Press Release: Crown Royal Hats Off Grant 

NEW YORK, February 28, 2025 – Today, award-winning whisky brand Crown Royal and the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo Foundation (BPIRF) proudly unveil the second annual Hats Off Grant program. Launched in honor of Black History Month, the program continues to uplift the rich legacy of Black cowboys by providing direct financial support to those who help preserve and propel the culture and traditions of Black rodeo forward.

BPIR 41th Anniversary

Succeeding against the odds. The BPIR's history is a lesson on desire, vision, perseverance. and legacy. The BPIRF is and extension of that legacy. 

Cowgirls Introducing Black Rodeo Across the Country 

It’s part family reunion, part traveling museum, and quite literally a wild ride. Going to the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo (BPIR) entertains spectators with flair that infuses Black culture into familiar rodeo events and highlights Black history with a focus on family.

Rodeo celebrates black cowboys and cowgirls in the history of the American West

The American Old West often conjures up images of white cowboys riding across the frontier. But in reality, historians estimate that one in four cowboys were actually black. This little-known part of history is now being celebrated at a special rodeo event honoring the significant contributions of black cowboys and cowgirls.

BPIR Foundation USDA NRCS Collaboration