story by Lindsay King
Emily Knust got her love for rodeo from her older sisters, Alecia, 24, and Kelsey, 23. Now she gets their encouragement and inspiration from the sidelines. The Verdigre, Nebraska, natives started in junior rodeos and play days, working their way up through little britches, junior high and high school rodeo. “We all branched off from 4-H when we got better horses,” said the 18-year-old. “My parents, Brian and Julie, have helped me out the most, but a lot of credit goes to my sisters. They go to as many of my rodeos as they can.”
Emily competes in breakaway roping and mixed team roping in the M-SRA but also competes in goat tying in the NHSRA. “Breakaway is my favorite for sure. I just like the event itself and how quick and controlled the event is. My breakaway horse is my favorite to ride also.” Though she is not a barrel racer, Emily looks up to Fallon Taylor. “She is very motivational, I love to watch her YouTube videos. She is a good person to look up to. As are all of the competitors who have been around the sport for a while who have a lot of wisdom to share.” Emily competed in Iowa junior high and high school rodeos from seventh grade until her junior year. The high school senior now competes in NSRA, M-SRA, NHSRA and Little Britches.
“In Iowa, I won goats every single year I was there, breakaway a couple of times and then a few all-around titles also.” She has finished in the top ten at nationals in goat tying multiple times. This year she made a trip to both the M-SRA and NSRA finals in breakaway. “It was a pretty big deal for me. I finished third at the NSRA but the M-SRA finals did not go so hot for me.” This is her second year in the M-SRA, and Emily loves it. “I like that I can go to several rodeos in one day and that they have mixed team roping. That is a big event and I really love it.” She enjoys competing with ropers of all ages because she knows she can learn something from all of them.
The Verdigre High School senior played basketball for three years but decided to focus solely on rodeo this year. She enjoys science classes the most and hopes to become an occupational therapist one day. “I am thinking about going to Casper College in Wyoming. They have an OT program and a good rodeo team. They are set up well there, so I plan to continue competing in all three of my events.” Emily ropes with her dad in the mixed team roping in the M-SRA and her mom takes videos. “My dad started roping when he was college. He is my heeler, but he says it is too much pressure. I have no idea what he is talking about though.”
The family aspect of rodeo brought Emily into the sport and it is what keeps her competing. “Everyone likes to win but I also like the competitive nature of it. I like the satisfaction of being my best at something.” The rodeos in Madison and Clearwater are her favorite M-SRA events to compete in. “They are close to home which means my family can come watch. Their stock is always great and so the whole weekend seems to be a good rodeo, win or lose.” Everywhere you find Emily you will also find Bo and Charlie, her miniature Australian Shepherds. “They love to go with us to rodeos. They get to go just about everywhere with us.” Emily loves that she has grown up in a positive environment where her competitors are also her friends, not many people get the same opportunity.
