DENVER , CO - JANUARY 19: Desmond Hill prepares his glove before riding a bull during the MLK African American Heritage Rodeo at the Denver Coliseum in Denver, Colorado on Monday, January 19, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
DENVER , CO - JANUARY 19: A competitor melts resin onto his rope during the MLK African American Heritage Rodeo at the Denver Coliseum in Denver, Colorado on Monday, January 19, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)- DENVER , CO - JANUARY 19: Damon Prince Hopkins stretches as he stands with competitors, including his dad, Damon Hopkins, during the MLK African American Heritage Rodeo at the Denver Coliseum in Denver, Colorado on Monday, January 19, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- DENVER , CO - JANUARY 19: Michael Macom and Au’Vion Horton prep prep a horse for ranch bronc riding during the MLK African American Heritage Rodeo at the Denver Coliseum in Denver, Colorado on Monday, January 19, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- DENVER , CO - JANUARY 19: Michael Macom wipes sweat from his head during the MLK African American Heritage Rodeo at the Denver Coliseum in Denver, Colorado on Monday, January 19, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- DENVER , CO - JANUARY 19: A rider gets bucked during the MLK African American Heritage Rodeo at the Denver Coliseum in Denver, Colorado on Monday, January 19, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- DENVER , CO - JANUARY 19: Marcus Verser throws his hat after competing in ranch bronc riding during the MLK African American Heritage Rodeo at the Denver Coliseum in Denver, Colorado on Monday, January 19, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- DENVER , CO - JANUARY 19: Michael Wells looks onto the arena floor during the MLK African American Heritage Rodeo at the Denver Coliseum in Denver, Colorado on Monday, January 19, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- DENVER , CO - JANUARY 19: Marcus Verser watches a pro rodeo cowboy walk by as he gets dressed by his mom, Latamera, during the MLK African American Heritage Rodeo at the Denver Coliseum in Denver, Colorado on Monday, January 19, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- DENVER , CO - JANUARY 19: Michael Macom and Au’Vion Horton prep Horton’s bull during the MLK African American Heritage Rodeo at the Denver Coliseum in Denver, Colorado on Monday, January 19, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- DENVER , CO - JANUARY 19: Riders cross a fence before competing during the MLK African American Heritage Rodeo at the Denver Coliseum in Denver, Colorado on Monday, January 19, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- DENVER , CO - JANUARY 19: Michael Wells climbs over a fence before competing in bull riding during the MLK African American Heritage Rodeo at the Denver Coliseum in Denver, Colorado on Monday, January 19, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- DENVER , CO - JANUARY 19: Desmond Hill prepares his glove before riding a bull during the MLK African American Heritage Rodeo at the Denver Coliseum in Denver, Colorado on Monday, January 19, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- DENVER , CO - JANUARY 19: Michael Wells prepares to compete in ranch bronc riding during the MLK African American Heritage Rodeo at the Denver Coliseum in Denver, Colorado on Monday, January 19, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- DENVER , CO - JANUARY 19: Michael Wells prepares to compete in ranch bronc riding during the MLK African American Heritage Rodeo at the Denver Coliseum in Denver, Colorado on Monday, January 19, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- DENVER , CO - JANUARY 19: Michael Macom prepares to ride a horse in ranch bronc riding during the MLK African American Heritage Rodeo at the Denver Coliseum in Denver, Colorado on Monday, January 19, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- DENVER , CO - JANUARY 19: Ms. Black Rodeo USA Mariah Beckom sits atop a horse during the MLK African American Heritage Rodeo at the Denver Coliseum in Denver, Colorado on Monday, January 19, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- DENVER , CO - JANUARY 19: Competitors prepare to ride in the cowboy ready area during the MLK African American Heritage Rodeo at the Denver Coliseum in Denver, Colorado on Monday, January 19, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- DENVER , CO - JANUARY 19: EJ Vantago walks off the arena floor after competing in ranch bronc riding during the MLK African American Heritage Rodeo at the Denver Coliseum in Denver, Colorado on Monday, January 19, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- DENVER , CO - JANUARY 19: Amorah Lindsey competes in barrel racing during the MLK African American Heritage Rodeo at the Denver Coliseum in Denver, Colorado on Monday, January 19, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- DENVER , CO - JANUARY 19: Aaron Johnson runs towards his calf during the MLK African American Heritage Rodeo tie down roping competition at the Denver Coliseum in Denver, Colorado on Monday, January 19, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- DENVER , CO - JANUARY 19: Tank Adams goes flying with his saddle after it became unattached from his horse during the MLK African American Heritage Rodeo ranch bronc riding performance at the Denver Coliseum in Denver, Colorado on Monday, January 19, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- DENVER , CO - JANUARY 19: Marcus Verser wears dirt in his stubble after competing in ranch bronc riding during the MLK African American Heritage Rodeo at the Denver Coliseum in Denver, Colorado on Monday, January 19, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- DENVER , CO - JANUARY 19: Fans work the angles from their seats during the MLK African American Heritage Rodeo bull riding section at the Denver Coliseum in Denver, Colorado on Monday, January 19, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- DENVER , CO - JANUARY 19: Christian Ellis gets bucked from his bull during the MLK African American Heritage Rodeo at the Denver Coliseum in Denver, Colorado on Monday, January 19, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- DENVER , CO - JANUARY 19: Au’Vion Horton jogs away from the mayhem after being bucked by his bull as bullfighter Noah Krepps makes the save during the MLK African American Heritage Rodeo at the Denver Coliseum in Denver, Colorado on Monday, January 19, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- DENVER , CO - JANUARY 19: Bullfighter Noah Krepps fist bumps Tank Adams during the MLK African American Heritage Rodeo at the Denver Coliseum in Denver, Colorado on Monday, January 19, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- DENVER , CO - JANUARY 19: Michael Macom celebrates his ride in ranch bronc riding during the MLK African American Heritage Rodeo at the Denver Coliseum in Denver, Colorado on Monday, January 19, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- DENVER , CO - JANUARY 19: Michael Wells points skyward after competing in ranch bronc riding during the MLK African American Heritage Rodeo at the Denver Coliseum in Denver, Colorado on Monday, January 19, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
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DENVER , CO - JANUARY 19: Desmond Hill prepares his glove before riding a bull during the MLK African American Heritage Rodeo at the Denver Coliseum in Denver, Colorado on Monday, January 19, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
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By AAron Ontiveroz | aontiveroz@denverpost.com | The Denver Post
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:
Getting your player ready...
The MLK Jr. African-American Heritage Rodeo took place at the National Western Stock Show in Denver on Monday, January 19, 2026.
For the first time in two decades, the Denver-founded Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo isn’t a part of the National Western Stock Show, which kicked off Jan. 10 and runs through Jan. 25. The stock show instead partnered with a different organization, Black Rodeo USA out of Phoenix, to produce the event on Monday, which featured bronc riding, barrel racing, steer wrestling, mutton bustin’, ladies’ “steer un-decorating,” and more.
