November will be an exciting month for the Sam Houston State University rodeo team, which hosts the SHSU College Rodeo this November 8–9 at the Lone Star Convention and Expo Center in Conroe. The rodeo promises to be action packed. Months of preparation and practice have gone into this big event, and the team is excited to showcase their skills and dedication starting at 7 p.m. each evening.
SHSU rodeo team
Sam Houston State University
The SHSU rodeo season begins in early summer, during recruiting season, as rodeo coach Edward “Bubba” Miller and assistant coach Aaron Sandel seek out young people who want to join the Bearkats rodeo family.
Coach Bubba Miller, left, takes pride in helping his students achieve their academic and rodeo goals.
Erin Hughes
“These aren’t just kids that rodeo,” Miller says, “they are kids that push each other to be better people, better students, better employees—better people all around. I am looking for students that are going to make an impact in the community.”
The students then compete throughout the semester, which culminates with the College National Finals Rodeo in June.
“I guess my favorite part of the whole season is the whole season,” says Miller, who has had a passion for rodeo since he was young and loves nothing more than seeing his 50 young recruits succeed throughout the season and continue to follow their dreams.
Sonilyn Miller gets ready for an evening practice at Gibbs Ranch in Huntsville.
Erin Hughes
Get a behind-the-scenes look at the SHSU rodeo team’s season by visiting its Facebook page at facebook.com/shsurodeoteam.
Mid-South Synergy is a proud supporter of the Sam Houston State rodeo team and would like to encourage our readers to show your support of these student-athletes as they compete throughout the 2019–2020 season.
Jay Terrell, a SHSU rodeo team member, knows that taking good care of the animals is a top priority.
Erin Hughes
As part of the agricultural department at SHSU, the rodeo team practices at Gibbs Ranch, a 1,740-acre property about 10 minutes from the Sam Houston State campus, which is powered by Mid-South Synergy.
As the university system continues to grow and the agricultural department expands, SHSU is making plans for capital improvement projects that will bring economic growth and development to the Mid-South Synergy service territory. The university’s master plan will centralize its agricultural science laboratory facilities at the Gibbs Ranch Education and Research Center. For more information on SHSU’s capital campaign, visit shsu.edu/campaign.
Eat ’em up, Kats!
Special thanks to the SHSU rodeo team, Miller, Sandel and Sam Houston State University.
