Texas Connection Buckle Series Championship continues as Atlanta celebrated top Legacy Series competitors and Soul Country Music Star™ Atlanta Regional Winner
ATLANTA, GA, UNITED STATES, August 11, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — The Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo (BPIR) returns to the historic Cowtown Coliseum on Saturday, August 15, for the fourth stop of the 2026 Texas Connection Series. Two action-packed performances will take place at 1:30 PM and 7:30 PM.
Fort Worth audiences will experience the excitement, history, and culture of the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo, featuring talented Black cowboys and cowgirls competing in traditional rodeo events, including Ranch Bronc Riding, Steer Wrestling, Tie-Down Roping, Team Roping, Ladies Steer Undecorating, Breakaway Roping, Barrel Racing, and Bull Riding. Youth events, including Junior Breakaway Roping, Junior Barrel Racing, and Pee Wee Barrel Racing, will also be featured, reinforcing BPIR’s commitment to developing the next generation of rodeo talent.
The Fort Worth rodeo follows an exciting conclusion to the BPIR Legacy Series in Atlanta on August 1st & August 2nd, where sold-out crowds gathered to celebrate Black cowboy and cowgirl excellence, witness outstanding competition, and see the 2026 Legacy Series Buckle Champions crowned.
BPIR LEGACY SERIES RODEO RESULTS
The August Atlanta Legacy Series performances showcased the skill, speed, athleticism, and determination of competitors from across the country. Throughout the two-day competition, cowboys and cowgirls delivered standout performances in timed events, rough stock competition, barrel racing, roping, and the crowd-favorite Relay Race.
The competition was nothing short of exhilarating as Jose Pedraza III of Bellwood, Illinois, claimed first place in Ranch Bronc Riding with a score of 74.5. In Bull Riding, Travoris Zeno of Beaumont, Texas, earned the Round One victory with an impressive score of 78.
The roping events produced several strong performances. Azja Bryant of Huntsville, Texas, won Ladies Breakaway Roping with a time of 3.20 seconds, while Trevor Whayne of Preston, Oklahoma, captured Junior Breakaway Roping with a time of 4.30 seconds. Harrel Williams Jr. of Prairie View, Texas, won Junior Tie-Down Roping with a time of 10.60 seconds, and Richard Coleman of Wharton, Texas, took first place in Open Tie-Down Roping with a time of 7.91 seconds. In Team Roping, Devon C. Johnson and Camish Jennings turned in the winning time of 6.31 seconds.
Steer Wrestling featured different winners in each round. Reginald McCullough of Houston, Texas, won Round One with a time of 6.11 seconds, while Davenger Griffin of Natchez, Mississippi, claimed Round Two with a time of 6.44 seconds. Paris Wilburd of Cabot, Arkansas, delivered one of the fastest times of the weekend, winning Ladies Steer Undecorating in just 1.70 seconds.
The barrel racers also brought speed and precision to the Atlanta arena. Kanesha Jackson of Hempstead, Texas, won Round One of Ladies Barrel Racing with a time of 15.744 seconds. Kenadee Goodman of Beaumont, Texas, followed with a Round Two victory in 15.571 seconds. Kinley Adair of Point Blank, Texas, won Junior Barrel Racing with a time of 16.278 seconds, while Kalli Poole of Montgomery, Texas, captured Pee Wee Barrel Racing with a time of 17.133 seconds.
Closing out the list of top performances, the Texas Oklahoma Connection won the Relay Race with a time of 58.234 seconds.
The bulls had the final say in Round Two, with no qualified rides recorded.
2026 LEGACY SERIES BUCKLE CHAMPIONS CROWNED
With the final Atlanta performance complete, the 2026 BPIR Legacy Series officially came to a close, marking the culmination of another exciting season of competition, determination, and celebration of Black Western heritage.
The crowning of the 2026 Legacy Series Buckle Champions represented more than winning an award. These champions earned their titles through consistency, skill, perseverance, and outstanding performances throughout the series. Each time they entered the arena, they competed not only for points and recognition but also as part of a legacy that BPIR has worked for more than four decades to preserve, celebrate, and carry forward.
