FAYETTEVILLE, Ala. – Cayden and Collin Roland, brothers from Fayetteville, Alabama, spent years competing side by side on the baseball field, and now they are continuing that journey together on the rodeo team at Missouri Valley College.
The two are now competing there, making the jump from high school baseball into rodeo at the collegiate level. Cayden, a junior, competes in tie-down calf roping and team roping, while Collin, a sophomore, competes in bareback riding and team roping. That is what makes their story stand out: two brothers from a small town in Talladega County who made the move to Missouri and are still competing side by side, even in different events.
For Cayden, that means calf roping, where his days are built on repetition and long hours. From feeding horses early in the morning to class and then straight to the arena, his schedule does not leave much room for anything else, but that is what drives him.
“What I enjoy most about it is the thrill of the run,” Cayden said. “It’s just me, my horse, and a calf. Once you rope and tie one, it lights a fire in me and makes me want it more.”
For Collin, it is bareback riding, where there is no easing into anything.
“In bareback riding, it’s 110 percent each time you get on,” he said. “If you don’t show up to compete, you might as well not get on.”
They may compete in different events, but the approach is the same. Both say their time playing baseball at Fayetteville High School still shows up in how they handle rodeo, from the work to the mindset and the expectation to compete every time out. “If you don’t show up and compete, you’ve failed,” Collin said. “You have to show up and give it everything you’ve got,” Cayden added.
The biggest difference for both has been everything that comes with competing in college rodeo. Instead of traveling as a full team, it involves long drives and a lot of time on the road with just a few teammates. “We jump in a truck full of buddies and take off,” Collin said. “We live on the road more than we do at college.”
For Cayden, one of the biggest challenges has been adjusting to everything that comes with college rodeo. “The biggest adjustment is being more disciplined and staying on top of everything,” he said. Once he steps into competition, it does not get any easier. “This level of competition is tough,” Cayden said. “It has really tested me, not just in rodeo but in life. I’m still blessed to be able to compete.”
Collin said one of the biggest challenges for him has been staying healthy throughout the season. “Staying healthy is a big part of it,” he said. “You’ve got to take care of your body if you want to keep competing.”
Through all of the challenges and victories, they have something a lot of athletes don’t have: each other, not just as teammates, but as brothers. “It’s better than people think,” Cayden said. “At the end of the day, I know I have him by my side.” That connection shows up in ways most people don’t see, whether it’s helping behind the chutes, giving advice, or pushing each other through practice. “We rely on each other more often, and it makes us better,” Collin said.
Even in team roping, where both have to do their job for either one to have a chance, that bond shows up. And no matter how far they are from home, Fayetteville is still part of everything they do. “It means a lot to represent a small town like Fayetteville,” Cayden said. “It shows that you can do anything you put your mind to,” Collin added.
And when it comes to advice for younger athletes back home, the message is simple. “No matter what sport you do, you’ve got to put in the work,” Cayden said. “It’s that extra hour that makes you what you want to be.” “You need to have discipline, motivation, and a strong work ethic. Stay focused and allow the Lord to create a path for you,” Collin added.
They each have their own goals ahead. Cayden is working to climb in calf roping and compete at a higher level, while Collin is pushing toward success in bareback riding beyond college. But what they will remember most is simple: they are doing it together. “Not many people get to travel and have their brother by their side every day,” Collin said. “Being able to do life together in college and rodeo is pretty awesome.”
Both say none of it would be possible without their family. “We wouldn’t be here without them,” Cayden said. “Everything we’ve been able to do comes from their support.” “They’ve supported us every step of the way,” Collin added. “We wouldn’t have this opportunity without them.”
From Fayetteville to Missouri, that support is still with them, making the chance to compete together mean even more. For those who have watched them grow up and compete, seeing them reach this level together is something special.
