People nationwide will celebrate Juneteenth this weekend. In Dayton, the Dayton Black Rodeo Foundation is honoring this historic day by hosting a premiere event, the Dayton Black Rodeo. Saturday, African American men and women from across the country will saddle up for fierce competition and prizes.
This includes a 20-year-old bull rider, Treshawn Woodard. On June 20, he’s competing in Dayton’s inaugural Black Rodeo. He explained a winning bull ride is about a strong time and an "eye-catching" style.
"You have to ride for eight seconds to qualify for scoring in general," Woodard said. "Once you reach that eight seconds, depending on how the rider rides and depending on the bull buck is how they determine your points within the game."
"This is our heritage. We have cowboys in our ancestry. I think that it's important for people to see that."
Woodard first mounted a bull at age 15. Three years later, a serious injury grounded him. However, he said he's ready to ride and represent his hometown.
"I'm very excited. I'm 10 toes down and ready to win," Woodard said.
Woodard also volunteers with the Dayton Urban Riding Center. This group will have a few horses at the rodeo for patrons to pet and mount for short walks.
One of them will be Austin, a 9-year-old American Quarter Horse. At the center, he helps to introduce youth to the thrill of riding.
Juneteenth celebrates the date of June 19, 1865, when enslaved people of African descent living in Galveston, Texas, finally learned they were freed from slavery.
Other competitions include barrel racing, bareback riding, and tie-down roping. The Dayton Black Rodeo Foundation has contracted with Latting Rodeo Productions, Inc. to manage the competitions. The foundation is also sourcing tons of dirt from local Black farmers to build a rodeo pit behind Welcome Stadium. This is where Black riders from across the country will vie for top honors.
Kodi Rowden, with the Dayton Black Rodeo Foundation, applauded this event for spotlighting positive images of Black excellence.
"This is our heritage. We have cowboys in our ancestry. I think that it's important for people to see that," Rowden said.
In addition, the foundation is integrating educational components into the day.
"We'll also talk about land ownership, agriculture, taking care of animals and livestock, and entrepreneurship paths," she said.
A ticket gives you access to a full day of carnival games, the rodeo, a live concert, a trail ride and field dance, as well as a mechanical bull.
The foundation will also award several scholarships during the day's events.
Doors open at Noon on Saturday. Learn more at daytonblackrodeo.com.
