Luke Mast Gets Big Win at San Antonio Xtreme Bulls
Luke Mast developed his rodeo roots organically through family and dairy. He grew up on a dairy farm in Hutchinson, Kan. He played football growing up, but when his older brother Tim started riding stock, Luke followed suit.
“When we were younger, he got into it. I was 14. And we would get on my dad’s heifers and steers. He knew about it. So, we would get some twine and rope and try to ride them,” Mast said with a laugh. “It was pretty sketchy. There was a lot of barbed wire fences around. But you had to figure out.”
From his modest beginnings, Mast is now jumping into the spotlight in his second year on tour. The 23-year-old captured the San Antonio Stock & Rodeo Xtreme Bulls on Sunday, posting an 86-point ride on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Slamwitch.
As he traveled down the road to his next event with his wife Kari, Mast could not hide his excitement over the biggest win of his blossoming career.
“It was awesome. The crowd was huge. It really gets a guy going with all that support,” Mast said. “It feels really good when you put together a ride for them. I was blessed to do that.”
Mast pocketed $20,000 for his victory as there were no other qualified rides in the finals. This is the type of moment that makes the journey worth it. Mast admittedly began his career late. He skipped the stage of riding sheep as a boy. Those days aboard the heifers left him dreaming of bulls like Slamwitch.
“I knew a little about him, but not much. I got on him last year in Fort Worth and he bucked me off. He is unpredictable,” Mast said. “But I knew I needed to move forward on him. He gets everybody to stay back and that’s when you get into trouble. I charged that front end this time.”
Leaning on God and grit, Mast is now pursuing his goal of reaching the Wrangler Nationals Finals Rodeo for the first time. He recognizes the challenge ahead, but San Antonio created a reminder of what is possible with resilience and consistency.
“I grew up playing football. I liked it, but it requires a team. I love rodeo because it is man vs. beast. It’s nobody’s fault but your own if you don’t ride,” Mast said. “It’s hard, but my faith is everything. If it doesn’t go well, I give it to God, and he takes care of it. You don’t worry about it. And there’s always another event every week, or in the summer, every day. So, you keep showing up, grit those teeth and find a way to stay on.”
Courtesy of PRCA