A life in all things rodeo

MANAWA – Jesse Knudsen is more than a rodeo music director and announcer. He’s also a cowboy. Raised in central Wisconsin, Knudsen knew at an early age what it means to care for livestock.
After early years as a competitor, Knudsen spent the last several on the production side of rodeo. That’s where his dual roles come into play, knowing the right words or the right music to go with the action that’s happening in the arena.
Several years ago, he was approached by an announcer to consider being a representative on the Contract Personnel Executive Council of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA).
He ran for the post and began the first of his two-year terms. Since then, announcers and sound directors have continued to have Knudsen be their voice. He began his fifth term April 1.
“It means a lot that they value my opinion and that they believe in me to do battle for each and every one of them,” said Knudsen. “Yes, it’s a thankless job, but when guys each out to tell you ‘thank you,’ it means the world. It’s very humbling that those people believe enough in me to be their representative.”

The PRCA is controlled by the board, which includes four representing contestants, two representing stock contractors, two representing rodeo committees and one for contract personnel. Knudsen shares his voice to the personnel director, Josh Edwards, who also hears from timers, clowns, bullfighters, specialty acts, laborers, secretaries, pickup men and photographers.
Being on the council is the next phase for Knudsen who has been involved in the sport since the day he was born.
“My dad was on the Little Britches of Wisconsin Board of Directors,” Knudsen said, who will begin his “summer run” of rodeos May 15 in Abbyville, Kansas. “He used to keep all the bucking bulls at our house during the winter. He was the flank man and kind of the ramrod, like livestock director.
“I was eight years old the first time I actually got to enter an official rodeo,” said Knudsen.
He rode bulls and bucking horses, even doing both at Fort Scott Community College in Kansas. Once he turned his attention to ProRodeo, he focused more on bull riding.
“I was never really successful in bull riding,” he said. “I had to have reconstructive shoulder surgery twice in the matter of 358 days, so I transitioned to bullfighting.
“It was a lot of fun; I got hooked on the first one I fought. A little Mexican (fighting bull) hooked me, and I was like, ‘OK, I’m going to keep doing this.’ I was only going to do it to give my shoulder a break, but when you weren’t real successful at riding them and you’re getting paid every time you fought them, it was kind of a no-brainer to just stick with bullfighting.”
Before he got into announcing and sound directing, he was a pickup man, a flank man, a laborer and even served as a judge at a couple of rodeos. Every post has influenced how he works today.
“It’s quite an honor for me to represent these people,” Knudsen said. “I don’t take their trust in me for granted.”