The National Western Stock Show has cut ties with the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo, shaking up the MLK Day festivities!
DENVER — The National Western Stock Show (NWSS) is moving in a new direction for its annual MLK Jr. African American Heritage Rodeo of Champions. After nearly twenty years of collaboration, NWSS has announced it will no longer partner with the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo (BPIR), citing scheduling conflicts as the reason behind this significant change.
For nearly two decades, BPIR has been the driving force behind this celebrated event, but this partnership is set to end. Both organizations released a joint statement explaining that their decision stemmed from ongoing scheduling challenges that proved impossible to resolve.
Valeria Howard-Cunningham, CEO of the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo, took to social media to clarify the circumstances surrounding this split. In her post, she explained that NWSS decided it could no longer accommodate BPIR’s growth, particularly regarding the Monday morning slack event, a crucial time for contestants to showcase their skills outside of the main rodeo performance. Instead, NWSS proposed a scaled-back format that would only take place Monday night, which wasn’t suitable for BPIR.
Despite this change, the National Western Stock Show is committed to continuing the tradition of the MLK Jr. African American Heritage Rodeo. They’ve announced Black Rodeo USA (BRUSA) as their new event partner, marking a new chapter for this essential celebration. The 2026 MLK Jr. African American Heritage Rodeo is scheduled for Monday, January 19, at 6 p.m., taking place inside the Denver Coliseum as part of the National Western Stock Show.
The MLK Jr. African American Heritage Rodeo was established in 2006 by BPIR founder Lu Vason in collaboration with NWSS to honor the centennial anniversary of the Stock Show. The event has historically brought together talented African American cowboys and cowgirls to pay tribute to the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and recognize their contributions to the Western way of life. This year’s lineup looks promising as the community gears up for a new, exciting future.
