The largest multicultural rodeo in the country Cowboys of Color National Finals Rodeo thunders into the Mesquite Arena, Saturday, Oct. 27. Part of the proceeds benefit at-risk youth programs of ICREA, Inc., an education nonprofit providing training and supplemental materials in social studies and language arts for K-12 administrators, teachers and students.
North Dallas Gazette readers can win free tickets to the rodeo. Simply visit our Facebook page and click on Win FREE Rodeo Tixs to enter.
The Rodeo highlights ethnic cowboys and cowgirls competing for cash prizes in traditional rodeo events: bull riding, steer wrestling, calf roping, bronc busting and ladies barrel racing. Cultural entertainers including CL5 Drill Team, Escaramuza de Guadalupe and Pony Express Relay riders will bring history to life between the rodeo events. Folks dressed in their Western Best can experience Texas BBQ, Western art, music, and autographs with their favorite cowboys and cowgirls.
“Our motto is ‘Let us educate you while we entertain you’ … let us tell you the wonderful things that Blacks, Indians and Hispanics did for the settling of the American West that most history books left out,” according to Rodeo Producer Cleo Hearn.
The fast-paced action packed rodeo promises to entertain and educate the audience about the forgotten cowboys and minority pioneers who played a significant role in the settling of the American West. At the rodeo, attendees will hear rarely told stories about African American, Native American and Hispanic American contributions to rodeo and our collective Western heritage.
According to Hearn, “We will have some wonderful musical entertainment to celebrate our Southern heritage. Bobby Patterson and his Blues Band will play during and after the Rodeo for some ‘Kickin’ in the Dirt!’ that’s dancin’ for those of you from the city.”
Cowboys of Color Rodeos came about as a result of the dream of calf roper Cleo Hearn. Hearn has been competing as a professional rodeo cowboy since 1959. He met a black, cigar-smoking cowboy named Marvel Rogers when he was nine years old and that was it. From then on all he wanted to be was a cowboy. Today, Hearn continues to live his dream.
The first African American to go to college on a rodeo scholarship, Hearn graduated from Langston University with a business degree and while doing a Ford Tractor commercial he was offered a job in their management program. He took the job and spent over 30 years with the company but continued to rodeo on the weekends.
His goal was to be the first African American Calf Roping Champion but when the opportunity came to change kids lives by putting on rodeos — he added another title to his name — Rodeo Producer. Hearn did achieve his dream of being a national champion by winning the calf roping at the National Western in Denver, Colorado in 1970.
After the success of his first rodeo in Harlem, New York for 10,000 kids, he began putting on rodeos in Dallas in 1985 and has continued that legacy until today. Adding rodeos in San Antonio, Austin, Houston, Fort Worth, Oklahoma City, and Tulsa over the years.
For more information visit www.cowboysofcolorrodeo.net.
