Kole Ashbacher to qualify for NFR
By Joan Janzen
Everyone in the Hoosier area is cheering on Kole Ashbacher, who has placed No. 13 in World Saddle Bronc Riding. The 26-year-old has come a long way in his rodeo career, which has been lengthy. Kole calls Arrowhead, AB, home, but he grew up on his parent’s ranch at Hoosier. He started in little britches rodeos and, by age 12, was entering full time.
In 2022, Kole set his goal to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) championships for the first time. The NFR takes place each December in Las Vegas and is where the most successful rodeo cowboys are admitted to compete. Last year his world standings place was 31st with 2021 earnings of $38,413; however, only the top 15 qualify for the championships. Now at No. 13, it’s almost certain he’ll qualify.
Kole Ashbacher and his dad, Duane Ashbacher. PHOTOS SUBMITTED, click for larger images
“They’ve never had someone who’s made $100,000 not make the NFR, and he said he doesn’t want to be the first,” his dad, Duane Ashbacher, said. “He’s having a very good year. We’re thinking very nearly 100 percent that he’s going to make it to Las Vegas. The way the numbers have crunched, he’s probably in for sure. If he could get 12th spot, that would be good.”
At the time this was written, Kole had won $11,077.28, with every dollar equal to one point. He had hoped to make the NFR sooner and probably would have if it had not been for Covid.
Kole’s parents, Duane and Judy Ashbacher, travelled to Pendleton in Florida in mid-September to watch their son. “He’s had some travelling partners, but every one of them is injured now,” Duane said. “So we jumped in with him and watched him in Pendleton.” From there, he flew to Okeechobee, Florida and his parents brought his van home.
Saddle bronc riders are only allowed to count 100 rodeos. At the time of writing this article, he had two more rodeos in Louisiana, one in Nebraska and one in Texas.
Kole also ranches with his parents, who have a ranch near Hoosier, where they raise Brahman cattle for rodeos. “They’re smaller, and we can buck those cows until they’re at least ten years old,” Duane explained. While lots of guys who are full-time on the circuit go home and chill, Kole comes home and is put to work.
Kole’s grandpa, Archie Ashbacher, was the founding member of the rodeo association that was initially formed in Saskatchewan. The association is now called the Canadian Cowboys Association (CCA). He was also a stock contractor. “So we had bucking horses as long as I can remember,” Duane recalls. “Then I came along and took over his herd of horses and raised bucking horses for years.” Duane is still a stock contractor.
Duane was also on the rodeo circuit before quitting and starting a wild horse race event, which explains the sign posted at the entrance of Hoosier, which says, “The home of the Ashbachers - Canadian Champion Wild Horse Racers.”
Meanwhile, all Kole’s friends and family from Hoosier are cheering him on as he works towards qualifying for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.