BRAZOS COUNTY, Texas (KRHD) — The annual student-led, off-campus Aggie Bonfire is a tradition that has brought generations of students together for more than a century.
Watch the full story here:
15 ABC spoke with some of the students who helped build the bonfire, and they tell him this tradition is about so much more than just the flames — it's about community, pride, and the Aggie spirit.
"This stretches back over 100 years of Aggie tradition, and this is a long unbeaten path of people who have done the same thing year over year as Aggie," TAMU student, Hutton Seltzer said.
For more than a century, students have rolled up their sleeves to build one of Texas A&M's most recognized traditions — the Aggie Bonfire. It brings students together, sparks pride, and fuels that burning desire to beat UT in the Lone Star Showdown.
"As soon as that thing goes up and you see it just catch fire all the way up, 60-foot flames reaching up to the clouds, it is insane. It's a feeling you can't even describe. Spirit can never be told," TAMU student, Michael Branch said.
But for the students who put in the work, the bonfire is about so much more than stacking logs. They build it to honor the 12 Aggies who lost their lives in the 1999 collapse.
"They're carrying on doing what those people love, which is building the bonfire," Seltzer said.
With every bonfire, students tell 15 ABC the Aggie spirit only gets stronger — passed down from one class to the next.
"Everyone's coming together for something bigger than them," Seltzer said.
When 15 ABC asked what students hope others get from the experience, Branch had a simple answer.
"The Aggie spirit," Branch said. "It's gonna morph your mind and what you think about Texas A&M in such a way that you will not remember anything else the same."
Students tell 15ABC the bonfire's embers will keep burning for a few days after the event, and they're already making plans for next year's Aggie Bonfire.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.