BPIR proudly congratulates its 2026 Legacy Series Buckle Champions:
Kinley Adair – Jr. Barrel Racing
Krishaun Adair – Barrel Racing
Tony Aska – Steer Wrestling
Jaedyn Bartell-Padraza – Ranch Bronc
Azja Bryant – Ladies Steer Undecorating
Niya Bryant – Ladies Breakaway
Camish Jenning – TR Heeler
Devon Johnson – TR Header
Kali Poole – Peewee Barrel Racing
Anthony Smith Jr. – Bull Riding
Deweldon Watson – Calf Roping
Trevor Wayne – Jr. Breakaway
Harrel Williams – Jr./55 Tiedown
Their achievements add another chapter to the history of the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo and demonstrate that the BPIR legacy continues through every generation of cowboys and cowgirls who step into the arena.
THE ROAD TO THE TEXAS CONNECTION CHAMPIONSHIP CONTINUES
Attention now turns to Fort Worth, where the Texas Connection Series gives competitors another opportunity to earn valuable points toward the Texas Connection Buckle Series Championship.
Following the August 15 competition, the Texas Connection Series will return to Cowtown Coliseum on Saturday, October 17, for the Texas Connection Buckle Series Championship, featuring performances at 1:30 PM and 7:30 PM.
The August 15 Texas Connection Rodeo also represents a critical final opportunity for competitors seeking to secure a position among the BPIR Top Ten and earn an invitation to compete at the BPIR National Championship Finals in September.
With championship points, Top Ten positions, and a trip to the National Finals at stake, Fort Worth promises to deliver another exciting day of competition as BPIR’s cowboys and cowgirls continue their pursuit of championship honors.
SOUL COUNTRY MUSIC STAR™ ATLANTA REGIONAL WINNER
The Atlanta weekend also brought another exciting celebration as the Soul Country Music Star™ Atlanta Regional Competition showcased emerging musical talent and crowned its Atlanta Regional Winner, Jacqueline Merrill.
The competition continues BPIR’s tradition of bringing rodeo, music, culture, and community together to create an entertainment experience that reaches beyond the arena.
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
The continued success of the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo is made possible through the support of Official Presenting Sponsors Ariat and Crown Royal, with additional support from Visit Fort Worth, YETI, Upscale Media, Cavender’s, and valued partners the BPIR Foundation, Black Beauty & Wellness Foundation, and Anti-Violence Ventures.
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Tickets for the 2026 BPIR Texas Connection Series are on sale now. Families, schools, youth groups, and community organizations are encouraged to book early for preferred seating and group packages.
Tickets and show information are available at www.billpickettrodeo.com, the Cowtown Coliseum box office, cowtowncoliseum.com, and AXS.
For sponsorship, partnership, and vendor opportunities, contact the BPIR National Development Team at mladrew@billpickettrodeo.com.
Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo — The Greatest Show on Dirt.
About the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo
The Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo (BPIR) is the nation’s premier African American touring rodeo
association. Founded in 1984 by Lu Vason to celebrate and preserve the legacy of Black cowboys and cowgirls and their contributions to the American West, BPIR is proudly led today by President and CEO Valeria Howard Cunningham, making it the only African American touring rodeo association in the world owned and operated by a Black woman. Touring major cities across the United States annually, BPIR presents world class rodeo competition while serving as a powerful cultural platform advancing national and global awareness of Black Western heritage.
About Soul Country Music Star
Soul Country Music Star™ is a premier country music competition and showcase dedicated to
uplifting Black country music artists. Founded by Executive Producer Margo Wade LaDrew of
Wade & Associates Group, on the principle that country music is a genre for everyone, SCMS
highlights the diverse voices that have long contributed to its history while creating new
opportunities for rising talent.
About Cowtown Coliseum
Situated in the heart of the National Historic District known as The Stockyards, the 3,000-capacity
Cowtown Coliseum opened in 1908 and has welcomed millions of guests through its doors. The
unique venue is also the world’s only year- round rodeo and the first-ever indoor arena in the
United States to host rodeos. Recognized by the Texas Historical Commission as a Texas Historical Landmark, the arena is the site of Elvis Presley’s earliest concerts and the location where many commercials, music videos and TV shows have been filmed, including Pure Country, Dallas, Little Women and more.
Cowtown Coliseum hosted PBR’s first event in 1993, as well as PBR World Finals, the marquee
individual championship event in professional bull riding. Cowtown Coliseum is managed by
Legends Global, the world and leading premium live experiences company, and is a joint
venture between Stockyards Heritage Development Co., a partnership between Majestic Realty
Co. and Hickman Investments, and PBR (Professional Bull Riders), the world’s premier bull riding
organization – the result of a public/private partnership with the City of Fort Worth.
Michelle R Johnson – BPIR Media Relations Director
Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo
press@billpickettrodeo.com
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BPIR Texas Connection, Fort Worth, Texas
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