Luke Potter Rises to the Occasion in Reno as Webb Holds Strong
As Cowboy Christmas draws closer, the energy in the calf roping circles is rising to match it.
Luke Potter dismounts during a calf roping run at the 2023 Reno Rodeo.
Luke Potter moved from No. 32 to No. 19 in one weekend following his finish at the Reno Rodeo. Photo by Click Thompson.

As the month of June closes out with a flurry of activity—29 rodeos ended during the weekend of June 23-25—the top 15 competitors in the race for the NFR did not change, though there were some moves amongst the group including Luke Potter moving 13 places.

Top 15 rundown

The big takeaway? Riley Webb is not going anywhere. The World leader kept pace with Reno Rodeo Champion Shad Mayfield by winning second and earning just $123 less than Mayfield for the weekend. Tough to make up ground at that pace, particularly when you understand that Webb holds a $71,766 lead. To Mayfield’s credit, he did leapfrog Hunter Herrin and is now ranked second.

Elsewhere within the top 15, Brush Minton made the biggest move, jumping from ninth to fifth after earning $18,640 on the strength of a win at Santa Ynez, California, a No. 5 finish in Prineville, Oregon, and a No. 4 finish in Reno after winning the second round. Minton was the high money winner of the weekend.

RankAthleteWinnings (as of 6/26/23)
1Riley Webb$147,402
2Shad Mayfield$75,636
3Hunter Herrin$65,741
4Westyn Hughes$65,684
5Brushton Minton$62,070
6Riley Pruitt$53,054
7Haven Meged$50,028
8Micheal Otero$49,826
9Blane Cox$49,329
10Cory Solomon$48,895
11Trevor Hale$46,334
12Tuf Cooper$42,221
13Ty Harris$42,049
14John Douch$39,257
15Shane Hanchey$38,923
16Marcos Costa$36,485
17Lane Livingston$36,062
18Reese Riemer$35,408
19Luke Potter$34,965
20Britt Bedke$32,460

Haven Meged also parlayed Reno success into a standings jump, moving from No. 11 to No. 7.

As Reno closed out its 2023 run, the old cowboy adage that the rodeo season actually begins in Reno will be put to the test once again as the thousands of dollars available to competitors from now until September 1st tempts those not currently ranked in NFR territory.

Ones to watch include the reigning and four-time World Champ Caleb Smidt, who won about $1,300 this weekend—but is winning Greeley, Colorado, and getting hot just as the Fourth of July run arrives.

Idaho roper Britt Bedke was another guy on a big climb this weekend; after winning both Mountain Home, Idaho, Prineville and picking up a check in Meridian. He won $8,576 over the weekend to move into the No. 20 spot. He was ranked No. 30 a week ago.

Luke Potter’s speedy rise

Another cowboy hoping to slingshot this weekend’s success into the lucrative Cowboy Christmas run is Luke Potter. Potter made the biggest move of the week, catapulting from No. 32 all the way to No. 19 with his third-place win in Reno.

“Reno is one of my favorite rodeos,” Potter, 23, said. “Drawing good is a big part of the equation and I was lucky to draw some good ones. I tried to score good, get them roped and not make any huge mistakes.”

Thanks to a second-place finish in the short go and the big average check, he won $11,217 in Nevada to close to within $3,958 of Shane Hanchey, the current occupant of the cut-off spot at 15th.

Unfortunately, it was good news-bad news. Potter’s good horse Snoopy was injured during his Reno runs which is terrible timing as the Fourth of July run is underway already.

“I sent him home and he’s going to the vet tomorrow. I’m mounting out here in Ponoka and Greeley tomorrow,” Potter noted.

Potter hauls with Stetson Vest and Chance Thiessen and both have offered up their good horses to help.

“I really appreciate those guys and I’m waiting for the right run [to borrow them],” he said but added that he didn’t want to put undue stress on horses who already would be making plenty of runs this week.

Instead, Potter is squeezing in a horse finding expedition in between what will be a very busy few days.

“We’ve got two days off [after Greeley] before Oakley so I’m lining up to go try some horses,” he said. Barring that, he’s got a plan-B in mind too.

“I’ve let a few guys ride Snoopy and they’ve won on him and now they’ve got really nice horses so I may have to call in a few favors.”

Potter competed in Reno before flying to Greeley to get in another rig headed to Canada. A group of them chartered a flight back for the short go in Reno on Saturday and then back for Ponoka on the 26th. Then they’ll drive back to Greeley.

