story by Riata Cummings
Small town Newcastle, Utah, is home to young rodeo athlete Chad Reber. Chad is the son of Stacie and Shawn Reber, and has an older sister named Jordyn. The 13-year-old and his family enjoy spending time together at Lake Powell, on camping trips, and working on the farm. Chad is an eighth grader at Enterprise High School. His hobbies include rodeo, wake boarding, riding motorcycles, and farming with his dad. Chad would like to make his living on the farm when he gets older.
While Shawn competed in rodeo during high school, the sport wasn’t at the forefront of life for the Rebers until not too long ago. In November of 2017, after no small amount of begging, Chad got his first horse. The buckskin gelding, Bullet, has since become an invaluable teammate for Chad, who competes in the tiedown roping, ribbon roping, team roping, and chute dogging. Qualifying for state in his first year competing, Chad has made great strides in the world of rodeo. One of his proudest moments was winning a saddle while heading at a Triple T Productions team roping in Mesquite, Nevada. His favorite rodeo so far was the Silver State International Rodeo last year, a week-long event packed full of fun. This year he hopes to take it a step farther and qualify for the National Junior High Finals Rodeo in Huron, South Dakota.
Rodeo has taught Chad the value of hard work and the importance of dedication. He understands that practice precedes results and you must be willing to put in the time it takes to be successful. Chad also recognizes how crucial it is to remain persistent in the face of challenge because true winners never quit. When he backs in the box he reminds himself to “stay aggressive” and to hustle the same way he does in practice. Chad knows that all the hard work in the practice pen will be worth it in the end.
Chad’s heroes are his father and Trevor Brazil. Just like the “King of the Cowboys”, Chad strives to be the best, and he is grateful for a father who has always been willing to help him accomplish his goals. Rodeo has helped Chad develop his friendly, easy to get along with personality as he has become fast friends with many of his fellow competitors. His willingness to help and positive attitude make him a better competitor in and out of the arena. He would like to thank his Uncle Warren and cousin Kylan Platt for their paramount assistance in the tiedown roping, and his mom and dad for their support along the way and their desire to help him succeed at the sport he loves.
