Harris

ROBERTSDALE, Alabama — A new original docuseries, which is currently being filmed partly in Baldwin County and featuring a local cowboy, has been picked up by a national cable network to begin airing in 2017.

“We’ve been doing a lot of filming and we’re hoping that we are going to be a part of the network for years to come,” said Robertsdale’s Cody Harris, who is featured in the series “The Cowboy Way: Alabama” along with fellow ranchers Bubba Thompson and Chris “Booger” Brown.

INSP announced Monday that the family entertainment network has ordered nine episodes of the series, which is being filmed in Robertsdale and Geneva, Alabama, scheduled to debut in August 2017.

“In today’s fast-paced, high-tech world, it is fascinating when a group of young men reject present comforts in favor of an authentic cowboy way of life,” said Craig Miller, VP of Original Programming at INSP. “We are confident our viewers, who have demonstrated a real passion for stories about cowboys, will embrace Bubba, Cody, and Booger, as these guys are the real deal.”

According to the release, The Cowboy Way: Alabama follows the adventures of three modern-day cowboys: Bubba Thompson, an industrious rancher and carpenter; Cody Harris, a celebrated rodeo champion and cattle dealer; and Chris "Booger" Brown, an expert cattleman and gifted horse trainer.

“Much like the cowboys of the Old West, these friends live and ride according to a timeless cowboy code as they build their cattle business in southern Alabama,” according to the release. “The long days and exhausting work leave little time for personal lives, but this entertaining and engaging series explores the manner in which they balance the challenges of life on the open range with the demands of raising a family.”

INSP is available nationwide to more than 83 million households via Dish Network (channel 259), DirecTV (channel 364), Verizon FiOS (channel 286), AT&T U-verse (channel 564) and more than 2,800 cable systems.

The Cowboy Way: Alabama is produced for INSP by Glassman Media. Andrew Glassman is the executive producer.

Glassman Media is an independent Los Angeles-based international television production company whose credits include NBC’s upcoming game show The Wall, produced in partnership with Lebron James and his production company Spring Hill Entertainment; four seasons of CMT’s record-setting series, Sweet Home Alabama; four seasons of the NBC hit dating series Average Joe; the critically-acclaimed Three Wishes (NBC), which was named the “most family friendly show on broadcast television.” Adaptations of Glassman Media original formats have been done in territories around the world.

Harris, fellow SHA alum Thompson and Brown formed the Faith Cattle Company in 2013. A reality show, “Dukes of Cattle” was made from that venture and the new series, produced by the same company that produced Sweet Home and Southern Nights, continues to follow their exploits. A pilot episode aired on the network twice in July.

“This is the first reality show to air on the network, so that’s groundbreaking for us,” Harris said. “Our pilot episode had really great ratings and we’re hoping to carry that momentum into the series for years to come.”

As with the pilot episode, the show will follow the three cowboys as they build their business and will also focus on their personal lives, particularly for Harris and Thompson as they focus on marriage and building a family.

“INSP is a relatively small network, but so was A & E before Duck Dynasty put them on the map,” Harris said. “With that show ending, we’re hoping to fill that void with this series. This is a Christian-based show and a family show, but there is also a lot of action.”

Much of the show is filmed in and around Baldwin County, particularly Robertsdale which, Harris said, was an opportunity for him to give back to his hometown.

“We’re responsible for feeding about 20 people while we’re here filming and I’ve made sure we patronize local businesses and restaurants,” he said. “I do love Robertsdale and want to do whatever I can to give back to the community.”