“Not as busy as most people,” Potter said of their Fourth of July plans, then added, “I say that when we’re going 16 hours back to Greeley tonight.”

After Greeley—and hopefully a successful horse search—the group competes in Oakley, Utah, then Williams Lake and the Ponoka short go or West Jordan before heading to the Northwest for St. Paul, Mollala, Eugene  (all Oregon) and Basin City, Washington.

“Getting up here, we had to hustle but it really hasn’t been too bad,” Potter said. “Going back to Williams Lake will be all day and night getting there and all day back.”

Unlike some competitors, the trio is on their own for the busy week.

“We are our own helpers,” Potter joked.

It’s worth the sleepless night and exhaustion in pursuit of the ultimate goal: a berth at the NFR.

Potter has been lurking around the top 25 since claiming the Rookie of the Year title in 2020.

“I never try to worry about [the standings],” he said. He has finished 24th, 26th and 23rd in the last three seasons. “I might start looking around the first of August, just to check on my number of rodeos and where things stand. If I’m looking at the standings too much, then I’m thinking about it too much,” he added.

ProRodeo Results, June 23-25

Reno Rodeo

Reno, Nevada

First round: 1. Haven Meged, 8.1 seconds, $6,312; 2. Riley Mason Webb, 8.2, $5,489; 3. Marcos Costa, 8.8, $4,665; 4. Cash Hooper, 8.9, $3,842; 5. Lucas Potter, 9.0, $3,019; 6. (tie) Beau Cooper and Kincade Henry, 9.2, $1,784 each; 8. (tie) Owen Wahlert, Colten Wallis and Reese Riemer, 9.3, $183 each.

Second round: 1. (tie) Brushton Minton and Dakota Felton, 8.3 seconds, $5,900 each; 3. Shad Mayfield, 8.4, $4,665; 4. Jerry Adamson, 8.5, $3,842; 5. (tie) Justin Brinkerhoff, Tuf Case Cooper, Riley Mason Webb and Jake Pratt, 8.7, $1,784 each.

Finals: 1. Shad Mayfield, 7.8 seconds, $1,450; 2. Lucas Potter, 8.8, $1,200; 3. Riley Mason Webb, 9.1, $950; 4. (tie) Brush Minton and Reese Riemer, 9.4, $575 each; 6. Chet Weitz, 9.6, $250.

Average: 1. Shad Mayfield, 25.8 seconds on three head, $9,468; 2. Riley Mason Webb, 26.0, $8,233; 3. Lucas Potter, 27.4, $6,998; 4. Brush Minton, 27.7, $5,763; 5. Reese Riemer, 28.5, $4,528; 6. Kincade Henry, 28.6, $3,293; 7. Chet Weitz, 29.5, $2,058; 8. Chase Webster, 29.9, $823.

West of the Pecos Rodeo

Pecos, Texas

First round: 1. Cole Clemons, 9.3 seconds, $2,669; 2. Blane Cox, 9.9, $2,320; 3. Westyn Hughes, 10.1, $1,972; 4. Thomas Conway, 10.2, $1,624; 5. Cory Solomon, 10.3, $1,276; 6. (tie) Tyson Durfey, David Trahan and Chet Weitz, 10.4, $580 each.

Second round: 1. Seth Hall, 9.0 seconds, $2,669; 2. Stephen McLauchlin, 9.1, $2,320; 3. Trenton Smith, 9.3, $1,972; 4. Westyn Hughes, 9.8, $1,624; 5. Colton Greene, 10.1, $1,276; 6. (tie) Lane Livingston and Chantz Webster, 10.2, $754 each; 8. Tate Thomas, 10.3, $232.

Average: 1. Cole Clemons, 19.7 seconds on two head, $4,003; 2. Westyn Hughes, 19.9, $3,481; 3. Tyson Durfey, 20.8, $2,959; 4. Blane Cox, 21.0, $2,436; 5. David Trahan, 21.7, $1,914; 6. Cory Solomon, 21.9, $1,392; 7. Thomas Conway, 22.4, $870; 8. Logan Wiseman, 23.2, $348.

Crooked River Roundup

Prineville, Oregon

First round: 1. Beau Cooper, 9.4 seconds, $2,693; 2. Brush Minton, 9.6, $2,342; 3. (tie) Jordan Ketscher and Roger Nonella, 10.1, $1,815 each; 5. (tie) Shad Mayfield and Preston Pederson, 10.5, $1,112 each; 7. (tie) Russell Cardoza and Blane Cox, 10.6, $410 each.

