story by Riata Cummings
Korby Layne Christiansen is the son of Kirk and Mistie Christiansen of small-town Emery, Utah. He is the middle child of 5, and his siblings are McKoy whose wife is Katie, Riata whose husband is Daniel, Byron, and Monty. The 17-year-old is looking forward to his senior year at Emery High School. He enjoys cowboying, spending time in the mountains, wrestling and leather work. He is the president of the Emery Chapter of the National FFA Organization, and this fall he will travel to Indianapolis to represent the state of Utah in the Milk Quality and Products Career Development Event. Korby owns and operates his own company called Under the Swell, producing quality leatherwork and apparel.
Korby’s parents competed in rodeo as high schoolers, and his father is a professional horse trainer. Their family used to host the Emery Town Pioneer Days Rodeo, and Korby thrives on the back of a horse. He began heavily competing in rodeo as a 4th grader, and the next year he was the Utah 5th and Under All-Around Cowboy. He took a trip to nationals during his years junior high rodeoing, and currently competes in the saddle bronc riding, team roping, tiedown roping, and reined cow horse. This year he finished 4th in the state saddle bronc riding, earning him a trip to the National High School Finals Rodeo. Korby was the UHSRA Student Vice President last year, and this year he will be serving as the Student President. Here is what he would like to say to his fellow Utah High School Rodeo Members:
“Hey UHSRA!! My name is Korby Christiansen and I am excited to serve as your 2019-20 UHSRA Student President. I learned so much from my time as Vice President and I am looking forward to implementing some new ideas this next year as we try to make your voice heard and your opinion count. We have amazing board members that want to help us make this the best year ever. I have some new ideas that will push our Association to be better, and I would love to hear yours. I am not afraid to be an original, and I believe that our Utah High School Rodeo team is stronger because of the amazing and original members.”
Korby has set a goal to become the state champion saddle bronc rider for this upcoming season, and he also hopes to qualify for nationals in his other events. Korby competes on two horses, Tigger and Awesome Sauce. Tigger has been his go-to mount for several years, and Korby has been the gelding’s sole trainer.
Korby lives by the saying, “Once a task has begun, do not quit until it’s done. Though the task be great or small, do it right or not at all.” He believes that the rhyme sets a precedent for living a dutiful and fulfilling life. He also likes the statement his neighbor Gwen once made that, “When you get to heaven people won’t remember you for the things you had, they remember the kind of person you were.” Korby would like to be remembered as a hard working and respectful man. His hero is his father, Kirk, whom he looks up to for being a hard worker, dedicated to his family.
Korby would advise his fellow rodeo athletes to, “Don’t get down on yourself. No one starts out perfect and no one ends up perfect. Just do the best that you can and be your best self.” Korby would like to thank his friends constantly encouraging him to be better. He would also like to thank his sponsor, Total Cowboy, for supporting him in and out of the arena. Finally, he would like to thank his parents for the opportunity they have given him to compete in the greatest sport on dirt, rodeo.
