The 2019 nationally renowned Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo (BPIR) rides into the City of Industry Saturday, July 20, at 6:30 pm and Sunday, July 21, at 3:30 pm at Industry Hills Expo Center located at 16200 Temple Ave., City of Industry.   While the rodeo will entertain families both days, added entertainment includes an AfterParty Saturday night and a Gospel Explosion Sunday with live performances during pre-show and half time.   Gates on Sunday open 2 hours earlier.

For over 35 years, the BPIR has toured throughout the U.S.A. entertaining millions with thrilling professional rodeo competitions of the most skilled and entertaining Black cowboys and cowgirls worldwide.

Southern Californians will enjoy African American cowboys, cowgirls and youngsters during thrilling Calf Ropin’, exhilarating Bareback Ridin’, Bull Doggin, Ladies Barrel Racin’, Junior Barrel Racin’, Ladies Steer Undecoratin’, and gripping Bull Ridin.  It’s ALWAYS a great weekend of high family entertainment and scrumptious food!

Always a splash to fans are the returning official Grand Marshals actors Glynn Turman, and Reginald T. Dorsey, along with returning Deputy Marshals James Pickens, Jr., and Oba Babatunde.  In addition, each year there are surprise celebrity special guests who attend and participate in the rodeo.

 In 1984, Lu Vason had a vision to entertain audiences and create and preserve the history and contributions of African American cowboys and cowgirls. The result, The Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo (BPIR) titled “The Greatest Show on Dirt”.  Vason named The Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo after the legendary William “Bill’ Pickett, an African American and Cherokee cowboy, a Wild West Show performer and actor inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame to continue his legacy and educate society about who he was and his contributions to society.

Although there are thousands of African American cowboys who helped to shape the history of America’s West, there is no greater documented legend than Bill Pickett. Bill Pickett was born in 1870, five years after the Civil War ended. Observing the relationship between cattle and the bulldogs used to control them, Pickett used the bulldog’s skills as a human, and he titled the skill “Bull Doggin”. Mastering this exceptional talent of “Bull Doggin” which includes, grabbing a steer by the horns, biting their upper lip, and wrestling them to the ground.  He was known by the nicknames “The Dusty Demon” and “The Bull Dogger.”

An added addition to the BPIR Rodeo is the Rodeo For Kidz Sake (RFKS) that educates and entertain thousands of school aged children exposing them to animals, cowboys and cowgirls. The RFKS experience teaches the kids about the importance of Black Americans in the development of the West and confirm that there are Black cowboys and cowgirls, which is something missing from the history books, television and movie screens.

Ticket prices range from $22 to $45 and can be purchased online or at various business outlets. For group ticket sales call Margo Wade Ladrew at 310-674-6700 or email mladrew@billpickettrodeo.com.