The Cowboys of Color Rodeo is the largest multicultural rodeo in the world.
FORT WORTH, Texas — Hundreds filed into Dickies Arena for the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo Cowboys of Color event on Monday.
The event, held on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, honors the contributions of culturally diverse cowboys and cowgirls. The rodeo featured more than 200 culturally diverse athletes, making it the largest multicultural rodeo in the world.
From bull riding to tie-down roping, the event featured fierce competition among the top African American, Hispanic and Native American cowboys and cowgirls.
Pat Hooper, a 2nd generation cowboy from Athens, Texas, competed in the steer wrestling competition. Monday’s event is a way of preserving the Western lifestyle.
“In today’s society, a lot of it has been forgotten,” Hooper said. “If we can get one day out of the year to amplify the contributions we’ve had as Black cowboys, I think it’s a great deal I can contribute to for future generations to come.”
Having the opportunity to compete was an honor for steer wrestler Chase Pierre, who earned first place in the steer wrestling competition.
“It’s shining a light on Black cowboys, where we come from, what we really are,” Pierre said. “I hope people actually see what we do and how serious we take this,” Pierre said.
The Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, which has been around for 130 years, draws more than one million attendees and funnels more than $200 million into the Fort Worth economy every year.
“Anybody out there who wants to be a champion, practice your craft and create a lane for yourself and you’ll succeed at anything you put your mind to,” Piere said.
The rodeo also has livestock and horse shows, kid-friendly activities and exhibits, live music, a carnival midway and shopping.
