story by Kelsey Temmen
Lake Charles, Louisiana is home to 18-year-old Chance Bernard, the only lefty roper in the Louisiana High School Rodeo Association. “I really like that I’m different when there are so many ropers out there. It’s the best life to live and I just give it all I’ve got.” Chance’s favorite event and the one that he competes in most often is team roping. “I started riding when I was around 6-years-old, but didn’t start roping until I was 10-years-old. My brother, LB Bernard, and my dad, Tony Bernard, both roped so I was kind of born into it. My dad has done it for a long time.” His family has helped to push him to be better and work harder to reach his goals. Chance’s role model is Jade Corkill, a three-time world champion team roper, but if he could spend the day with any rodeo celebrity it would be Fallon Taylor. “I could try to barrel race and I’d like to see her try to rope!”
Chance believes that rodeo is what he was born to do. “If I lived 100 years ago, I would still be roping and working cattle. Nothing could change that for me.” When Chance is on the road with his family headed to a rodeo, he enjoys listening to Cole Swindell, Kevin Gates, and eating sunflower seeds. To date, Chance’s favorite rodeo has been the Louisiana High School State Rodeo Finals because of the people he gets to meet and how much fun he has competing. Chance has set for himself and his rodeo career. “I want to make it to the high school nationals. I also think it would be awesome to make it to the International Finals Youth Rodeo in Shawnee, Okla.” He likes to travel and the fact that he is able to do so with his family makes it that much better. Although it may not be rodeo related, one of Chance’s future places he would like to visit is Brazile.
Chance is a senior and attends Westlake High School. He plans to become a Process Technician in an operation plant and continue training to become a professional roper. When asked what his favorite subject in school was he stated, “Does rodeo count? That’s all I think about and want to do.” On his summer breaks and during other free-time, he is either practicing and training roping or going to rodeos on his 18-year-old mare named Missy. “I practice a lot. I practice to get ready for my rodeos because I love to rope and I love to win.” Another hobby that Chance has is playing golf. “I may not play many sports, but I have a good time doing what I do!”
