The Film

The Pony Express rides again! Each year, hundreds of volunteers on horseback carry a single pouch of U.S. mail across eight states in 10 days—retracing a route that helped unite a fracturing nation. In this documentary, follow Wyoming's riders as they race the clock across sagebrush flats, mountain passes, and high desert: 56 hours to carry the mail across one of the most dramatic stretches of the American West, and keep a 160-year-old promise alive.

The Filmmakers

BJ Klophaus has lived several lives as a video producer. In NYC, he worked on web series and digital content for MTV, PBS, Conde Nast, and The Weather Channel. In Guatemala, he transitioned to shooting marketing videos for highland treks and volcano tours. Eventually he found his way to Lander, Wyoming, where he worked in the video department of the outdoor education school, NOLS. Still based in Lander, he now produces documentaries full time as a video producer at Wyoming PBS. BJ brings a strong sense of story from his background in editing, and a genuine curiosity of the people and places around him.

Steven McKnight was introduced to videography in junior high and high school in Lander, and decided that was the life for him. At Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri, he was exposed to many types of production, and was ultimately drawn to documentary-style storytelling. He has spent his career in the public media sphere, first at Lakeland PBS in Minnesota, and for the last 13 years for Wyoming PBS. He enjoys telling local stories, trying to capture the emotion that only people passionate about their chosen subject can convey. His wife Mary and young son Matthew are the subjects he's most passionate about.

Snapshots from the Film

WY PBS is proud to share stories of adventure and discovery that bring our state's treasures to light. Through films like Before the Wire, we connect viewers with the places and remarkable experiences that make Wyoming unique. To help us continue bringing these stories to your screen, please consider supporting WY PBS.