The success of the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo is due in large part to the fact that it is the only touring African-American Rodeo. But we can not forget the career cowboys and cowgirls like Carolyn Carter, whose dedication and hard work have also made the BPIR rodeo successful.

Carolyn Carter has competed in every BPIR since its inception twenty years ago. Her success can be measured by the many trophy belt buckles that she has won with the Bill Pickett Rodeo, but her memories and stories of her tours across the U.S. with the rodeo are more meaningful.

A nurse in Oklahoma City, she holds rodeo to the highest of responsibilities. Even through nursing school she continued to rodeo. The BPIR is a part of Carolyn. "When we started twenty years ago, we got an amazing reception at every city we went to." She goes on to say, "We still get the same reception even after all these years. The crowd gets so excited and we just hope they learn something everytime they come to our rodeos."

Carolyn and her daughter, Tiphani help direct the grand entry as well as the opening ceremonies. "The re-enactments are always about black history," says Carolyn. With scripts and props and costumes and actors, the opening ceremonies are taken very seriously. Carolyn takes BPIR seriously as well because it is a part of her life and heritage.