PLEASE NOTE:  We are using Global handicaps. 2027 membership required.

Benefitting Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund

The big winner every year is the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund. Since becoming a fundraiser for it, The Potter-Cervi has donated over a quarter million dollars to the charity that provides financial assistance to athletes injured through their participation in professional rodeo.

A Premier Roping Honoring Roping Legends

The Potter-Cervi Pro Classic in Casa Grande AZ  honors the legacies of not only Mike Cervi Jr., but also his father Mike Cervi Sr and Mel Potter, both of whom we lost in 2025. In 2027, this high-stakes roping will be held February 23 and 24 at the Casa Grande Rodeo Grounds.

“Mel Potter was the one who got us started with Justin Boots and made this roping a benefit for the Justin Cowboy Crisis fund back in 2002,” says Producer George Aros. The fund has received a check each year since that partnership was forged and last year was awarded $23,000. Aros continues, “Raising a substantial amount of money for JCCF remains the primary goal of this roping.” Another mission of the roping is to provide a number of high dollar payout opportunities for the pros competing at the Tucson Rodeo. “That’s where it all started, down in Tubac,” recalls Aros. “We held it on slack and all the guys would come down. It got so big we moved it to Tucson, then we out grew that space and brought it up to Casa Grande.”

Pro Rodeo Hall of Famer Mel and his prolific breeding program was a legend in the roping and pro rodeo world in many ways. Aros adds, “Mel was a friend and a long time supporter of rodeo for so many years. He was instrumental in elevating this roping to a world class standard after we named it in honor of his son-in-law, Mike Cervi Jr who died in a plane crash. I felt it was my honor to add Mel’s name to this roping.” Mike Cervi Sr, who produced many of the country’s biggest rodeos for decade also passed in 2025. He was a large sponsor of the Cervi roping for the past 24 years. His contributions to the sport and his memory are also memorialized in the Potter-Cervi Memorial Pro Classic. “With the name Potter-Cervi, we celebrate 3 great men,” says Aros.

The Potter-Cervi Roping will feature two days of high stakes roping action. The pre-ropings on Tuesday offer a #13, a Super 15 and an Open, each with 80% payback. The Pro-Am on Wednesday will be in its 14th year and gives amateur ropers the thrill and challenge of roping with a top pro. Buckles await the Round and over all champions in heading and heeling. Jackets, caps and bragging rights for a bucket-list experience go to everyone who enters. Slots fill quickly for the Pro-Am every year.

The headliner event is a 90% payback, 5 steer average on Wednesday that never fails to provide a thrilling short round and a hefty check. In 2026, Clay Smith and Nicky Northcott walked away with $41,500. Paying 8 places, with a #15 incentive and fast time bonus money in the short round, there is plenty of money on the table to win. Over the two days of roping, more that $244,000 was paid out.

Join us in Casa Grande where hottest young hands along with NFR legends will be all be throwing down blistering runs in front of a packed grandstand.