story by Riata Cummings
Chanley Adams is the daughter of Keith and Deann Adams of Enoch, Utah, a rural city in Iron County with a small-town feel. She has an older brother, Qade, and a younger sister, Shantel. They spend time together camping, hunting, fishing, and shooting at rodeos. Chanley is a 14-year-old eighth grader attending Canyon View Middle School, and her favorite classes are science, history, and language arts. Chanley enjoys playing volleyball and softball, and has a cat named Timange. Eventually, Chanley would like to volunteer at the local animal hospitals and study to become a veterinarian.
Chanley first became interested in rodeo after the Cedar Rodeo Club introduced her and her brother to the shooting events. She currently competes in the light rifle shooting event and looks forward to starting the trap shooting in high school. At her first shoot, Chanley was nervous and lacking practice, and the pressure got to her. Since then she has learned the patience necessary to take her time and shoot accurately and is currently sitting 5th in the state. So far, her favorite shoot and rodeo was the Utah Junior High School State Finals where she enjoyed the fun atmosphere and activities hosted by the student officers. Chanley prepares for her event by shooting at the local shooting range. She also takes time to enjoy the relaxing atmosphere and focus on precise shooting. Her favorite shooting positions are prone and kneeling, and she has set her sights on the National Junior High School Finals this year.
Chanley’s greatest strength is her friendly, outgoing nature. Shooting has given her the opportunity to meet and make many new friends from all over the state. Her amiable personality also helped her adjust to a bigger school when her family moved to Enoch from Escalante, one of the recent challenges in her life. Her family and friends would describe her as affectionate, approachable, and adventurous. Chanley lives by the saying, “why walk alone when you can walk with others,” and the question reflects her sociable disposition. Her heroes are her family and friends who are always willing to spend time with her and have always supported her. Chanley wants the world to remember her smile, a legacy of her friendly and open way of living.
Chanley would like to thank her parents, Cody Rhodes, Jenny Wilkins, and Tyson Ekker. They have all been influential in her success thus far and in her progress towards her goals, and she is grateful for their guidance.