Second round: 1. Ty Harris, 8.0 seconds, $2,693; 2. (tie) Britt Bedke and Kass Kayser, 9.4, $2,166 each; 4. (tie) Colton Farquer, Joel Harris and Ryan Jarrett, 9.6, $1,288 each; 7. Shane Hanchey, 9.7, $585; 8. (tie) Brad Goodrich and Riley Mason Webb, 10.5, $117 each.

Average: 1. (tie) Ryan Jarrett and Britt Bedke, 20.4 seconds on two head, $3,776 each; 3. Ty Harris, 20.8, $2,986; 4. Colton Farquer, 21.6, $2,459; 5. (tie) Blane Cox and Brush Minton, 21.7, $1,669 each; 7. Wyatt Imus, 21.9, $878; 8. Russell Cardoza, 22.1, $351.

Rodeo of the Ozarks

Springdale, Arkansas

1. Chantz Webster, 9.8 seconds, $3,196; 2. Jonathan Isaacs, 10.0, $2,820; 3. Booker McCutchen, 10.3, $2,444; 4. (tie) Tim Pharr and Reid Zapalac, 10.7, $1,974 each; 6. Blake Chauvin, 10.8, $1,692; 7. (tie) Andrew Burks and Dawson Turner, 10.9, $1,410 each; 9. (tie) Sam Dixon and Tatum Miller, 11.2, $940 each.

Roughrider Days

Dickinson, North Dakota

1. Paul David Tierney, 9.1 seconds, $2,333; 2. (tie) Riley Pruitt and Trey Young, 9.7, $1,921 each; 4. Thane Lockhart, 10.1, $1,510; 5. Joe Schmidt, 10.7, $1,372; 6. Austin Hurlburt, 11.0, $1,235; 7. Ty Moser, 11.5, $1,098; 8. Chase Lako, 11.8, $961; 9. Brock Belkham, 11.9, $823; 10. Grey Gilbert, 12.2, $549.

Old Santa Ynez Days

Santa Ynez, California

1. (tie) Blake Ash and Brush Minton, 9.0 seconds, $2,391 each; 3. Jake Pratt, 9.4, $1,943; 4. Jason Andersen, 9.5, $1,644; 5. Carsyn Sunvison, 9.6, $1,495; 6. Quade Hiatt, 10.0, $1,345; 7. K.C. Miller, 10.1, $1,196; 8. Dakota Felton, 10.6, $1,046; 9. Cody Stewart, 11.8, $897; 10. Colton Farquer, 12.3, $598.

Wainwright Stampede

Wainwright, Alberta

First round: 1. Haven Meged, 8.3 seconds, $1,768; 2. Hunter Herrin, 8.8, $1,537; 3. Wyatt Hayes, 9.1, $1,307; 4. Trent Creager, 9.2, $1,076; 5. Ben Robinson, 9.3, $845; 6. Riley Warren, 9.4, $615; 7. Dean Edge, 9.5, $384; 8. Clay McNichol, 9.7, $153.

Second round: 1. Paden Bray, 8.1 seconds, $1,768; 2. Jason Smith, 8.2, $1,537; 3. Sy Felton, 8.7, $1,307; 4. Ty Harris, 8.8, $1,076; 5. Stetson Vest, 9.0, $845; 6. (tie) Shane Smith and Ryan Thibodeaux, 9.2, $500 each; 8. Colt Cornet, 10.2, $153.

Finals: 1. Shane Smith, 7.8 seconds, $2,400; 2. Haven Meged, 8.6, $1,800; 3. Colt Cornet, 9.6, $1,200; 4. Hunter Herrin, 9.9, $600.

Average: 1. Shane Smith, 28.2 seconds on three head, $2,652; 2. Haven Meged, 28.4, $2,306; 3. Colt Cornet, 30.9, $1,960; 4. Hunter Herrin, 31.3, $1,614; 5. Stetson Vest, 32.3, $1,268; 6. Ty Harris, 37.5, $922; 7. Paden Bray, 19.6 on two head, $576; 8. Clay McNichols, 20.2 on two head, $231.

Sundre Pro Rodeo

Sundre, Alberta

1. Jesse Popescul, 7.8 seconds, $3,515; 2. (tie) Beau Cooper and Ryan Thibodeaux, 8.0, $3,027 each; 4. Hunter Herrin, 8.1, $2,441; 5. Erik Dublanko, 8.2, $2,051; 6. Shane Smith, 8.3, $1,660; 7. Ty Harris, 8.6, $1,269; 8. Austin Hines, 8.7, $1,074; 9. Haven Meged, 8.8, $879; 10. Wyatt Hayes, 8.9, $586.

