First Time Feels for Levi Schmidt Prior to CFR 2024

Schmidt cracks it on the horns at The Ponoka Stampede

"It's pretty cool; it's exciting—it kind of just soaked in now." While it's not the first time a member of the Schmidt family has backed into the box at the Canadian Finals Rodeo, it is the first time Levi Schmidt will nod his head on the biggest stage that Canadian rodeo has to offer. Levi qualified for the Canadian Finals alongside fellow CFR rookie Braden Brost. The pair secured a win early in the season at the Medicine Hat Broncs and Honky Tonks Spring Rodeo with a time of 4.3, placed at several other rodeos, and really CASHED in at the Ponoka Stampede, where they finished 4th overall. Levi is the fifth member of the Schmidt family to qualify for the team roping at the CFR, following in the footsteps of his father, Ronald—the 2000 Canadian Champion Heeler—his older brother, Kolton—the 2013 Canadian Champion Header—and his older cousins, Tate and Kagen, 3x CFR Qualifiers in the team roping. It was fun to chat with Levi to discuss his breakthrough season and his first-time feels as he prepares for his CFR debut in less than a month.

Question: How does it feel qualifying for your first CFR?                                                      

Answer: Man it's pretty cool, it's exciting. It kind of just soaked in now, there with the boys, it was a cool feeling. We officially entered today and it's legit. I'm excited.

                                                                                                                                

Question: What do you think you did better this year to push you over the hump?           

Answer: I slowed it all down and didn't try to win every rodeo. I just tried to work on doing my job and letting my heeler do his...complete the course. My partner, he's rank and catches everything I turn him. That made my job a lot easier and less stressful. If I caught, I knew we were getting a time.

                                                                                                                               

Question: How'd you & Braden end up roping together this year?                                                 

Answer: We were actually in Arizona at Buckeye at a 13 slide that we ended up winning. We had kind of talked about roping and weren't sure what we wanted to do but after the jackpot, it made our decision easier. So we went and roped and from there on, we committed to each other.

Schmidt & Brost at The Ponoka Stampede, where they'd finish in the Top 4 alongside World Champions & NFR Qualifiers

Question: How was your season? Did you guys practice much together?                                             

Answer: We went through a lot of hot spells and cold spells this year. There were times where we picked away and then we'd struggle again. As far as practices, I think that before this fall we'd only practiced together 2 or 3 times. The run just kind of worked out. He heels outstanding.

                                                                                                                               

Question: What was your favorite rodeo this year?                                                                       Answer: Ponoka's my favorite rodeo of the year but it was my first time to Armstrong this year and that's a cool rodeo. The atmosphere there is insane, it's so loud. It was unreal, I've never been in anything like that, it's awesome.

                                                                                                                                

Question: What horses did you use this year to qualify?                                                        

Answer: I used my 7 year-old mare 'Freebie' for a good majority of the year. I got her from one of Grandpa's friends as a 2 year-old, that's a cool little story with her. Then my brother gave me one of his horses, 'Buster', for the 2nd half of the year. I rode him from Bruce to Armstrong.

                                                                                                                               

Question: Who are you riding in Edmonton?                                                                         Answer: It's up in the air still. It's either going to be my roan or my sorrel, not really sure which one I'm gonna use yet.                                                                            

Question: What's the head rope of choice?

Answer: The Powerline Lite Extra Soft. I stick with it, Powerline rain or shine.

Question: Who's had the most influence on your roping career?

Answer: That would be my father and my brother. They've helped me out a lot. They've been through the rough with me and they've been through the highs with me, they're very supportive and willing to help no matter the time of day or when it is.                                                                                                                          

Question: What're your future goals?                                                                                  Answer: I'm just gonna try and stay in Canada and keep making good head horses and hopefully win myself a Canadian title one day. The rodeos are getting great up here with how much Lyle Kurtz has done for the team roping. He's doing so much by putting up some great money for us to rope for. It's nice that you can be home every week and still rope for a lot of money.                                                      

Question: What's the game plan leading up to Edmonton?                                                

Answer: I'm excited. I'm just gonna try and have some fun and enjoy it.