Born September 9, 1936, in Denver, Mike Cervi began making deals at a young age. From selling Christmas trees and flavored toothpicks, to hauling ashes and riding racehorses, Cervi was an industrious child.
He developed a deep interest in rodeo clowns and by age 14 had trained a mule act he performed at Little Britches and junior rodeos. When his family purchased a ranch near Sterling, Colorado, in 1958, Cervi became foreman. He was buying cattle by 1964, including a massive herd from Oregon in what was reported to be the largest livestock sale ever in Colorado.
Cervi also began producing rodeos, and in 1957, he purchased the Beutler Brothers Rodeo Company, and in 1974 bought the Billy Minick Rodeo Company, which is now known as Cervi Championship Rodeo Company. A two-time PRCA Stock Contractor of the Year in 1983 and 2001, Cervi and his family have produced many of the top rodeos in the country, including the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, the National Western Stock Show & Rodeo in Denver and the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo. Numerous Cervi animals are selected to buck at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) each year, and his stock is still considered among rodeo’s best.
