This rodeo season was all about the family for Beau Hill.

The veteran bull rider from West Glacier and father of three passed on the hectic traveling schedule of the Professional Bull Riders circuit to tour with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.

Hill has been to the PBR finals four times. His highest finish was 12th.

“I just wanted a change of scenery,” he said.

“It’s easier to take my kids rodeoing (with the PRCA). I’m not flying everywhere (like you have to do to compete in the PBR). I like them to come with me.”

Hill’s oldest is LaKaia, who is 12. She’s in the sixth grade.

Jace, 9, is a third grader and Jory, 5, is in kindergarten.

“Sometimes they all go,” he said.

“Sometimes one goes, sometimes two ... depends on what’s going on with their sports. They will all be with me at the NFR (National Finals Rodeo) the whole time. It will be pretty cool.”

Hill’s wife Keri also travels as her work permits.

“It makes it easier for me,” Hill said of having his wife and children along for the ride.

“I enjoy when they go. I’m not so homesick.”

Hill has qualified for the NFR for the first time since 2004. That PRCA event will be held next month in Las Vegas at the Thomas & Mack Center.

The top 15 cowboys in all events advance. Hill finished 13th in bull riding earning for 2014 with $67,158. He cashed in more than $5,000 on the final weekend in September with scoring rides at three rodeos to get off the bubble. Prior to that, he was sitting 16th.

Sage Kimzey of Strong City, Okla., is the top bull rider with $143,165.

“I’m going there to win the average,” Hill said.

“That’s my goal right now. We’ll see how it plays out. Win the average, get a couple lucky draws here and there and a few breaks and I think I would have a chance for a world title.”

Hill has held a PRCA card since 1999. This will be his third NFR appearance. He’s finished fifth and seventh in previous trips to Las Vegas. One year he entered the finals third in earnings.

“I’ve always expected a lot out of myself,” he said.

“Whether playing high school sports or anything I do. I don’t do anything half-assed. I always push myself to be the best I can.

“I expected myself to be good,” he added.

“Once you do good, you know the hard work paid off and it’s a pretty good feeling.”

Hill has also qualified for the Canadian Finals Rodeo in Edmonton, Alberta, this year. That competition starts tonight at Rexall Place.

Hill will ride once tonight, Thursday and Friday, twice on Saturday and once on Sunday.

He enters that competition fourth in earnings with $27,552.86. Hill competed in 24 events north of the border.

Buttar Dakota of Kindersley, Saskatchewan, leads with $35,874.71.

“I’m up there quite a bit every year,” he said.

“Last year a wrist injury kept me out for six months.”

Hill competed in his first CFR in 2007 and was the only American bull rider to do so. He rode that year despite shoulder (slight separation) and elbow (hyper-extended) injuries.

This year it’s something else.

“For the most part, my wrist is still bugging me a little bit, but it’s still holding up,” he said.

“It’s my riding (left) wrist, the one I hold on to.

“No surgery,” he said.

“Surgery would put me out for a year and a half, so I’ll just tough it out. Probably have it when I’m done riding.”

Hill, who turns 36 in February, hinted that could happen after next year.

“I’m not sure,” he said of retiring from a sport he has participated in since he was 14.

“I don’t like to put a time on it ... maybe next year will be the end of it. I’ve been doing it for so long. My kids are at the age now where I need to be home. They’re playing sports and I don’t like missing that.

“I’m getting old for a bull rider,” he added.

“My body ... I’m not 18 any more. I can feel it. It takes longer to heal. I’m sore all the time. I’m ready to be home.”