On October 4, 2024, the 2024 Miss Teen Rodeo Kansas sadly perished in a single-vehicle incident. Five people, including Emma C. Brungardt’s rodeo teammates, were injured in an accident involving the Colby College Community Rodeo Team. The collision happened at the Y-intersection of a private property and County Road 21. The Southbound car drifted between the Y’s branches and struck a row of trees, according per the Kansas Highway Patrol crash report. Eventually, it stopped straight up in the middle of the tree line, looking south.
At 9:44 p.m., the 19-year-old regrettably passed away at the scene of the accident on County Road 21. The driver was a Flagler, Colorado, 18-year-old guy operating a 2007 Ford F-250 truck. The car also had four additional occupants: an 18-year-old guy from Council Grove, a 19-year-old woman from Newton, a 20-year-old woman from Larned, and a 19-year-old woman from Galva. The driver and the passengers were sent to Citizens Medical Center in Colby for treatment after expressing pain.
Emma was a Blue Rapids, Kansas native who was majoring in production and management of horses. For the Colby College Community Rodeo Team, the sophomore participated in events like team roping, breakaway, and goat tying.
After attending Valley Heights USD 498, she was awarded a scholarship to attend the university. The news of Emma’s passing was announced by the Colby College Community Rodeo Team. They stated, “She was engaged in an automobile accident last night, along with four other team members and our work study. Sadly, Emma chose not to leave this alone. We are sending our prayers to each and every family.
They remembered Emma as a good-hearted individual who encouraged everyone around her with her optimistic attitude, and they paid their respects to her. Her brightness will continue to shine in and around the rodeo arena, according to the Colby College Community Rodeo Team’s eulogy. Miss Rodeo Kansas Pageant also extended away their heartfelt sympathies to the family of Emma, whom they termed, “Our beautiful Miss Teen Rodeo Kansas 2024.” They said Emma was an amazing person and a talented horsewoman who really embodied the spirit of a rodeo queen and always went above and beyond. “We shall miss her dazzling grin and one in a million attitude,” Miss Rodeo Kansas Pageant continued.
Emma’s remarkable accomplishments and commitment as a first-generation cowgirl were emphasized in her Miss Rodeo Kansas profile. It was claimed that Emma had a strong interest in the Western way of life even in high school. She went on to compete four years in a row in the Kansas Wild Horse Youth Challenge. She won grand champion titles in 2019 and 2021 during the four years. She participated in the Kansas High School Rodeo Association competition for two years prior to this. Emma will be sorely missed by everyone who knew her and loved her creativity and drive.