Augusta American Legion Rodeo

Augusta, Montana

1. Kyle Bagnell, 12.2 seconds, $846; 2. James Ramirez, 14.8, $635; 3. Ty Hedrick, 15.6, $423; 4. Cody Sheridan, 19.8, $212.

Bassano Pro Rodeo

Bassano, Alberta

1. Riley Warren, 8.9 seconds, $1,973; 2. Logan Spady, 9.2, $1,716; 3. Dawson Johnson, 9.4, $1,458; 4. Cooper Resch, 9.8, $1,201; 5. (tie) Blake Williamson, Clay Elliott and Jason Smith, 9.9, $686 each; 8. Blair Smith, 10.3, $172.

Crystal Springs Rodeo

Clear Lake, South Dakota

1. Rance Johnson, 10.5 seconds, $2,681; 2. Chance Oftedahl, 10.6, $2,331; 3. (tie) Chandler Comfort and Ty Moser, 11.0, $1,807 each; 5. (tie) Jesse Hinkle, Roy Lee and Matt Peters, 11.1, $932 each; 8. (tie) Newt Bruley and Trey Young, 11.4, $117 each.

Western Fest Stampede Rodeo

Granite Falls, Minnesota

1. Chase Lako, 8.5 seconds, $2,713; 2. Trey Young, 10.4, $2,359; 3. Myles Kenzy, 10.6, $2,005; 4. Dallen McIntire, 10.8, $1,652; 5. Coy Thar, 10.9, $1,298; 6. Judd Grover, 11.2, $944; 7. Roy Lee, 11.3, $590; 8. Austin Hurlburt, 11.4, $236.

Rodeo de Santa Fe

Santa Fe, New Mexico

First round: 1. Richard Newton, 9.2 seconds, $1,347; 2. Ryan Belew, 9.4, $1,115; 3. Chantz Webster, 9.6, $883; 4. Brody Stallard, 9.7, $650; 5. Kyle Dutton, 9.9, $418; 6. (tie) Rowdy Haferkamp and Colter Sellers, 10.1, $116 each.

Second round: 1. Caleb Smidt, 8.6 seconds, $1,347; 2. (tie) Colton Greene, Nolan Richie and Reid Zapalac, 9.1, $883 each; 5. Seth Hall, 9.4, $418; 6. Chantz Webster, 10.1, $232.

Average: 1. Chantz Webster, 19.7 seconds on two head, $2,021; 2. Seth Hall, 19.9, $1,673; 3. Brody Stallard, 20.3, $1,324; 4. Colton Greene, 22.3, $976; 5. Kyle Dutton, 23.7, $627; 6. Grady Kirkes, 24.0, $348.

Edgewood Days PRCA Rodeo

Edgewood, Iowa

1. Dillon Holder, 8.0 seconds, $2,313; 2. Jesse Hinkle, 10.3, $2,012; 3. (tie) Clay Ellis and Coltin Rauch, 11.1, $1,559 each; 5. Jaxson Davis, 12.1, $1,106; 6. Hadley DeShazo, 12.8, $805; 7. Justin Zwiefel, 13.4, $503; 8. Fenton Nelsen, 13.9, $201.

Buffalo Championship PRCA Rodeo

Buffalo, Minnesota

1. Roy Lee, 8.5 seconds, $1,554; 2. Austin Madison, 9.0, $1,286; 3. Riley Pruitt, 9.1, $1,018; 4. Justin Bridgeman, 10.3, $750; 5. Fenton Nelsen, 10.5, $482; 6. Jody Green, 10.6, $268.

Lehi Roundup

Lehi, Utah

1. Justin Brinkerhoff, 8.7 seconds, $2,032; 2. Waid Dalton, 8.9, $1,767; 3. Shane Hancock, 9.0, $1,502; 4. John Douch, 9.2, $1,237; 5. Josh Jennings, 9.9, $972; 6. Colten Wallis, 10.9, $707; 7. Justin Truman, 11.4, $442; 8. Marcos Costa, 11.8, $177.

Newport Rodeo

Newport, Washington

1. Cooper Mills, 9.0 seconds, $1,295; 2. Caleb McMillan, 9.1, $1,072; 3. Nathan Clawson, 9.9, $848; 4. Jase Bustad, 10.4, $625; 5. (tie) Justin Farber and Jason Minor, 11.4, $313 each.

