Images Arizona March 2019 by Images Arizona Magazine

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ROOTS IN AMERICAN ART Writer Fadi Sitto Photography Courtesy of Heard Museum

COMMUNITY EVENTS Writer Amanda Christmann

AMALUNA Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography Courtesy of Cirque du Soleil

GROWING ARIZONA Writer Amanda Christmann Photography by Brenna Zumbro-Monke

FINDING HER CENTER Writer Amanda Christmann Photography by Jason Lavengood

BLACKBERRY LEMON SCONES Writer and Photographer Kyndra Kelly

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PUBLISHER Shelly Spence

MANAGING EDITOR Amanda Christmann

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Meaghan Mitchell

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Joseph Airdo Amanda Christmann Sue Kern-Fleischer Kyndra Kelly Shoshana Leon Shannon Severson Fadi Sitto

PHOTOGRAPHERS Scott Baxter Bryan Black Kyndra Kelly Loralei Lazurek

ADVERTISING SALES Shelly Spence 623-341-8221 shelly@imagesaz.com

Images Arizona P.O. Box 1416 Carefree, AZ. 85377 623-341-8221 imagesarizona.com Submission of news for community section should be in to shelly@imagesaz.com by the 5th of the month prior to publication. Images Arizona is published by ImagesAZ Inc. Copyright © 2019 by ImagesAZ, Inc. All rights reserved.

It’s March already, and now that I’ve stepped solidly into 2019 with both feet, I’m feeling more confident than ever that this is going to be a great year! This month’s Images Arizona magazine has, once again, made me proud. Each of our four monthly editions is filled with uplifting stories about people and organizations making a positive impact on our lives. From visual artists to musicians, and from celebrity fundraisers to talented, hard-working, everyday people, our family of writers and photographers has tapped into some of the personalities that make our little corner of the world a beautiful place to be. With every beginning comes an ending, and in the happiest of ways, I’d like to say goodbye to someone who has been a wonderful employee and friend for the last four years. Tatum Williams has touched me and so many of our clients with her smile and positivity, and I am proud to call her my friend. As she begins a new chapter in her life, I wish her all the best. This month, I’d also like to acknowledge artist Jennyfer Stratman. I felt an instant connection to her work from the moment I saw it. Her sculpture portrays the deep message that, despite who we are and where we came from, we are all connected to each other, and to something so much greater than ourselves. I’m happy to share that Jennyfer has flown in from Australia to spend an evening with us at Grace Renee Gallery in Carefree March 21. I’d like to invite you to enjoy an hors de oeuvre or two, see her art in person, and meet Jennyfer from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Reproduction, in whole or part, without permission is prohibited. The publisher is not responsible for the return of unsolicited material.

Local First A R I Z O NA

Thank you, once again, for allowing our Images Arizona family to be a part of your life, and for sharing in ours! Cheers! Shelly Spence Publisher, Images Arizona magazine shelly@imagesaz.com 623-341-8221

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Writer Fadi Sitto Photography Courtesy of Heard Museum

Amidst a quaint open-air courtyard stands an epic structure of human history and grandeur: the Heard Museum. The Heard Museum in downtown Phoenix is a must-see place to explore when youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in the heart of our city. The museum is designated as a Phoenix Point of Pride, making it one of the 33 landmarks that represent the best features of the city for both residents and visitors. One of the more essential ways the Heard supports American Indian artists and heartens their artistic endeavors is through fairs and festivals. The museumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s headline spring season event is the Indian Fair and Market.

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Since its founding by Dwight and Maie Bartlett Heard in 1929, the museum has been dedicated to the advancement of American Indian art and presenting the stories of American Indian people from a first-person perspective. The institution proudly houses rare, noteworthy exhibits that demonstrate the splendor and pulsating existence of traditional and contemporary art. The 61st Indian Fair and Market is a long-standing, nationally recognized event held each year on the first weekend of March. It’s the largest art market in Arizona and is the second-largest market of its kind in the country, attracting upward of 20,000 art lovers and collectors. Invited participants include more than 600 juried Native artists from 116 tribal affiliations in the United States and Canada. There are also 44 emerging artists who are under the age of 18, presenting their skills and talents. This celebrated art fest is put together and run by the Heard Museum Guild, the volunteer arm of the museum. The guild was founded in 1956 as a group of helpers dedicated to supporting the mission and programs of the museum; they are an integral part of all aspects and daily life of the museum. The first guild members were originally all women, and the first male member was former Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater. He was a notable friend and strong supporter of the Heard Museum. It’s no secret that Barry Goldwater loved Native American culture and people, and was known to be quite a good photographer; the museum houses many prominent photographs that Mr. Goldwater took. Collectively, the 450 guild members have contributed well over a million volunteer hours. Additionally, their fundraising efforts provide upward of $150,000 annually to support Heard Museum operations, educational programs and activities. “There is a labor of love, warmth and longevity to this event,” says Anna Flynn, chair of the Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair and Market. Anna, a former lecturer at Arizona State University has a passion for her volunteer work with the Heard Guild, and it shows.

