00:01Because of the history books being written by the white men, of course, that's
00:08who's going to be highlighted. You're white cowboys. Had we had a part in
00:12writing our history books, we would be there.
00:17This is the Bill Pickett Rodeo and I'm a cowgirl. And I'm a cowgirl. I'm a cowgirl.
00:22And I'm a black cowgirl.
00:37Don't even worry about it.
00:44My name is Tiffany Carter. My title here at the rodeo would be Grand Entry Coordinator.
00:50Go do everything, kind of a run around girl.
00:53I am also a rider. I do stare and decorate as well as run barrels every so often, yes.
00:59Rodeo is basically a way of life for us.
01:02My name is Carolyn Carter. I am the general manager for the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo.
01:07The Bill Pickett Rodeo is the only all-black traveling rodeo.
01:12Lou Vassan, our founder, went to Cheyenne Frontier Days.
01:15Didn't see any black contestants, but he knew there were black cowboys.
01:18So he decided then he was going to put together a black rodeo
01:21so that he could showcase the black cowboys.
01:25That's a pretty nice color.
01:30My name is Dana Carter. I am the baby of the Carter family.
01:36I love being a cowgirl.
01:39I won the Lady Steering Decorating Championship last year.
01:43The key to it is just to kind of stay in the money as long as I place.
01:47As long as I place and my money is adding up, then I'm okay.
01:54But as long as I'm not placing, that becomes a problem.
01:58I see y'all at the rodeo.
02:00A rodeo is pretty much like a track meet.
02:06There's all kinds of events kids and old people can enjoy.
02:10There's barrows. There's bull riding. It's awesome.
02:13The rodeo is definitely a sport. You have to be athletic.
02:17You have to be skilled. Your mind has to be in the right place.
02:22Some of them are there just because they want to show that they can do it.
02:29Some of them are die-hard competitors where nothing else matters.
02:34And some just want to hear their names called those loudspeakers.
02:38It could be a lot of pressure.
02:40You just kind of keep a clear head.
02:42Just know that you're doing this for your people.
02:44You're representing your people.
02:46You just stay focused.
02:49You ready?
02:51Cowgirl?
02:52Want mama to win some money?
03:07I got to do my stretch. I'm sorry.
03:09I love it.
03:11You're welcome.
03:12We get the cash on hand after the rodeo.
03:15Everybody in here, this ain't their first rodeos.
03:18They say money is the motivation at the end of the day behind all of these.
03:21Yeah, it's fun, but it costs at the same time.
03:29Come on!
03:30Walt Sandler, help him out!
03:38I want to get a first place check.
03:40Gotta go against her.
03:53Staying and decorating is when the rider here nods.
03:56They let the steer out.
04:00Hayes are supposed to keep the steer close so that the rider can run by and snatch the tape off.
04:07The tape off hand in the air signals for time.
04:11There's all kinds of things that can go wrong.
04:13You got five minds you're dealing with.
04:15The steer, the two horses, and the two people.
04:19Fastest time win.
04:22I've always wanted to take rodeo to the next level.
04:26And the next level with this rodeo is the national finals rodeo.
04:31There is not one African-American female in the national finals rodeo.
04:38That's a good one.
04:41That's a good one.
04:45Yeah, good one.
04:49That's a good one.
04:51That's a good one.
05:05You got five seconds on the American national plate.
05:07with the time of a 2.3, it's time to go home.
05:12As far as the history books were concerned,
05:14nobody really knew about the black cowboys.
05:18It was our due diligence to put us out there
05:21so that people actually knew that, you know,
05:23hey, we're here, we're alive, and we're still competing.
05:26We got some little girls coming up.
05:28I wouldn't be surprised if they do make it to the next level.
05:32As long as you have your own behind you
05:34and the support system behind you,
05:36family, friends, I mean, the sky's the limit.