Thermopolis Cowboy Rendezvous PRCA Rodeo

Thermopolis, Wyoming

1. Dillon Hahnkamp, 10.2 seconds, $1,152; 2. Matt Gutierrez, 10.9, $953; 3. Jesse Medearis, 12.4, $755; 4. Ty Wilcox, 12.6, $556; 5. Cash Fuesz, 13.6, $357; 6. Tyler Boxleitner, 14.3, $199.

Steamboat Springs Pro Rodeo Series

Steamboat Springs, Colorado

1. Garrett Busby, 9.5 seconds, $954; 2. Colton Stewart, 10.6, $790; 3. Stratton Kohr, 10.8, $625; 4. Cason Kingsbury, 11.2, $461; 5. Wyatt Uptain, 11.7, $296; 6. J.D. McCuistion, 12.9, $165.

Meridian Lions Rodeo

Meridian, Idaho

1. Justin Brinkerhoff, 8.5 seconds, $1,336; 2. Trampus Quarnberg, 8.7, $1,105; 3. Britt Bedke, 9.2, $875; 4. Preston Pederson, 9.3, $645; 5. (tie) Colby Holt and Josh Jennings, 9.8, $322 each.

Daniel Dopps Memorial Ram PRCA Rodeo

Mountain Home, Idaho

1. Britt Bedke, 8.6 seconds, $1,533; 2. Cody Craig, 8.9, $1,269; 3. Cole Eiguren, 9.3, $1,005; 4. Jake Hannum, 9.9, $740; 5. Preston Pederson, 10.4, $476; 6. Clint Robinson, 10.8, $264.

Alamosa Round-Up

Alamosa, Colorado

1. Darnell Johnson, 8.9 seconds, $1,097; 2. Colter Sellers, 9.4, $908; 3. Chance Wall, 9.5, $719; 4. Jeremiah Peek, 9.7, $530; 5. Creede Guardamondo, 10.2, $341; 6. Kyle Belew, 11.1, $189.

Days of ’56 Ponca Rodeo

Ponca, Nebraska

1. Bodie Mattson, 8.9 seconds, $968; 2. (tie) Brock Belkham and Dillon Holder, 10.3, $717 each; 4. Austin Madison, 11.4, $467; 5. Josh Rainier, 11.6, $300; 6. Dillon Sackett, 11.8, $167.

Guy Weadick Days

High River, Alberta

1. Logan Bird, 8.1 seconds, $2,672; 2. Shane Smith, 8.6, $2,324; 3. Garrett Jacobs, 8.8, $1,975; 4. Matt Shiozawa, 8.9, $1,627; 5. Paden Bray, 9.2, $1,278; 6. Stran Dunham, 9.3, $929; 7. Logan Spady, 9.4, $581; 8. Trent Creager, 9.5, $232.

Little Big Horn Stampede

Hardin, Montana

1. Matt Gutierrez, 20.7 seconds, $954; 2. Kevin Peterson, 26.3, $790; no other qualified runs.

Cowtown Rodeo

Woodstown Pilesgrove, New Jersey

1. Ty Rumford, 10.2 seconds, $677; 2. Colby Clement, 11.9, $508; 3. Layne Weber, 13.9, $338; 4. Garrett Fernandez, 17.1, $169.

Weekley Brothers Davie Pro Rodeo

Davie, Florida

Rodeo 1

1. Bryan McClellan, 8.4 seconds, $583; 2. Justin Thigpen, 8.7, $437; 3. Spur Valdez, 9.1, $291; 4. Jerry Easler, 9.3, $146.

Rodeo 2

1. Justin Thigpen, 8.1 seconds, $790; 2. Ben Mayworth, 9.6, $592; 3. Spur Valdez, 11.4, $395; 4. Juan Alcazar Jr, 15.0, $197.

Mesquite Championship Rodeo

Mesquite, Texas

1. Thomas Conway, 8.5 seconds, $968; 2. Colin Fox, 8.6, $726; 3. Clay McCuistion, 9.0, $484; 4. Riley Istre, 9.2, $242.

Buffalo Stampede

Kadoka, South Dakota

  1. Cash Fuesz, 9.5 seconds, $1,240; 2. Clint Kindred, 9.6, $1,026; 3. Rio Nutter, 9.7, $813; 4. Matt Peters, 10.1, $599; 5. Paul David Tierney, 10.7, $385; 6. Ty Moser, 10.8, $214.
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