Chance Peila

Photo by Jim Morgan. Text by Lynn Morgan.

Chance Peila has had a rope in his hands at his grandparents’ ranch in Wagontire, Ore., from the time he could walk. He began roping from a horse at the age of three. We met Chance at the annual Mosquito Festival in Paisley, Ore. He and his dad, Bill, had just won 2nd place in the team horse roping event in the ranch hand rodeo. Chance was delighted to have the opportunity to show his expertise with his new red, white and blue rope.

At their Bar-Open-A-L spread in Hines, Ore., the almost 16-year-old works at haying, feeding, branding and doctoring the livestock. Although he takes ag and mechanics classes in high school and participates in sports, his real passions are roping and hunting.

Chance’s love of the land embodies the spirit of the West and the values and traditions he plans to carry on with ag-oriented studies in his college future.