Event Overview

The Black Cowboy Festival is an annual celebration honoring the rich legacy and lasting contributions of African-American cowboys and frontiersmen. What began as a gathering of riders and families has grown into a cultural cornerstone—uniting history, recreation, education, and community in one unforgettable multi-day experience.

For nearly three decades, guests have come to learn, ride, dance, connect, and witness a living history that continues to inspire and empower. The festival shines a light on the vital role African Americans played in shaping Western heritage, both historically and today.

Historical Context

The story of the Black cowboy is one of resilience, mastery, freedom, and identity—yet it has often been overlooked. After the Civil War, thousands of African Americans headed West, becoming ranch hands, bronc busters, drovers, and frontiersmen. They helped build the American West, even though their stories rarely appear in traditional textbooks.

The Black Cowboy Festival exists to bring these stories forward, broaden public understanding, and honor the legacy of the African-American cowboy as an essential part of America's cultural fabric.

The Goal of the BCE Society

The Black Cultural Enlightenment (BCE) Society leads this mission by elevating African-American heritage through culture, community, agriculture, and education. BCE works to:

• Improve the quality of community relations by uniting people from diverse backgrounds.
• Develop an equine education and riding facility.
• Promote agricultural interest and teach self-reliance.
• Increase visitation through tourism, recreation, entertainment, education, and the arts.

The BCE Society invites people of every race and background to experience the beauty and power of African-American culture and heritage. History guides us forward, and what we build today becomes the foundation others rise from tomorrow.

“What you do today that is worthwhile will inspire others to act at some future time.” – Marcus Garvey