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“We insure all the art here at the Indian Fair is authentic while showcasing the cross cultural interactions you can have with the artists, the artists love to engage with the people,” she explains. This year’s event will feature rows of specialty booths displaying handmade jewelry, paintings, photography, pottery, beadwork, quillwork and other artisan works. “Just the number of different artists doing different things from different tribes is so dynamic,” Anna says. The Indian Fair and Market extravaganza kicks off with the Best of Show reception and awards ceremony. This opening night ticketed affair spotlights the very best of the best in nine art categories, and showcases the creativity and talent of exhibiting fair artists. In addition, there are highly anticipated cultural performances including the likes of Tony Duncan, a five-time world champion hoop dancer and Native American Music Awards Artist of the Year. If it’s traditional Native music you’re looking for, be sure to wander toward the fair’s courtyard stage, where you’ll enjoy listening to various musicians sponsored by Canyon Records. Catch live performances by Aaron White, Clark Tenakhongva and Xavier Yxayotl, just to name a few. Canyon Records of Phoenix produces and distributes Native American music and is one of the oldest independent record labels in the music industry, as well as one of the oldest cultural institutions in Arizona.

EXPERIENCE 61st Annual Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair and Market Saturday, March 2 | 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. | Sunday, March 3 | 9:30 a.m.–4 p.m. | 2031 N. Central Ave., Phoenix i m a g e s a rmembers; i z o n a . c o m$20 Mar c h 2 019 non-museum members; Free for children 16 and under | 602-252-8840 | heard.org/fair 12$15 museum

There is also a fabulous not-to-be missed fashion show held in the main courtyard. Who needs to go to Paris, Milan or New York for a lesson in style, when you can get that here in Phoenix? Preview a stunning array of must-have fashions and watch models walk the Heard catwalk in creations by designers of wearable art. All featured designers are invited fair artists. If you bring the kids to the Indian Fair and Market, check out the happenings in the Steele Auditorium. Here you’ll discover Young Warriors Storytelling and Crafts with Violet Duncan, a fun interactive show complete with animal mask-making, storytelling and sing-alongs. Violet Duncan, who is the wife of the legendary Tony Duncan, is a legend herself. She too is a world-famous dancer, an author, and she was Miss Indian World 2012. As such, she represented all indigenous people of North America. Violet effortlessly combines traditional dance styles and storytelling to interpret tales passed down from generation to generation. She has performed for audiences across the United States, Canada and Europe. World-class community events like the Indian Fair and Market solidify this Arizona treasure as the preeminent museum of American Indian art. The Heard Museum continues to be a preserved home, giving voice to a uniquely American people.

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COMMUNITY

2019 MARCH

Writer Amanda Christmann

March 2, 3

LITCHFIELD PARK ART & WINE FESTIVAL This award-winning festival is in its 21st year for good reason! Come for the creativity of dozens of more than 200 artists and live music, and let your cup runneth over with fine Arizona wines, tasty cocktails and craft brews. Free to browse. $10 for beer and wine garden admission. Litchfield Park Branch Library Lawn, Old Litchfield Rd. and Wigwam Blvd., Litchfield Park. 9 a.m.–5 p.m. 623-935-9040

March 7

THAT’S A BIG IDEA!

at 10:30 a.m. Performances will

March 8

Twice each month, Big Ideas Forums

N. 41st Dr., Ste. B100, Anthem.

RAISE MONEY FOR MTA

provide an opportunity to discuss

musicaltheatreofanthem.org

Musical Theatre of Anthem is excited

be held April 25–28. $325. 42201

interesting topics and meet great

to announce its annual benefit

neighbors. This week’s topic is AI:

fundraiser, featuring performances

Robots and the Future of Work. Free. Anthem Civic Building, 3701 W. Anthem Way, Anthem. 7–8:30 p.m.

