story by Riata Cummings
Oaklee Giles is a 14-year-old rodeo athlete from the quiet little town of Lakeshore, Utah. She is the daughter of Brandy and Shane Giles and has an older sister named Laynee. Together they enjoy going roping or competing at barrel races. Oaklee is an eighth grader at Spanish Fork Junior High School and her favorite classes include animal science, math and physical education.
“When I was 2-years-old I was riding on my own. I wouldn’t let my mom get on with me, I had to do it myself.” That independence is still a part of Oaklee’s nature. After playing competitive softball for a few years, she decided that wasn’t where her heart was. This year she became a member of the Utah Junior High School Rodeo Association and started competing in the barrel racing, team roping, goat tying, and breakaway roping. Oaklee favors the fast-paced barrel racing because she learned the craft from her mother and sister, and she has gained a love for the adrenaline-inducing event. She runs barrels on two horses; Road Runner and Loretta. She reminisced, “I had kind of lost all hope when both of them fell in my lap.” Oaklee breakaways on an 8-year-old horse named Hilly. She uses Hank to head for Brett Milner in the team roping, and she uses him for the goat tying. Her favorite of the four would “have to be Hank. He has taught me more than I could have ever imagined, and he will do absolutely anything I ask him.”
Oaklee qualified for the Utah Junior High State Finals Rodeo in each of her events and has set a goal to qualify for the National High School Finals Rodeo during her high school rodeo career. Rodeo has allowed Oaklee to develop her sense of humor and helped her to come out of her shell. Since she started competing, she has made great friends and experienced many growing opportunities. Rodeo has also taught her to be patient with herself and humble in every circumstance. Oaklee has a quick-witted, sometimes sassy personality that keeps everyone around her on their toes. She loves making people laugh, and would like to be remembered as a kind, down to earth person with a good attitude. She would advise rodeo rookies to remember that, “It isn’t going to be easy the first time, but if you keep moving forward and tying hard it will eventually come together for you.”
Her heroes are her sister and her mother, who cheer her on and show her how to succeed. She looks up to her older sister who is always there to support her and keep her happy. She is thankful to her parents for giving her the opportunity to rodeo and would like to thank them for all their support. Finally, she would like to thank her Heavenly Father, who makes it all possible.
