Carr adds stars to Big Spring rodeo

BIG SPRING, Texas – Dane Driver and the rest of the volunteers who organize the Big Spring Cowboy Reunion and Rodeo are doing everything they can to draw more and more people to the annual event.

It all started with building a fan base, and it’s culminating in the addition of more contestants to compete, starting with this year’s event, set for 8 p.m. Thursday, June 16-Saturday, June 18, at the Rodeo Bowl.

For the folks in this west Texas community of 28,000 people, it comes down to seeing some intense competition, and a big part of that equation comes from the outstanding livestock and production from Dallas-based Pete Carr Pro Rodeo.

“The luxury of having Pete as our stock contractor is the kind of bucking stock we get here is the kind the cowboys want to ride,” said Driver, a longtime member of the volunteer committee. “It’s not like he’s got just one or two winners in his trailer; he brings a lot of good bucking horses and bulls to our rodeo.”

Carr is one of the premier livestock producers in ProRodeo, having been nominated for Stock Contractor of the Years 12 straight times. His herd features not only world champion bucking horses, but it’s also full of proven winners in bareback riding, saddle bronc riding and bull riding.

The Big Spring committee has upped the ante by increasing its local money into the purse by nearly three times what it was a year ago. That, combined with what the Carr firm brings to the table, pays off during rodeo week.

“We were Pete’s first rodeo when he got his card years ago,” Driver said. “With him comes professionalism and quality stock. The caliber of his personnel – whether it’s John Gwatney as the chute boss or the timers or secretary or pickup men or even the guys in the back – it’s all top notch.

“If you want your rodeo to be run and be a spectator event, it’s got to flow like a well-oiled machine, and that doesn’t happen by itself. That happens because of everybody that Pete brings with him to produce our rodeo.”

Production is vital in rodeo these days. Everything comes across flawlessly, despite rodeo being an animal-driven event. That’s because of the Carr crew members that understand the need to put on a great show. Rodeo is more than a competition; each performance is also a family-friendly evening of entertainment.

“There are production challenges here in Big Spring, but they handle it all well,” Driver said. “It’s got to run just as smoothly behind the scenes as it does in the arena for a two-hour show to come across like we plan for.

“When you’ve got someone like Pete and the people on his crew, you’ve got partners in overcoming whatever obstacles you face.”

It’s something the people of Big Spring have come to expect in their rodeo.