March 7–10 YOUTH MTA AUDITIONS

March 7–10

BREAK A LEG WITH MTA

Outreach Group. Enjoy dinner and gourmet desserts and take part in a live auction. Purchase

Todd for actors ages 17 to adult,

tickets online. $40–$75. 42201

with one role for a 14–17-year-old

N. 41st Dr., Ste. B100, Anthem.

boy. Workshop will be held March

6 p.m. brownpapertickets.com/

7, 6–7:30 p.m. Auditions take place

event/3924272

March 9–10 beginning at 12:30 p.m.

for youth 6–18 years old for James

Performances are May 2–5. 42201

and the Giant Peach are this month!

N. 41st Dr., Ste. B100, Anthem.

Workshop will be held March 7 from

musicaltheatreofanthem.org

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by professional singers and MTA's

Auditions will be held for Sweeney

Musical Theatre of Anthem auditions

4:30–6 p.m. and from 6–7:30 p.m.

Auditions will be held March 9–10

the art of organization

March 9

SPRING IS IN THE AIR North Valley Symphony Orchestra brings in the delightful sounds of the season with an imaginative collection of concertos and overtures. Among the talented performers, Summerford Violin Concerto Competition winner Haley McKeown will perform Vivaldi’s Violin Concerto in A minor on her new violin. $5. North Canyon High School Performing Arts Center, 1700 E. Union Hills Dr., Phoenix. 7 p.m. northvalleysymphony.org

March 16

MUTTON BUSTIN’ Even the little ones get in on the action during Cave Creek Rodeo Days! This one’s a hoot! Kids 4–7 years old. Free. Buffalo Chip Saloon, 6823 E. Cave Creek Rd., Cave Creek. 2 p.m. cavecreekrodeo.com

March 16

Home Ofﬁces

Garages

Entertainment Centers

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CAVE CREEK RODEO DAYS PARADE Downtown Cave Creek is the place to be for the famous—or is it infamous?—Cave Creek Rodeo Days Parade. Grab a lawn chair and sit a spell in downtown Cave Creek. 9 a.m. cavecreekrodeo.com

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March 21

MEET JENNYFER STRATMAN Talented and renowned bronze artist Jennyfer Stratman returns from the Land Down Under for a special meetand-greet session at Grace Renee Gallery. Enjoy wine and hors de oeuvres while you browse her thoughtprovoking art. Free. Grace Renee Gallery, 7212 E. Ho Hum Rd., Carefree. 4–7 p.m. 480-575-8080; gracereneegallery.com

March 18

GOLFING COWBOY-STYLE

will be held at Wildfire Golf Club at JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort

The Cave Creek Rodeo Days Golf

Pro-Am March 20, 7 a.m.–5 p.m.

MOUNTAIN DAYS: THE JOHN MUIR MUSICAL

Tournament is a great way to enjoy

Tournament play will be held March

ProMusica Arizona presents an

the green while contributing to the

21–24, 7 a.m.–6:30 p.m. Tickets

extraordinary musical adaptation

community charities that benefit from

$20–$135. 5350 E. Marriott Dr.,

of the story of a man who left a

the rodeo. The tournament is a four-

Phoenix. lpgafounderscup.com

monumental impact on our country.

& Spa. Professional practice rounds March 19, 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Official

man scramble format. It’s a full day

$12–22; children 15 and under free

with prizes, a banquet and an awards

with paid adult. See website for

ceremony. $150 per person. Tatum Ranch, 29888 N. Tatum Ranch Dr., Cave Creek. 10:30 a.m. check-in. Tee off at 12:30 p.m. 480-304-5634; cavecreekrodeo.com

March 21

March 19–24 BANK OF HOPE FOUNDERS CUP

locations and performance schedule.

THE TECHNOLOGY OF SOUND

623-326-5172; pmaz.org

Let’s talk tech—specifically, sound as

March 22–24

a technology. This Big Ideas Forum Anthem Civic Building, 3701 W.

BRONCS AND BLOOD, BUCKS AND MUD

Anthem Way, Anthem. 7–8:30 p.m.

Cowboy (and cowgirl) up for the

will be music to your ears. Free.

