MLK Jr. African American Heritage Rodeo of Champions

On Monday, January 18, 2010, a legacy continues and a new tradition continues to take place right here in Colorado in conjunction with the Martin Luther King Holiday and the 54th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Movement.

For the 4th time in history, the National Western Stock Show (NWSS) will have a Black Rodeo.

As the Founder and Producer of the annual Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo, I'm honored to work with the NWSS to create an additional event that is different from the Bill Pickett Rodeo and provides yet another opportunity for people to experience the rich diversity of the West.

Lu Vason, Producer

The Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo (BPIR) a Denver based corporation that produces rodeos across the United States.

The BPIR circuit is composed of African American cowboys and cowgirls from across the nation, which has acted as a feeder group for both the PRCA and IPRA organizations, with names such as Fred Whitfield, Ronnie Fields, Darnell Tipton, Jesse "slugger" Guillory, Marilyn LeBlanc and Deboraha Akin.

BPIR has also fed the PBR Asso-ciation with such riders as Gary Ricahrds, Lee Akin and Mike Moore.

The BPIR with a 24-year proven history provides educational, cultural and entertaining events around the country while promoting the heritage of African Americans in the development of the west.