Meet the Member Kelly Schopp

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Kelly Schopp - Julie Schopp Photography

Meet the Member Kelly Schopp

story by Lily Weinacht

The 2016 Miss South Dakota High School Rodeo title is Kelly Schopp’s 13th rodeo queen title, and one she is representing with the same fervor she gives every area of her life. Not one to do anything by halves, the 17 year old from Lemmon, South Dakota, is also involved in numerous extracurricular activities with her school, FFA, 4-H, and National Honor Society. She has been rodeoing the longest, starting with her first rodeo queen contest at the age of seven. “I really enjoy every aspect of the queen contests. Your rodeo score is based off your performance in one category, whereas your rodeo queening score depends on many different levels of the contest,” explains the barrel racer and cutter. “I love public speaking and talking to people and helping them learn about the sport. I love representing whatever organization I’m in, and it’s something I’ll always want to do!”
Kelly competed in the SDHSRA queen contest twice before donning the Black Hills gold crown, and she placed ninth in the NHSRA’s queen competition this summer. “My motivation is getting that actual rodeo or queen title, and all the good times that are about to follow. Working through the blood, sweat, and tears, it’s worth it. There are so many opportunities and so many people to meet, and I’m beyond blessed to experience what I have.”
Kelly names her family has one of her greatest influences, from her older siblings, Andrew and Katie, who introduced her to rodeo, to the support of her parents, Ray and Julie, in all her pursuits. “They have helped me through so much, and my younger sister, Krista, helps so much when we’re travelling. She hauls everything around for me, and I’m lucky to have such a good sister.” Krista started high school rodeoing this fall, and their younger brother, Justin, is also considering competing.
The Schopp siblings are the fourth generation of their family to work their ranch outside of Lemmon. They run Angus cows and Charolais Angus cross calves. “It’s a full time job,” describes Kelly, who is involved in all aspects of the family operation, from haying, to trailing cattle, branding, weaning, and preg checking cows. “Running from rodeo to rodeo and then running the ranch is kind of hectic, but we get it done!” She also fits in rodeo practice, riding her horses Playboy and Moon. “They both have the attitude of a mare, but I love them to death. I use Playboy for reining, cutting, and queening, and I’m looking for a new barrel horse, since Moon is getting a little old. He’s the most relaxed horse ever, but around the barrels, he gets kind of crazy. I love the adrenaline and hype of barrels, and the way the horses feed off your excitement. I often use the stock contractors’ horses for grand entry at rodeos, and they’re always so amazing about helping me.”
A senior at Lemmon High School, Kelly has particularly enjoyed her government class, recently studying the political parties. She also plays basketball and participates in choir, oral interpretation, and one-act play in her school. “I’m mostly rodeoing in 4-H, but this year in FFA I’m doing horse judging and extemporaneous speaking,” she adds. “We draw a random topic and have 30 minutes to prepare a speech. I’ve done some extemporaneous speeches for several queen contests, and I really enjoy it.”
Kelly plans to attend college and is working toward several scholarships, with plans to run for Miss Junior Rodeo South Dakota next year. “The year after that, I’ll be running for South Dakota 4-H Rodeo Ambassador, and then I plan to run for Miss Rodeo South Dakota and Miss Rodeo America. For now, I’m taking this year as it comes, and I’m enjoying it!”

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Meet the Member Kelly Schopp

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South Dakota High School Rodeo Association (SDHSRA)