Local entrepreneur TJ “Cowboy TJ” Stevenson relocated his Copperstate Riding Club, Arizona’s first fully Black-owned horse ranch, from Phoenix to a 2-acre ranch in Gilbert after outgrowing his original space. Encouraged by Velma Trayham, president of the Black Chamber of Arizona, Stevenson embraced the opportunity to scale his business. The move was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by community leaders, including Gilbert’s mayor, highlighting strong local support for the ranch’s growth and its role in the community.

Beyond horseback riding lessons, Copperstate Riding Club aims to serve as a hub for youth empowerment, therapeutic workshops, and community outreach, using horses as a tool for positive change. Stevenson plans to expand programming to include activities like goat yoga and fitness, with a vision to grow the ranch’s impact across the Southwest over the next decade. The club exemplifies how vision, collaboration, and community support can foster meaningful social and economic progress.