ALLEN, Texas – For Pete Carr, there’s a special place in his heart for the Tom Thumb Texas Stampede.
It boasts of a tradition of excellence and grand entertainment. Most importantly, it serves as a means to raise money for children in north Texas. That’s why Carr is intimately involved with the event, set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8, and noon and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, at the Allen Events Center.
“I wanted to be involved in this because north Texas is home to me and our companies, and I’m passionate about the mission giving back to the kids,” said Carr, owner of Pete Carr’s Classic Pro Rodeo and Carr Pro Rodeo, which, combined, makes up the largest stock contracting firm in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.
“We’ve been involved in the Texas Stampede for a long time as a livestock firm, but this charity is close to my heart and means a lot to me. I was honored when they ask me to serve on the executive board of directors.”
Funds raised at the Tom Thumb Texas Stampede go to several entities, like Camp John Marc, which boasts of Special Camps for Special Kids, serving children with chronic illnesses and major physical disabilities and the families of those children; and ManeGait Therapeutic Horsemanship, which provides adults and children with disabilities the opportunity to move beyond their boundaries through the healing power of the horse. Those are just two of many organizations touched by the folks who attend the stampede.
“Along with our rodeo, we’re really getting back to our mission,” said Zandy Carnes, the stampede’s executive director. “Not only are we providing an event that’s going to entertain the crowd with the performance and the high caliber of contestants, but it also brings back the focus of why we do this, and that’s the kids.
“We’re spreading out to the various children’s charities that encompass a wide group of people.”
For Carnes and others associated with the Tom Thumb Texas Stampede, it’s important that Carr is so involved.
“I feel we needed somebody who has rodeo in his background, not only someone who is a businessman,” she said. “Pete encompasses all of those qualities. He comes in here with the experience in knowing the industry.
“He brings an element into it that some people haven’t. He’s savvy about getting the word out.”
It helps, too, that Carr’s name as a stock contractor is quite appealing to the cowboys who make their living riding bucking beasts.
“I like a good rodeo with good production, because it gets your motor going and you seem to ride better,” said Bradley Harter, an eight-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Weatherford, Texas. “It helps when you have a good rodeo with good sound, and you know you’re going to get that at all of Pete Carr’s rodeos.”
That’s one reason why Carr will be in Allen for the Tom Thumb Texas Stampede. His passion for helping kids is another.