March 22–24

best in PRCA competitions at Cave Creek Rodeo Days! $22 in advance;

For the ninth consecutive year, the

$25 at the gate. Free shuttle buses

LGPA Bank of Hope Founders Cup

available. Cave Creek Memorial

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March 23, 24

20TH ANNUAL ANTHEM DAYS It’s hard to believe two decades have passed! Join the Anthem community celebration at Anthem Community Park for live music, a carnival, food, beer, a kids’ zone, and a free egg hunt Sunday for the little ones. Free. 41703 N. Gavilan Peak Pkwy., Anthem. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. 623-742-6050; onlineatanthem.com

Arena, 37201 N. 28th St., Cave Creek. Gates open at 5 p.m. March

ANTHEM ROTARY SCHOLARSHIPS

playing violin in fourth grade in

The April 5 deadline for local

her elementary school orchestra

7:30 p.m. Gates open at noon March

high school students to apply for

and worked her way up through

24; performances begin at 2 p.m.

Anthem Rotary scholarships is

the Valley’s best youth orchestra

cavecreekrodeo.com

fast-approaching. Four $1,000

programs. She is currently principal

scholarships will be awarded to four

second violin for North Valley Youth

students who attend Boulder Creek

Orchestra and she plays in the first

High School, Anthem Preparatory

violin section of the adult orchestra

School or San Day O'Connor High

and in the pit orchestra for Valley

Mark your calendar and sign up or

School. Application forms are

Youth Theatre.

donate online for this two-mile walk

available online. 603-387-1019;

in Cave Creek to honor the world’s

anthemrotary.org

22 and 23; performances begin at

April 6

WALK 4 WATER

water from dirty ponds and rivers.

AND THE WINNER IS …

Proceeds will help build two wells in

Haley McKeown, was recently

Uganda. $15–$25. Saddlecreek Coffee

announced as the winner of a brand

Co., 28212 N. Tatum Blvd., Cave

new handmade violin, valued at

Creek. 8 a.m. w4ki.org

over $5,000, after competing in

to walk several miles each day to fetch

North Valley Symphony Orchestra’s annual Summerford Violin

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Our Images Arizona magazine family congratulates Haley on her auspicious

mothers and young children who have

Concerto Competition. Haley began

award and thanks NVSO for continuing to support Valley youth and adults in creating beautiful music.

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Writer Shannon Severson Photography Courtesy of LPGA Bank of Hope Founders Cup

At this year’s 10th annual LPGA Bank of Hope Founders Cup at Wildfire Golf Club, 2017 tournament champion Anna Nordqvist returns to Arizona, the state she first fell in love with while attending Arizona State University, to compete for a $1.5 million purse. Along with last year’s champion, Olympic gold medalist Inbee Park, and top earnings player Cristie Kerr, she will be part of a celebration that honors the history of women’s golf and promotes the sport to the next generation. “This is our ninth consecutive year at Wildfire Golf,” says Scott Wood, tournament director. “It’s a very special event that celebrates where we came from. We’re not only honoring the past and celebrating the game of today, but ensuring the future of the sport. “Over the past six years, and with the support of PGA, the Bank of Hope Founders Cup has raised almost $3 million for the LPGA/USGA Girls Golf program. We serve 80,000 girls between the ages of 7 and 17 at over 450 sites.” “It’s always so special to visit Arizona,” says Nordqvist. “Thinking about Phoenix makes me smile. It feels like home. I loved every single day of school and look back at it as some of the best years of my life.

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I sometimes wonder what my life would be if I hadn’t chosen ASU. I wouldn’t have met the special, supportive people I did. I’m grateful for the opportunity and enjoy coming back every year. “When I won the Founders Cup tournament in 2017, it felt like winning at home. I was able to share the victory with those who were always there for me.” That year, 2017, was a year of challenge and pure perseverance for the now 31-year-old Nordqvist. She battled mononucleosis, then worked her way to a stunning, come-from-behind, playoff victory while being pelted with cold, driving rain at the Evian Championship in the French Alps. Since her debut on the professional tour as Rookie of the Year in 2009, Nordqvist has made a reputation for herself as someone who puts in a lot of hours, trains intently, performs consistently and has a steady stream of wins, including two majors. Of course, no one can win every competition, much less in the challenging and often frustrating game of golf. So, how does she overcome obstacles and stay motivated between the big wins? “The feeling of winning when you work at something for so long and win a tournament is such a strong feeling,” says Nordqvist. “Once you’ve been there, you get a feeling for what it’s like. “You see a lot of hard work come together and it’s what motivates me to get up early; it’s something to strive for. This year is a Solheim Cup year. I want to make the team and help Europe get the cup back. I’ve been fortunate to play on five Solheim teams and I want to be there again. It’s one of my biggest motivators.”

