((PKG))Ê BLACK RODEO 
((Banner:  Rodeo Time))ÊÊ
((Reporter/Camera:ÊÊArturo Mart’nez))Ê
((Map:ÊÊDamascus,ÊArkansas; Memphis, Tennessee)) 
((NATS))
((Denise Tyus,ÊCowgirl))
Lot of people don't realize that there truly are black cowboys and cowgirls, because you don't see them in the history books. 
((NATS))
((Denise Tyus,ÊCowgirl))
My name is Denise Tyus.  I compete in rodeo.  It's a competitive event, gives you such an adrenaline rush.  It's like a drugless high.  It's a good thing.  You're playing in the dirt, but it's good, clean, fun that the whole family can do and enjoy.
((NATS))
((Denise Tyus,ÊCowgirl))
I've been around it just about all my life.  I actually didn't start competing until I was grown but my children have grown up around rodeo.  It helped us to teach our children about responsibility, setting some goals.  It was really something good.  It kept them out of trouble.  And then of course, my niece.  She's just been coming over and riding and I try to give her a few pointers.
((NATS))
((Denise Tyus,ÊCowgirl))
It's kind of a neat thing to be recognized as a black cowboy and a cowgirl in the area, but at the same time, there are so few.  It's one of those things that you think: oh, wow.  We're actually on our way to a friend of ours in Heber Springs, Arkansas.  Now my son and my husband, they're going to do a little steer wrestling practice.
((NATS))
((Denise Tyus,ÊCowgirl))
Steer wrestling, as it's called now, was once called Bulldogging, but that event was invented by an African American cowboy by the name of Bill Pickett.  You don't see a lot of that on TV.  So, African Americans played a pretty big role in the old west.
((NATS))
((Denise Tyus,ÊCowgirl))
Try to take extra good care of the animals, from the stock to the horses that we ride.  They're not being hurt during the rodeo.  If you take care of them, they enjoy what they are doing, they are really going to give you everything that they have.  You know, there's no reason to mistreat them.
((NATS))
((Denise Tyus,ÊCowgirl))
This weekend, the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo is going to Memphis, Tennessee.  It's just an event that portrays the cowboy and cowgirl from the African American community.
((NATS))
((Wefus Tyus,ÊCowboy))
Grandbaby stuff.
((NATS))
((Denise Tyus,ÊCowgirl))
It's like a little mini vacation.  Get an opportunity to travel with, again, my husband, children, granddaughters, my mom. 
((NATS))
((Sammy Climons, Rocking ÔCÕ Ranch))
We'll have the next rodeo this evening at seven o'clock.  But right now, I'm just doing lunch for everybody, some of my homemade sausages that I make.  Then everybody should be real good to go.  Their bellies will be full.  The horses are happy and this is what takes us to the top.
((NATS))
((Sammy Climons, Rocking ÔCÕ Ranch))
Did you try a piece of the sausage that I made?  I'm gonna let you try it.
((NATS))
((Denise Tyus,ÊCowgirl))
It's just a little more than an hour before rodeo time.  I'll hurry up and finish getting dressed.  Part of the requirements of rodeo is that you have on a long sleeve shirt, pair of boots.  Our belt buckle says a lot about what you've accomplished at rodeo and you gotta top it off with a hat.  So, pretty exciting.  It'll be loud and wild out there.
((NATS))
((Wefus Tyus,ÊCowboy))
I'm gonna be so fast, you're gonna have to be quick with your camera. 
((NATS))
((Rodeo host))
Well, ladies and gentlemen.  Are you ready to see your cowboys and cowgirls on Saturday night live?
((NATS))
((Denise Tyus,ÊCowgirl))
Right now, they're doing some calf roping and steer wrestling.  In steer wrestling, the guys jump off their horse and throw the steer down and it's a race for time.  The guy with the fastest time wins.
((NATS))
((Wefus Tyus,ÊCowboy))
My run didn't turn out the best.  Steer was getting a little strong on my arm so, I didn't really finish him good and the end result was he folded up on me and so, I just let him go. 
((NATS))
((Denise Tyus,ÊCowgirl))
Here in a minute, we're going to do some more ladies steer undecorating.  I also do an event called barrel racing.  You run a cloverleaf pattern.  It's a speed event.  You have to leave all through the barrels standing, because you can hit it as long as it stays standing, but if you knock it over, then it's a five second penalty.
((NATS))
((DeniseÕs mother,ÊCowgirl))
Go now.  Oh no.
((NATS))
((Denise Tyus,ÊCowgirl))
Oh man, it didn't go as well as planned.  I actually mowed the second barrel down. So therefore, I got a five second penalty.  So, no purse, no winnings today.
((NATS))
((Raemia Clemons,ÊCowgirl))
I'm a little bit nervous, I'm not gonna lie, but I can do it.  I'm always nervous, but I'll be alright.
((NATS))
Come on Raed.  Come on.  Go!!
((Denise Tyus,ÊCowgirl))
Raed, she made a nice run.  Probably one of the best runs we've ever seen her.  Just pretty proud of her right now.  Nice, everything we've been practicing, she got that done.
((NATS))
((Raemia Clemons,ÊCowgirl))
Thank you.  $198.  Third place.  It's alright.
((NATS))
((Denell Henderson,ÊCowboy))
It went pretty well, you know.  Got the win in the steer wrestling.  Finally, everything came together, horse worked good, got a good steer.  It's actually my full time job now.  So, it's a hard way to make a living but I love it, so I can't think of anything else I'd rather do.
((NATS))