Black cowboys and cowgirls have been overlooked for too long – but Nicole Scott is determined to change that.
“The story of the Black cowboy has never really been lost, but it’s very rarely been told,” she said. “That’s why we’re excited to bring the culture of the Black cowboy – and the nation’s top Black rodeo riders – to Flint’s doorstep once again.”
As founder of the Midwest Invitational Rodeo, which returns June 13-14 to the Genesee County Fairgrounds, Scott is committed to providing family entertainment while educating communities on the rich history of the Black cowboy.
An Inkster native, Scott brought the Midwest Invitational Rodeo to Genesee County for the first time in 2024. For the previous seven years, the rodeo took place at the Wayne County Fairgrounds in Belleville.
While other cities last year tried luring Scott’s rodeo to their own neck of the woods, it was Mayor Sheldon Neeley who convinced her Greater Flint was the place to be.
“This event resonated with me because it aligns with our city’s values of inclusivity, cultural appreciation, and economic growth,” Neeley said. “I was confident that the rodeo would be well received because Flint residents have a deep appreciation for events that bring people together, provide family-friendly entertainment, and honor heritage.”
Neeley was right.
Despite the rain, the two-day, sold-out show drew 3,000 people to the fairgrounds where 65 Black cowboys and cowgirls competed in steer wrestling, bronco riding, barrel racing, roping, and bull riding.
Scott said she was initially nervous about moving the rodeo to Genesee County after enjoying so many years of good attendance, established partnerships, and support in Wayne County.
But Flint & Genesee did not disappoint. Thanks to months of community outreach by Scott and the support of community leaders and local sponsors, the rodeo’s debut was a rip-roaring success.
“Once word-of-mouth got out, the rodeo became the talk of the town,” Scott said. “We ended up selling more pre-sale tickets than the arena could hold; we brought in more bleachers the week before to make room for all the people who wanted to come.”
As much as the Midwest Invitational Rodeo loves competing, the men and women who roll up their sleeves and climb in the saddle are even more interested in preserving the legacy of Black cowboys – and sharing those stories with attendees.
Although history books and Hollywood rarely tell the tale, historians estimate that 1 in 4 cowboys after the Civil War was Black. From Southern plantations to the Texas plains, Black cowboys made their mark moving cattle across the American West.
Today, the Midwest Invitational Rodeo and Black rodeo circuits seek to reclaim that narrative, showcasing the talent, resilience, and horsemanship of Black riders across the country.
For many rodeo attendees, the Black rodeo is more than an event; it’s a space where Black people of all ages can see their historic contributions come to life. That’s especially true in Genesee County which saw a huge influx of Black families from the South migrate here during the 20th century in search of auto industry jobs.
Amari Steward, executive director of Explore Flint & Genesee, said her own grandparents came North from Mississippi decades ago for a better opportunity working at General Motors.
“But my grandfather still loved to watch those Westerns because it reminded him of his youth,” Steward said. “Sitting at the Midwest Invitational Rodeo last summer, you could almost feel the nostalgia, hearing grandparents tell their grandchildren what life was like for them on the farm when they were young.”
Steward said she’s pleased to have the Midwest Invitational Rodeo in Genesee County, along with the Gaines Community Rodeo, which celebrates its 22nd annual event July 18-19.
“We’re glad to be able to bridge that gap and to offer so many opportunities for people to engage with rodeos in our region,” she said.
Excitement is already building for both events.
Flint resident Tyree Upchurch said he had a great time at last year’s Midwest rodeo and can’t wait for its return in June. Upchurch spent much of his childhood in Arkansas where he learned to ride horses.
Now 45 years old and owner of Slab Masters food truck, Upchurch decided to buy a horse of his own several years ago and has a Tennessee Walker named Lightning. He and Lightning took part in last year’s rodeo grand entrance, a colorful procession that marks the start of the event.
“I was very excited to find out the rodeo was coming to Flint because we need something like that here,” Upchurch said. “A lot of children don’t think it’s possible for people of color to ride horses or compete in a rodeo because they don’t see it enough. That’s why events like this are so important.”
Upchurch said he sometimes rides Lightning through his North Flint neighborhood, answering questions about the horse from people he meets along the way.
“When they see a guy like me riding around the inner city on my horse, I get a lot of attention,” he said.
Along with the rodeo events in which riders will compete for an estimated $20,000 in prize money, Scott envisions this year’s rodeo as a weekend-long cultural celebration. She’s been hard at work recruiting food, entertainment, and fashion vendors and partnering with organizations like Genesee County 4-H and hospitals to make it a community outreach event.
“It’s really a family-friendly event with entertainment for everyone,” Steward said.
Following the rodeo competitions on Friday and Saturday, the public is invited to return on Sunday to the fairgrounds for what Scott calls a family reunion with plenty of food and music on tap.
Neeley said he foresees enthusiasm for the rodeo will continue to grow as more residents and businesses see its value not only as a source of entertainment, but also as a cultural and economic driver.
Scott is also looking forward to a long future for the rodeo in Flint & Genesee.
“Our mission is to leave you with a story to tell,” Scott said. “We want to inspire, connect, and create intentional learning for our youth and the community in a joyful and surprising way.”