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Nordqvist was always an athlete in her native Sweden and was Swedish Player of the Year in 2004. An allaround athlete, she began playing golf because both her brothers played, and both went pro for a time. She credits her parents for their support, but much like the young golfers who are inspired by Nordqvist and her cohorts today, she drew inspiration from those who went before her, including the legendary Swedish golfer Annika Sörestam.

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“She was Swedish and the best player in the world,” says Nordqvist. “We grew up in the same environment. Over the years, I’ve admired a lot of different players and have seen how they give back to the game. Lorena Ochoa of Mexico touched people just by being who she was, sticking to her values and love of her family. I admired her for the way she went about her career. She retired very young, but she’s still giving back to the sport. I’ve always drawn inspiration from people who are playing with their heart and prioritizing their families.” That balance remains a priority for Nordqvist. Outside of the game, she enjoys graphic design (she designed her signature logo with the assistance of her aunt), playing and watching sports and sharing her photography skills with her fans via Instagram. Despite a schedule that has her traveling 51 weeks per year, she found time to fall in love on tour and became engaged in December to Amy Yang’s Scottish caddy, Kevin McAlpine. “I’m very happy to have met Kevin and my goal since being on the tour was to find a balance,” says Nordqvist. “I didn’t know what would happen when I left Sweden in August 2006, but I’ve been pretty fortunate. When I came on tour, golf was my life 24/7. Now, it’s nice and refreshing to be able to come home and not have to think about golf and just be myself.

EXPERIENCE

Bank of Hope Founders Cup Tuesday, March 19–Sunday, March 24 | Wildfire Golf Club at JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa | 5350 E. Marriott Dr., Phoenix Pricing available online | lpgafounderscup.com/ticket-information i m a g e s a r i z o nPractice a . c o m Mar ch 2 Rounds 8019 a.m.–4 p.m. | Wed: Official Pro-Am 7 a.m.–5 p.m. | Thur–Sun: Tournament Play 7 a.m.–6:30 p.m. 24Tue: Professional

“We’re looking forward to getting married next summer. I’m not going to play golf forever and we have started thinking about [having] a family. For now, I really enjoy playing and trying to get better, but I enjoy the normal life. The last couple years, the priority is changing. Golf isn’t everything any more. It’s definitely a different drive than when I first came on tour. I continue to chase my goals, but in a little bit different way.” Those values are right in line with the Wood’s goals for fans at the Founders Cup. From pricing and junior clinics (for boys and girls) to local female executives playing in the ProAm, the message is that the LPGA is an affordable and accessible way for everyone to enjoy the game of golf. “We want to be the ultimate family golf experience,” says Wood. “Women’s golf is a niche within a niche, but we are making a lot of headway and we have more people who are willing to tell our story to a new audience. “It’s our mission to connect both the avid and casual golf fans at Wildfire. It’s a multigenerational sport; we want moms and dads and grandparents to know that when they ask, ‘What are we doing with the kids this week?’ the answer is to bring them out to the Bank of Hope Founders Cup. “Our players are some of the most approachable in sport. They don’t mind signing autographs or taking selfies. They love being here at the Founders Cup and understand that it’s important to connect to fans to grow the sport.”

years, a testament to the continued growth of the sport and year-round outreach efforts, including the What’s Fore Lunch program in which women can hear speakers and participate in golf clinics. It’s all about supporting the future of women’s golf and breaking down gender barriers on the green, which is exactly what the event was founded on. The Founders Cup celebrates the “Founding 13”—pioneering women who first established the LPGA and paved the way for today’s players. Three are alive today, still enthusiastically supporting the cause, including Marilyn Smith, 89, of Goodyear. 92-year-old Shirley Spork, who still works as a golf instructor in Palm Desert, Calif., and Marlene Vossler, the youngest of the founders. “They are so inspirational,” says Wood. “They love to interact with the players and the players love to interact with them. It’s so rewarding to see. We also have 50 to 60 young girls golf members who volunteer on the course, shadowing staff and the broadcast team from the Golf Channel. They can see that there are many opportunities in the golf business. It’s not just for men. “A putt will drop on Sunday and we will have a winner who’ll walk away with $200,000, but we will also have 80,000 girls who benefit from the event.” lpgafounderscup.com

