September 14, 1951 – January 29, 2015
Michael Joe “Mick” Knott was born September 14, 1951, in Albion, NE. He was the oldest of four sons born to Joseph J. and Doris Darlene (Fleek) Knott. He graduated from Sargent High School and received his master’s degree in Agronomy and Range Science from UNL.
On August 13, 1971, Mick married the love of his life, Toni Hebbert. Mick was a pickup man for Bob Barnes and Korkow Rodeo Company, worked at the Hebbert Ranch in Grant County and at the UNL research lab in Tryon. From 1981 to 1993 Mick was the ranch manager at the Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory north of Whitman. In 1994 Mick and Toni entered a ranching partnership with the Robert F. Lute II Trust which continued for 20 plus years.
Mick and Toni were blessed to raise their three daughters in the beloved Sandhills. One of his daughters’ favorite memories is of Mick singing as they headed off to round up a pasture before the sun came up, “when the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that’s amore.” He enjoyed watching his grandchildren play sports and rodeo. The younger grandchildren loved climbing up onto his lap, eating ice cream with him, or snuggling close to watch westerns with their Papa.
He always had a love of horses and rodeo. He roped left-handed for year before deciding to rope steers and taught himself to rope right-handed. In 2013 he achieved a life-ling dream of filling his PRCA permit so he could steer rope at the Pendleton Roundup after being diagnosed with leukemia. Mick and Toni enjoyed his participation in the Senior Steer Roping Association and the friends they have made over the years.
Travel was an important part of Mick’s life, and he encouraged everyone to take the opportunity to travel whenever they had the chance. He enjoyed traveling with Toni; especially spending time in Arizona with their steer roping family during the cold months.
It has been almost 10 year since Mick passed away and many of us that were fortunate enough to have him as a mentor and friend still ask, “What would Mick think about this?”
Mick embodied the spirit of the Sandhills Cowboy. He was known for his honesty and fairness, his horsemanship and his keen eye for cattle. He was able to maintain the old ways and yet implement new technology when he saw the benefits to the cattle and the land. He was a mentor and friend to many. Mick was often consulted for his thoughts and perspective before neighbors and friends made important decisions. Mick was a Sandhills Cowboy.
Mick was a member of the Nebraska LEAD Class X, Arthur County Commissioner, Arthur County School Board, NSRA Board of Directors, Sandhills District Health Board, Sandhills Task Force, Grand Master Zion Masonic Lodge #234-Hyannis, NE, member of the United Church of Christ Treasurer-Hyannis, 2006 Grassland Conservation Award, Nebraska High School and NSRA Rodeo Judge and NIRA Finals Qualifier.