Bill Pickett Rodeo Early Days
A visual of the 1984 Bill Picket Invitational Rodeo.
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Oklahoma Cowboys
Oklahoma Cowboys celebrates the history, culture, and enduring contributions of Black Cowboys through education, agriculture, outreach, and cultural preservation. We create programs, events, and experiences that honor the past, inspire the present, and invest in the next generation while strengthening communities across Oklahoma.
Featured Stories
Boley Rodeo
Boley, one of America’s historic all-Black towns, representing the communities established by African Americans seeking opportunity, self-determination, and prosperity following slavery and migration from the South.
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Woman Behind the Bill Picket Rodeo
It is always important to create something that people can feel good and proud about. When people walk in, you want them to feel a part of it. You want them to feel - "This represents me!" When they leave, you want them to feel "Oh my God, I am grateful to experience this with people who look like me and it was all done in love and peace."
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Tiffany Guess Interview
As we shed light on Oklahoma cowboys, we must hold space for the cowgirls too. There are many black cowgirls who contribute to the lifestyle and Tiffany is one of them.
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About
The story of the American West cannot be told without the contributions of Black cowboys.
Their resilience, skill, and leadership helped shape ranching traditions, agricultural communities, and Western culture, yet their stories have too often been overlooked.
Founded in 2021, Oklahoma Cowboys was created to ensure those stories are celebrated, preserved, and shared with future generations. What began as a vision to honor this rich heritage has grown into a cultural institution dedicated to connecting people through education, preservation, outreach, and agriculture.
Every program and experience creates a place for culture to be shared, explored, practiced, and carried forward.
Through youth programs, cultural events, historical preservation, agricultural experiences, exhibitions, storytelling, and community gatherings, we create opportunities for people of all ages to engage with the enduring legacy of Black cowboys in meaningful ways.
Our work is carried forward through two organizations united by one mission. Oklahoma Cowboys serves as the cultural brand, producing live experiences, storytelling, creative collaborations, editorial content, and merchandise that bring Black cowboy culture to new audiences. The Oklahoma Cowboys Charitable Foundation, our 501(c)(3) nonprofit, leads educational programming, youth development, preservation initiatives, and community outreach that expand access to these experiences across Oklahoma.
Programs
Empowering Community through the celebration of Black Cowboys and Cowgirls
The Oklahoma Cowboys illuminates this often-overlooked history through equestrian education, cultural storytelling, and mentorship, ensuring its legacy is remembered and honored. Crucially, we ensure these opportunities are accessible to all youth, regardless of socioeconomic circumstances, by providing our programs at little to no cost. Ensuring every child can participate in quality equestrian education.
Cowboy Summer Camp
This transformative five-day program serves 50 children across Southeastern Oklahoma and the Oklahoma City metropolitan area, providing accessible, immersive experiences in equestrianism, outdoor exploration, health and wellness, leadership development, and cultural storytelling—all rooted in the rich history and traditions of Black cowboys and cowgirls.
Rodeo Training
Rodeo Training is a sport-specific athlete development program designed to help athletes sharpen their skills, develop their technique, and perform at a higher level. Through specialized training sessions led by experienced rodeo professionals, athletes receive hands-on instruction and focused practice across events including bull riding, bronc riding, steer wrestling, roping, barrel racing, and more. Each session is built around training, development, and performance, giving athletes the opportunity to put in the work, refine their skills, and continue progressing in their sport.
Rodeo Academy
An after-school program cultivating horsemanship, leadership, and cultural connection through Western traditions.
Athlete Advancement
Supporting athletes with the resources, opportunities, and connections needed to compete, develop, and pursue their goals. Support may include competition entry fees, equipment, equine resources, travel assistance, mentorship, coaching, and connections to professionals and opportunities within the sport. The program helps remove barriers, strengthen development, and give athletes the support they need to compete with confidence and continue pursuing their goals.
Partners
Collaborations
Creative partners who worked alongside Oklahoma Cowboys to bring projects to life — collaborations rooted in shared vision, cultural integrity, and craft.
Membership
Institutions Oklahoma Cowboys belongs to, whose networks and resources help advance our mission from within.
Mission
Individuals and organizations who believe in our purpose — standing behind the preservation, education, and advancement of Black cowboy culture for generations to come.
Corporate
Corporate partners investing directly in our vision through funding and resources that allow this work to scale.
