunningham, making it the only African American touring rodeo association in the world owned and operated by a Black woman. Touring major cities across the United States annually, BPIR presents world class rodeo competition while serving as a powerful cultural platform advancing national and global awareness of Black Western heritage.
About Soul Country Music Star
Soul Country Music Star™ is a premier country music competition and showcase dedicated to
uplifting Black country music artists. Founded by Executive Producer Margo Wade LaDrew of
Wade & Associates Group, on the principle that country music is a genre for everyone, SCMS
highlights the diverse voices that have long contributed to its history while creating new
opportunities for rising talent.
About Cowtown Coliseum
Situated in the heart of the National Historic District known as The Stockyards, the 3,000-capacity
Cowtown Coliseum opened in 1908 and has welcomed millions of guests through its doors. The
unique venue is also the world’s only year- round rodeo and the first-ever indoor arena in the
United States to host rodeos. Recognized by the Texas Historical Commission as a Texas Historical Landmark, the arena is the site of Elvis Presley’s earliest concerts and the location where many commercials, music videos and TV shows have been filmed, including Pure Country, Dallas, Little Women and more.
Cowtown Coliseum hosted PBR’s first event in 1993, as well as PBR World Finals, the marquee
individual championship event in professional bull riding. Cowtown Coliseum is managed by
Legends Global, the world and leading premium live experiences company, and is a joint
venture between Stockyards Heritage Development Co., a partnership between Majestic Realty
Co. and Hickman Investments, and PBR (Professional Bull Riders), the world’s premier bull riding
organization – the result of a public/private partnership with the City of Fort Worth.
Michelle R Johnson – BPIR Media Relations Director
Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo
press@billpickettrodeo.com
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BPIR Texas Connection, Fort Worth, Texas