There has been an 85 percent increase in total attendance over the last seven

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Cirque du Soleil’s latest production “Amaluna” marks a significant milestone in the live entertainment company’s 35-year history. For the very first time since the troupe began thrilling audiences around the world with its reinvented circus arts, it debuts a show comprised mostly of women. The production also features an all-female band. “It's definitely a celebration of women and of femininity,” says one of the show’s stars, Amanda Zidow, who believes all industries—including the arts—are seeing an increase in women utilizing their talents. “There is nothing else like this show in Cirque du Soleil.”

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Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography Courtesy of Cirque du Soleil

Arriving in Phoenix for an engagement of 38 performances March 15 through April 14 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, “Amaluna” is Cirque du Soleil’s thirty-third production and features unicyclists, aerial acts, jugglers, a fast-paced theatrical version of the uneven bars gymnastics routine and a wide array of other acrobatics that seem too fantastic to be real. “Amaluna’s” title is derived from symbols of femininity that evoke themes of a mother-daughter relationship and a goddess protecting a planet that are significant to the story on the stage. In many languages, ama refers to mother while luna refers to moon.

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Diane Paulus wrote and directs “Amaluna,” whose concept was drawn from a series of classical sources, including tales from Greek and Norse mythology; Mozart’s opera, “The Magic Flute”; and Shakespeare’s play, “The Tempest.” “I didn’t want to build a ‘women’s agenda’ show,” notes Paulus, who won a Tony Award in 2013 for her work on the Broadway musical “Pippin” and was named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People the following year. “I wanted to create a show with women at the center of it—something that had a hidden story that featured women as the heroines.” Zidow plays one of those heroines: a queen named Prospera who directs her daughter’s coming-of-age ceremony in a rite that honors femininity, renewal, rebirth and balance. Zidow sings and plays the cello in the show, for which she is at the center during most of the action. “The most amazing thing that Cirque de Soleil does is take people out of reality for a couple of hours,” Zidow says. “The moment that you walk into the tent, you feel like you're in a different world. You're leaving everything behind. Cirque du Soleil basically takes you away from everything for two hours and stimulates your mind, your soul and your heart.”

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“Amaluna” is set on a mysterious island governed by goddesses and guided by the cycles of the moon. In the wake of a storm, several men shipwreck on the island— one of whom begins to court Prospera’s daughter. The couple’s new love is put to the test as they face numerous demanding trials and daunting setbacks before they can achieve mutual trust, faith and harmony. In speaking with audience members and reading reviews of the show, Zidow believes one of the things that sets “Amaluna” apart from other Cirque to Soleil productions is its music, which has a rock edge to it.

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Zidow’s favorite part of the production from her point of view on stage is the storm that is the catalyst of the story. In addition to being integral to the plot, the act is

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a feast for the eyes as artists fly out over the audience on straps, suspended from a rotating set element high above them. The demonstration of flight in four dimensions calls for precision timing as well as a remarkable amount of physical strength. “We rehearse every single day,” Zidow says. “As with every show, it's a work in progress. We're always striving to make it better. Whether it's just a tiny moment in the show or an entire act, we're always striving to make it fresh and different.” Of course, there are plenty of other demonstrations of tremendous talent in “Amaluna.” That talent is a constant source of inspiration for Zidow, who had been working as a musician for video games and animated productions in Los Angeles prior to joining Cirque du Soleil. “Being in Cirque du Soleil has shown me the amount of strength that I possess as an artist,” she explains. “Being surrounded by such talented people has been an amazing opportunity that I wouldn’t have been able to get anywhere else. It really tests your strengths and your talents. These really are the best artists in the world.”

