BIG SPRING, Texas – Even rodeo cowboys need to celebrate.

Bareback rider Wes Stevenson did that from June 16-18 when he won the title at the Big Spring Cowboy Reunion and Rodeo with an 86-point ride on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Close Call, collecting the $1,102 that came with the victory.

“The crowd that was there that night seemed to be more family-oriented,” said Stevenson of Lubbock, Texas. “It made for more fun since the guys and I all had our families with us.”

Stevenson and two members of his traveling posse – three-time world champion Will Lowe of Canyon, Texas, and four-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier Tom McFarland of Sunset, Texas – finished atop the leaderboard in Big Spring. McFarland finished second with an 85 on Carr’s Back Road, while Lowe’s 83 on Carr’s Scruffy was third.

Pete Carr, owner of the livestock company, has provided the great animal athletes to the Big Spring Reunion and Rodeo for several years, and Carr Pro Rodeo is developing quite a reputation as one of the best stock contractors in ProRodeo.

“The only thing I knew about that horse was that it had a brand on it, No. 95, and that was about it,” Stevenson said. “Pete told me a little bit about the horse, but I didn’t know anything else.”

What happened when the chute gate opened is best described as electric.

“I knew that horse would be wild and close to the chutes, and that’s what I told Wes,” Carr said. “You always like it when the best guys in the world get on your horses, because they really can make it that much better.”

That worked fine for Stevenson, a six-time qualifier to the NFR, the annual grand championship in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.

I probably ride better if I don’t try to set a trap or try to have a game plan of what I think I want to do,” he said. “I do my best and let God take care of the best.”

Stevenson is one of eight contestants crowned champions in Big Spring, including bull rider Casey Huckabee, who rode Carr’s Synergy for 86 points; saddle bronc rider Sam Spreadborough, who was 86 points on Carr’s Blue Spy; steer wrestler David Sab, 5.2 seconds; team ropers Goose and Jesse Guzman, 24.7 seconds on two runs; tie-down roper Ryan Watkins, 8.6 seconds; and barrel racer Cassie Moseley, 16.64 seconds.

“The most important thing to me was that I got to get on some good bucking horses,” Stevenson said. “It is close to home, so I’m not wearing myself on the road. The $1,000 I won there is the confidence-booster I need to go out and win $10,000. I knew we had a chance to get on some of Pete’s good bucking horses, and that helps me a lot down the road.”

Big Spring Cowboy Reunion & Rodeo
Big Spring, Texas, June 16-18
All-around cowboy: Monty Eakin, $747, steer wrestling and tie-down roping.
Bareback riding: 1. Wes Stevenson, 86 points on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Close Call, $1,102; 2. Tom McFarland, 85 on Carr’s Back Road, $827; 3. Will Lowe, 83 on Carr’s Scruffy, $551; 4. Matt Bright, 82 on Carr’s Power Ade, $276.
Steer wrestling: 1. David Sab, 5.2 seconds, $902; 2. Monty Eakin, 5.3, $747; 3. Clayton Tuchscherer, 5.6, $591; 4. Brent Lassetter, 6.6, $436; 5. Jack Hodges, 6.7, $280; 6. Chance Campbell, 7.0, $156.
Team roping: First round: 1. Goose Guzman/Jesse Guzman, 15.0 seconds, $282 each; no other qualified runs; Second round: Goose Guzman/Jesse Guzman, 9.7 seconds, $282 each; no other qualified runs; Average: Goose Guzman/Jesse Guzman, 24.7 seconds on two head, $423 each.
Saddle bronc riding: 1. Sam Spreadborough, 86 points on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Blue Spy, $1,159; 2. Casey Sisk, 83 on Carr’s Smoke Wagon, $869; 3. (tie) Weston Ireland on Carr’s Corner Guard, Travis Edwards on Carr’s Smoke Wagon and Seth Schafer on Carr’s Paper Doll, 82, $290 each.
Tie-down roping: 1. Ryan Watkins, 8.6 seconds, $1,192; 2. Cody Owens, 8.9, $986; 3. (tie) Matt Kenney and Juan Flores Jr., 10.0, $678 each; 5. (tie) Will Kiker and Garrett Hale, 10.5, $288 each.
Barrel racing: 1. Cassie Moseley, 16.64 seconds, $1,021; 2. Shelley Morgan, 16.78, $876; 3. Kassidy Dennison, 16.95, $730; 4. Layna Kight, 16.99, $632; 5. Callie Chamberlain, 17.04, $486; 6. (tie) Debbie Bloxom and Morgann McDonald, 17.05, $340 each; 8. Margaret Stephenson, 17.10, $195; 9. Lisa Fernandes, 17.12, $146; 10. Jessi Eagleberger, 17.14, $97.
Bull riding: 1. Casey Huckabee, 86 points on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Synergy, $1,140; 2. Trevor Kastner, 82 on Carr’s Copper Thief, $855; 3. Camo Mullins, 80 on Carr’s Mingus Nights, $570; 4. (tie) A.L. Ambrose on Carr’s M.J. and Dakota Rasberry on Carr’s Lights Out, 77, $143 each.
Total payoff: $26,497. Stock contractor: Carr Pro Rodeo. Rodeo secretary: Delia Walls. Officials: DeWitt Forrest and Travis Howe. Timers: Denise Adams and Sandy Gwatney. Announcer: Mike Mathis. Specialty act: Keith Isley and Blake Goode. Bullfighters: Scotty Spencer and Chris Kirby. Clown/barrelman: Keith Isley. Flankman: Pete Carr. Chute bosses: Pete Carr and John Gwatney. Pickup men: Paul Peterson and Guy Allen.