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‘The Road to Casper’ celebrates the grit of two Texas A&M Rodeo Team stars

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Three-part video series, created by Texas A&M AgriLife Marketing and Communications, premieres Oct. 28

by Mamie Hertel

“The Road to Casper” is a captivating three-part video series that follows the inspiring story of two Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences students, Madalyn Richards ’25 and Gavin French ’25, on their journey to the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyoming.

The limited series will premiere Oct. 28 at a viewing party on the Texas A&M University campus and will be available to watch on the official College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ Youtube channel following the viewing party.

Produced by Texas A&M AgriLife Marketing and Communications, the limited series showcases the hard work, resilience and passion of these two talented athletes on the Texas Aggie Rodeo team, which stands as one of the best college rodeo teams in the nation.

A journey filled with grit, dedication and excellence

Roger Hanagriff, Ph.D, associate professor and Texas A&M Rodeo coach, said, “This series captures the heart and soul of our program, showcasing the hard work, passion and commitment that our athletes invest in representing Texas A&M University.”

“The Road to Casper” offers a unique behind-the-scenes glimpse of Richards and French as they navigate the rigorous demands of rodeo competition while balancing their academic coursework.

Richards, a student in the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication, who competes in goat tying and breakaway roping, ultimately wins a national championship, while French, a student in the Department of Animal Science, excels in bareback bronc riding, finishes fifth overall.

Madalyn Richards ’24 practices breakaway roping at an arena near her home on Friday, Feb 16, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (Courtney Sacco/Texas A&M AgriLife)
Texas A&M Rodeo team bareback rider Gavin French practices riding on his mechanical horse after a day of classes on Monday, Apr 15, 2024 in College Station, Texas. (Courtney Sacco/Texas A&M AgriLife)

Created by the award-winning visual media team of Sam Craft, producer; Courtney Sacco, director; Michael Miller, videographer; and Katie Perkins, videographer, “The Road to Casper” covers the final half of the 2023-2024 rodeo season that began in January and culminated with the College National Finals Rodeo in June.

Sacco, multimedia project coordinator for Texas A&M AgriLife Marketing and Communications, noted, “The series is a compelling visual narrative that brings viewers into the world of rodeo, highlighting not only the sport but also the incredible dedication of these student-athletes. It’s about the journey, perseverance and spirit of the Texas A&M Rodeo Team.”

Watch their journey unfold

Follow Madalyn Richards ’25 and Gavin French ’25 as they fought their way through the 2024 rodeo season on the road to the College National Finals Rodeo. Watch their journey on the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ Youtube channel beginning on Oct. 28 at 5 p.m. CST!

Experience the documentary

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