NASHVILLE, Tenn. – On Saturday night at PBR Teams in Nashville, the spotlight shifted from bucking chutes to battlefield courage as the Be Cowboy Award, presented by Horse Soldier Bourbon, honored a man whose service proves you don’t need a Stetson or spurs to live by the cowboy code.

This week’s honoree was Sergeant First Class Christopher Spence (right), a retired U.S. Army Special Forces soldier who spent 25 years serving his country, including 17 years exclusively in Special Forces. Spence’s career took him across the Middle East, with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, where his actions became part of history.

The award was presented by Will Summers (left); retired Special Forces officer and Horse Soldier Bourbon ambassador. Summers served 25 years in the Army as a Special Forces communications sergeant and infantry officer and was a member of ODA 595, the famed “Horse Soldiers” team that crossed into Afghanistan just over a month after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Alongside 12 Special Forces soldiers and two Air Force combat controllers, Summers’ team partnered with the Northern Alliance on horseback to launch the U.S.’s first response in Afghanistan, a mission that inspired the America’s Response Monument and the film 12 Strong. In honoring Spence, they recognized a fellow soldier whose courage, grit and loyalty mirror the values that define the cowboy way.

Spence’s role in Afghanistan was historic. He captured the first photographs of American Special Forces on horseback in the country—images that former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld used to announce the U.S. presence in Afghanistan. That iconic photo later inspired the America’s Response Monument, now the official logo of Horse Soldier Bourbon, and currently is on display at the Smithsonian Institution.

Since hanging up his combat boots, Spence has continued to serve others through his work with UNIT Solutions LLC, developing non-lethal training rifles to enhance safety and efficiency for military and law enforcement training. Beyond his professional contributions, he serves as the director of the Special Forces Scholarship Fund, providing merit-based scholarships to the children of 5th Special Forces Group members. Under his leadership, the fund has awarded nearly $2 million to almost 800 scholars.

Spence’s life reflects a commitment to service that extends far beyond the battlefield. Whether on horseback in Afghanistan, developing innovative training solutions, or supporting military families through scholarships, he lives by the same values that define the cowboy way—courage, integrity and an unwavering dedication to others.

As the Nashville crowd rose to its feet, they were honoring more than just a decorated military career—they were celebrating a lifetime devoted to leadership, sacrifice and legacy. Like the Horse Soldiers who rode into the unknown after Sept. 11, 2001, Christopher Spence continues to show up, ready to serve.

From all of us at PBR and Horse Soldier Bourbon, thank you, Sergeant First Class Christopher Spence, for reminding us what it truly means to be cowboy.

Stay tuned after each PBR Camping World Team Series stop as we continue to spotlight the local heroes and changemakers who inspire us.