Keeping the Legend Alive

The gate flew open and Savannah Roberts took off. Perched on her horse, Short Shank, Savannah could hear the roar of the crowd. The 12-year-old and her horse raced at top speed, whipping around barrels.

No other rider could match her speed. Savannah, the youngest person in the competition, won the barrel racing event at the Bill Pickett Championship Rodeo last September. The rodeo celebrates and honors African American cowboys and cowgirls.

“Winning at this rodeo made me feel really special and proud,” says Savannah.

The gate flew open and Savannah Roberts took off. Savannah was perched on her horse, Short Shank. She could hear the roar of the crowd. The 12-year-old and her horse raced at top speed. They whipped around barrels.

Savannah was the youngest person in the competition. But no other rider could match her speed. She won the barrel racing event at the Bill Pickett Championship Rodeo last September. The rodeo celebrates and honors African American cowboys and cowgirls.

“Winning at this rodeo made me feel really special and proud,” says Savannah. 

Before rodeos, cowboys lived and worked in the western U.S. In the mid-1800s, many people there owned cattle ranches. But they didn’t have fences to keep their steers and cows close to home. So they hired cowboys to ride around on horseback to keep their cattle from roaming off.

Cowboys also guided huge herds of cattle along rugged trails to be sold in other parts of the country. These cattle drives involved moving hundreds of animals at a time.

“It was hard, dangerous work, and you worked for low pay,” explains historian Michael Searles.

Cowboys faced risks, like herding cattle across rivers. If the cowboys weren’t careful, they and the animals could drown. And they were constantly on the lookout for cattle thieves.

Before rodeos, cowboys lived and worked in the western U.S. In the mid-1800s, many people there owned cattle ranches. But they didn’t have fences to keep their steers and cows close to home. So they hired cowboys to ride around on horseback to keep their cattle from roaming off.

Cowboys also guided huge herds of cattle along rugged trails to be sold in other parts of the country. These cattle drives involved moving hundreds of animals at a time.

“It was hard, dangerous work, and you worked for low pay,” explains historian Michael Searles.

Cowboys faced risks, like herding cattle across rivers. If the cowboys weren’t careful, they and the animals could drown. And they were constantly on the lookout for cattle thieves.

While books and movies often show only White cowboys, about one out of every four cowboys were Black. Many had once been enslaved but were freed after the Civil War ended in 1865. Black cowboys faced discrimination from ranchers and fellow cowboys. They were often given the hardest jobs, like breaking in horses or crossing the deepest parts of streams during cattle drives.

“Black cowboys faced racism because some White cowboys didn’t want them on their ranches,” says Searles.

Still, many of these men saw working on the trails as a chance at a new life.

Books and movies often show only White cowboys. But about one out of every four cowboys were Black. Many had once been enslaved. They were freed after the Civil War ended in 1865. Black cowboys faced discrimination from ranchers and fellow cowboys. They were often given the hardest jobs. These jobs included breaking in horses or crossing the deepest parts of streams during cattle drives.

“Black cowboys faced racism because some White cowboys didn’t want them on their ranches,” says Searles.

Still, many of these men saw working on the trails as a chance at a new life.

By the 1880s, barbed wire fences made it easier to control cattle. Fewer cowboys were needed, but a new era was beginning. Cowboys started showing off their skills in events called rodeos. They’d ride horses, perform tricks, and rope steers.

Bill Pickett was one of the first—and most famous—rodeo stars. Today, the Bill Pickett Rodeo keeps the history of Black cowboys alive. It reminds people how important Pickett and other Black cowboys were in shaping our country. Savannah honors the cowboy tradition by inspiring the next generation of cowboys and cowgirls.

“I love encouraging other kids and showing them it’s possible to do what I do,” she says.

By the 1880s, barbed wire fences made it easier to control cattle. Fewer cowboys were needed. But a new era was beginning. Cowboys started showing off their skills in events called rodeos. They’d ride horses, perform tricks, and rope steers.

Bill Pickett was one of the first—and most famous—rodeo stars. The Bill Pickett Rodeo keeps the history of Black cowboys alive today. It reminds people how important Pickett and other Black cowboys were in shaping our country. Savannah honors the cowboy tradition by inspiring the next generation of cowboys and cowgirls.

“I love encouraging other kids and showing them it’s possible to do what I do,” she says.