BIG SPRING, Texas – There’s a bit of a different pace to the way Bill Tutor goes to work as a rodeo cowboy.

He’s not nearly as rushed as he was just a few years ago, when he was chasing every dollar possible across North America. He might be in Howard County, Texas, one night, then in Reno, Nevada, the next, so there wasn’t much time to linger about or celebrate the moment.

He had plenty of time Saturday night to talk about his bareback riding victory at the Big Spring Cowboy Reunion and Rodeo. He spurred Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Hush Money for 84 points to win $1,799 and a buckle in the first year the rodeo is doling out the wearable trophies to its champions.

“I don’t know how long Pete’s had that horse, but I found some videos before I came out here, and he looked great,” said Tutor, 33, a two-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Huntsville, Texas. “That horse really bucked.”

This marked Tutor’s second time to win Big Spring, and he’s had great success on Carr bucking horses over his career. He’s finished among the top 25 in the world standings seven times since turning pro 13 seasons ago, including those magical years in 2017-18 when he made back-to-back trips to the sport’s grand finale, the NFR.

Life is a bit different now, but he still loves riding broncs. No, life changed a few years ago when he and his wife, Ashlyn, gave birth to their first son, Wes. They recently added to their brood, another son, Winston Roy, who was born June 6.

“When I had my first little boy, I saw myself slowing down,” Tutor said. “I didn’t like to be away from home that much. I was still easing around going to some things aimlessly. This year, I thought, I needed some goals, so I set a goal on doing the best I can in the Texas Circuit, and that’s what I aim to do.

“I thought about going somewhere, but I realized I’m just trying to stay in the Texas Circuit. It’s nice. I get to be home with my family every week.”

They also join him on the road. In fact, Ashlyn and the boys were in Big Spring on Saturday night, so he’s living the best of both worlds. When he was still trying to hunt down world championships, the traveling was taking a toll. He was gone from his southeast Texas home for weeks, sometimes months, on end.

This schedule allows him to be with his family as much as possible while still chasing his love of riding broncs.

“Both boys have traveled great this week,” he said. “The bigger one can just sit in the car and talk and play well; the other one sleeps the whole time right now, but the older one has been a pretty good road warrior.”

Like father like son.

Big Spring Cowboy Reunion and Rodeo
June 19-21
All-around cowboy: Lane Webb, $2,508, tie-down roping and team roping.

Bareback riding: 1. Bill Tutor, 84 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Hush Money, $1,799; 2. (tie) Payton Lackey and Brayze Schill, 81, $1,172 each; 4. Zach Hibler, 80, $654; 5. Owen Brouillette, 75, $382; 6. Monty Ray Fontenot, 69, $273.

Steer wrestling: 1. Lane Webb, 10.0 seconds, $2,508; 2. Travis Staley, 10.2, $2,181; 3. (tie) Word Hudson and Ace Reese, 10.4, $1,690 each; 5. Clint Singleton, 10.8, $1,199; 6. Richard Newton, 11.8, $872; 7. Jett Barrett, 12.1, $545; 8. Cody Little, 12.4, $218.

Breakaway roping: 1. Lindsey Baker, 2.2 seconds, $2,645; 2. Kimberly Luco, 2.3, $2,267; 3. Tibba Smith, 2.4, $1,889; 4. (tie) Makayla Boisjoli and Lari Dee Guy, 2.5, $1,449 each; 6. Caitlin Blackwell, 2.7, $1,008; 7. Kayelen Helton, 2.8, $756; 8. Sequin Brewer, 2.9, $504; 9. (tie) Jayme Marcrum and Keylie Tatum, 3.1, $315 each.

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Sterling Crawley, 85.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Apache Junction, $1,884; 2. Chase Brooks, 85, $1,444; 3. Chris Williams, 83, $1,067; 4. (tie) Jacobs Crawley and Cayden McFadden, 80, $565 each; 6. (tie) Cooper Thatcher and Tom Webster, 79, $283 each; 8. Cooper Lane, 78.5, $188.

Team roping: 1. Roan Oldfield/Pace Blanchard, 4.4 seconds, $2,394 each; 2. Conley Kleinhans/Kyler Kanady, 4.7, $2,082; 3. Cody Carter/Blake Bentley, 5.0, $1,770; 4. (tie) McCray Profili/McCoy Profili and Joshua Torres/Creed West, 5.1, $1,301 each; 6. Kyler Beshirs/Wyatt Mask, 5.5, $833; 7. Corey Whinnery/Robert Murphy, 5.6, $521; 8. Peyton Walters/Tyson Thompson, 5.8, $208.

Barrel racing: 1. Shayna Wimberly, 15.68 seconds, $2,327; 2. Cheyenne Wimberley, 15.73, $1,978; 3. Caley Walkoviak, 15.78, $1,629; 4. Jimmie Smith, 15.89, $1,396; 5. Jacque Woolman, 15.92, $1,164; 6. Jennifer Driver, 15.93, $815; 7. (tie) Debbie Bloxom and Corley Cox, 15.94, $524 each; 9. Stacey Grimes, 15.98, $407; 10. Liz Herrin, 16.00, $349; 11. Morgan Addison, 16.02, $291; 12. (tie) Alex Lang and Bristan McCarley, 16.06, $116 each.

Bull riding: No qualified rides.