Ranching and Rodeoing in the Real World, Living the Cowboy Way
In INSP’s new original series, The Cowboy Way, premiering, August 10th at 8p.m. ET, viewers across the country get an insider’s look at family ranching in today’s world. Each episode of this fun-loving and adventure-filled series, follows cowboys, Bubba Thompson, Cody Harris, and Booger Brown, three best buddies and south Alabama ranchers who, like the cowboys of old, raise cattle and horses, and live according to the cowboy code—dedication to faith, family, hard work, and American values.
Deep Rodeo Roots
From week to week, viewers share in Bubba’s, Cody’s and Booger’s stories—the work, family and life challenges, the highs and lows of ranch and rodeo life, the laughs and fun as they give their all to build their business, Faith Cattle Company. While all three men have a connection to rodeo, Cody’s roots run deepest, as a pro-rodeo tie-down calf-roping champ.
Coming from a family of steer wrestlers, Cody followed in his father’s, uncle’s and cousins’ footsteps for many years until an accident as a teenager side-lined him. When he was able to return to the saddle, he traded bulldogging for calf roping.
Among Cody’s many titles, he was the Professional Cowboy Association Calf Roping Rookie of the Year in 2007, Calf Roping Year End Award Winner in 2009, and became well-known for turning out winning roping horses, most notably a chestnut named Ricky Jack.
“That was the best horse I ever trained. It wasn’t that he was that great; that dude was just a winner. He was just a gritty winner…and he drew good!” He laughs.
Cody sold the dark chestnut to PRCA roping champ and NFR qualifier, Randall Carlisle. Sadly, Ricky Jack was put down in 2015.
It was a made horse Cody called Booger (because of an extra flap in his nose that made him sound as if he were snorting) that was special to Cody.
“He was my favorite horse ever. He put me at a totally different level of competition,” Cody says, “Before him, I won a few saddles and buckles, but I won three saddles and about 60, 70 buckles off that one horse.”
Cody is retired from competition, but he keeps his hand in the game as the producer of “Bulls on the Beach” in Orange Beach, Alabama.
“I’ve won a bunch of saddles and buckles…a bunch! But the greatest accomplishment I have is my salvation and family,” Cody says.
