Kolton Schmidt roped at his third Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in December. The native Canadian cowboy headed for Shay Carroll at his first NFR in 2016, Hunter Koch at his second one in 2020, and Jonathan Torres at #3 in 2025. Kolton and his wife, Katy, currently live in Stephenville, Texas, with their two little boys, Kru and Kreece.
Q: Take us back to your 2025 regular season, who you roped with and how you got to your third NFR.
A: I had nine rodeo partners in 2025—Tyrell Flewelling, Landon Glenn, Bucky Campbell, Will Woodfin, Sid Sporer, Chase Tryan, Logan Moore, Tyce McLeod and Jonathan Torres. I didn’t set out to rope with so many guys, but one thing just kind of led to another. Sometimes guys I was roping with weren’t qualified for certain events, so I got matched up with someone else. It was a different year, but a good one.
Q: Was the NFR really your first rodeo ever with Torres?
A: Yes. I was roping with Chase Tryan, and Jonathan was roping with Nelson Wyatt. When we couldn’t rope with them at the Finals, we got paired up. But we knew October 1 that we were going to be roping together in Vegas, so we had all fall to practice and prepare.
Q: What’s it like in Barrhead, Alberta, where you grew up?
A: It’s beautiful in the summertime—rolling hills, green grass and trees. But it’s terrible the other half of the year—daylight late, dark early, cold and snow.
Q: How big was team roping up in Canada when you were a kid?
A: Team roping was based around my family in our community. My grandpa (Leonard Schmidt) kind of started it, and my dad and uncles got into showing horses and roping. Jimmie Cooper put on a school up there in Grandpa’s arena in the ’80s. As I grew and got better, I started leaving that circle. My dad (Ron, and Mom, Elaine) still produce ropings there at home and in Arizona. My Uncle David and his wife, Donna, have carried on producing events at my grandpa’s place.
Q: Who taught you how to rope, and has your style stayed steady since the start?
A: My dad, uncles and grandpa were the main ones who showed me everything in the early going. A lot of people have had a hand in my career, but they got me started. I feel like it’s been a big transition for me to learn how to rope more consistently and over longer barriers. I grew up roping in a building that was 200 feet long and 70 feet wide, so I’ve had to learn to rope in bigger arenas and in all conditions.
Q: In what ways have you evolved as a professional team roper?
A: I’ve gotten more consistent, and have been able to produce the same product more frequently than I could before. That has a lot to do with the horses I have now.
Q: Talk about your NFR track record, and how 2025 felt different from the other two.
A: I’d had a terrible track record at the National Finals up until this last one. The difference this time is I didn’t show up with any false confidence. Jonathan was a big part of it. He made sure we had some big, strong Mexican steers to practice on before we went. We did a good job of preparing the hard way.
Q: Take us through the zone you were in at the 2025 NFR, where you and Torres won three rounds, placed in four others and finished fourth in the average.
A: I just felt like I was surrounded with confidence—me and everyone in my corner, including my wife, Rhen (Richard, who owned the horse Kolton rode) and Bambi (Robb, who took care of that horse). Everybody knew what we were there for, and we were all on the same page. I was able to just rope.
Q: Tell us about that palomino horse of Rhen’s you rode at NFR 2025.
A: SJR Diamond Bond—they call him James Bond—had a successful futurity career, and is 8 now. Rhen and his family have always done so much for me. I went to his house between events at the end of the regular season, and got to ride that horse. I rode James Bond at the Canadian Finals, too (Kolton headed for McLeod there), and he felt relaxed, comfortable and focused. He wasn’t daydreaming or looking at the lights; he was in my hand and prepared. He performed like a grown-up. At the NFR, too. That horse is gritty and really strong. He has a great stride, and that sucker will jump through his skin to face.
Q: What stands out now about riding into the 10th round at our Super Bowl with a shot at the gold buckle?
A: That was a dream come true. It’s everything you work for—to have that opportunity. I don’t know why that steer did that in the 10th round. He ducked his head, and kind of wanted to stop and jump to the right. It was a freak deal. I just know I scored like I wanted to, and took my first available throw. It didn’t go my way, but I darn sure want to be in that position again.
Q: You’ve been a Timed Event Championship contestant at the Lazy E in recent times, but had to withdraw from this year’s event because of bulging discs in your back. How bad is it?
A: I’ve been dealing with this pretty sincerely since the first week in November. The discs in my low back between the L4 and L5, and L5 and S1 locked up at my house practicing. I had an SI-joint injection and an epidural in my spine the third week in November. I didn’t think it was a smart decision to compete at the Timed Event this year, especially in the calf roping if I had to really grit my teeth and use my back.
Q: You’re neighbors with Hailey Kinsel in Stephenville. Tell us something about that living barrel racing legend we don’t already know.
A: Hailey’s the best neighbor in the world. She’s awesome. She let me rope on her stud, Brother, for 30-45 days last spring, and has been great to us. When my family comes out and stays before the Finals every year, they’re always looking out there in the pasture to make sure Sister’s sound before they do their (Pro Fantasy Rodeo) draft picks.
Q: What roping goals are on your radar, and what’s the game plan for 2026?
A: I want to keep staying above 75% when it comes to turning my cows at the rodeos. It’s something I need to keep striving for. The game plan is to get Chase back to the NFR. I’m really excited to rope with him again. Chase is a great partner, and I’m looking forward to a great year with him.
—TRJ—
