Twice a year there is a large event hosted right outside of  Auburn, Alabama called Auburn Rodeo. And while yes, there is a rodeo, it's more of a giant tailgate leading up to a concert. Hartley and a few of her friends had been doing quite a bit of traveling and decided to add another trip to the itinerary for April 29, 2023 to attend the Auburn Rodeo. Why? Well, why not? Rodeo, country concert, tailgating, an excuse to dress up, it was an obvious decision. Meanwhile in Florida, a tight knit group was making arrangements to attend the same event and when Jack got the invite, he figured "why not?" So both groups loaded up and made the trip - one much further than the other - to Auburn, Alabama. If you've never been to the Auburn Rodeo let me set the scene. Rows and rows of cars and trucks for as far as the eye can see. A huge stage and a little arena somewhere in the mix of it all. Cars pile in all morning and line up before setting up their tailgate, which usually consists of folding tables and chairs, grills, and ice chests. Groups, like Jack's, pull in strategically to all park together, but somehow this little car with Texas plates made its way into their line. Hartley and her friends had parked in the middle of their group. Maybe it was an accident, maybe it was fate, or maybe it was God. After wandering around for some time the groups started to talk. Before long the question was asked "are any of y'all single? We're trying to find a girl for our friend Jack." While all four girls from that Texas car were single, Hartley took it as a joke and decided to play into this. After a few games around a folding table, Hartley and Jack began to talk. Ignoring the funny faces and joking friends, they actually started to be interested in the conversation. As the night went on, someone slipped Jack Hartley's number. The days following the rodeo consisted of more conversations, but nothing out of the ordinary. Fast forward to October of 2023 and both groups decided to make the trip back for the second Auburn rodeo of the year. This time with the intention to rejoin the groups. Of course Jack and Hartley spent most of this time together enjoying each other's company. One thing was clear to them both, this was a crazy idea. As crazy as it may have been it wasn't long before the road trips started. After about four months of FaceTiming, Jack made the trip to Texarkana. Then Hartley made the trip to Florida. As this trend continues, it was clear to both of them, and all who witnessed it, that they were in it for the long haul. While it may have started as just a joke, because of an accidental parking situation, it turned into so much more than that. A crazy idea turned into a crazy love story on how a girl from Arkansas falls for a boy from Florida.