EXPERIENCE Cirque du Soleil’s “Amaluna” M arch March 15–April 14 | State Farm Stadium | 1 Cardinals Dr., Glendale | $55+ | cirquedusoleil.com/amaluna

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Writer Amanda Christmann Photography by Brenna Zumbro-Monke

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Date Creek Ranch

Rolling pastures, bountiful fields of vegetables and citrus orchards may not be the first things people think of when Arizona comes to mind, but for the tens of thousands of people who operate more than 15,000 farms and ranches in our state, agriculture is an integral part of life. Today’s flourishing Arizona agricultural economy is nothing new. People have been coaxing life from the arid, sun-drenched land for a millennium. Long before historic records were kept, the Hohokam people not only cultivated corn, wheat, barley and cattle, but they also developed a remarkably complex system of canals. The Hohokam people seemed to thrive in the desert from about 700 to 140 AD. Then, for reasons not yet fully understood, they abandoned the area. Archaeologists have found little if any trace of human existence here for the 400 years following their departure. Then, in about 1860, the possibility that riches could be buried beneath the desert foothills lured prospectors to the area. An ex-Confederate cavalryman named Jack Swilling was among the dreamers. Swilling was clever; he noticed the long-abandoned canals and came up with a plan. He began clearing the ancient waterways and, by 1867, he’d reestablished water flow from the Salt River into the surrounding valley. Swilling Irrigating and Canal Company was launched in earnest. Swilling partnered with a group of optimistic farmers, and within a year, for the first time since the Hohokam tilled the land, tiny green buds began poking through the irrigated soil. These were the sprouts that would eventually become a thriving farm and ranching culture in the Valley of the Sun. Originally, Swilling planned to sell crops to a growing number of miners at the Vulture Mine in Wickenburg, but one of his partners, Phillip Darrell Duppa, who called himself “Lord Darrell Duppa,” had bigger ideas. He didn’t see their four-mile-wide agricultural settlement as an early suburb of Wickenburg; he had dreams of a larger settlement. He looked at the little growing community borne from the proverbial ashes of a long-gone Hohokam civilization and named the new community “Phoenix.” This month, Images Arizona is proud to share some of the faces behind our robust farming culture. An impressive 94 percent of Arizona farms are family-owned, and each of these families weathers market fluctuations, changing weather patterns and the sometimes difficult chore of being dependent upon the earth and nature for their livelihood. Yet there is something beyond special about these people and their lives. Photographer Brenna Zumbro-Monke has beautifully captured their passion and joy, and we are happy to share them with you.

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Maya's Farm

ARIZONA FARMING BY THE NUMBERS

138,000: The number of jobs agriculture creates in our state. 3rd: Arizonaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s national ranking for producing fresh market vegetables. 4th: Arizonaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s national ranking for number of acres dedicated to agriculture. 455.7 million: Pounds of red meat produced in Arizona annually. 4.2 billion: Pounds of milk produced in Arizona annually. 70: Number of countries that import crops, meat and dairy products from Arizona. *Source: Arizona Department of Agriculture

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Downtown Phoenix Farmers Market

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ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHER

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Brenna Zumbro-Monke’s work may look familiar to many Images Arizona readers. Not so long ago, her byline appeared regularly on our pages as one of our top photographers. Though she now calls Golden, Colorado home, her ability to find the beauty in everyday experiences is as vivid as ever in her photography. Brenna grew up in the cooler clime of Payson, where she fell in love with the natural world. Long before she learned to capture them on film or digital photography, small details—the brilliance of a flower poking through the forest dim, or a rebellious streak of pink across a vivid orange sunset—took Brenna’s breath away.

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After graduating high school, Brenna pursued her passion for photography at the prestigious Brooks Institute in California, where she further developed her unique style and knack for beautiful photographic composition. Though she has made photography her career, her work life seems to flow seamlessly from the rest of her life. Whether she’s cultivating her beehives or trekking through the forest on her mountain bike, Brenna sees the world through her own lens. A few years ago, Brenna set out to capture the lives of Arizona farmers and ranchers. “The thing that got me interested in in farming in Arizona is when I would go to farmers markets and would hear people say how expensive the produce was,” she said. “It made me want to tell the stories of the farmers and ranchers who supply the foods we eat. “I wanted to give an inside view of how much work goes into farming. I was hoping that, if I was able to show how much work went into growing the food we eat, people would be willing to pay for it.” Brenna has done a fantastic job of capturing the faces behind the foods we eat, and giving us all a peek into the lives of those who are carrying on the tradition of coaxing life from the Arizona ground below us. M arch 2019 Downtown Phoenix Farmers Marketimagesar iz ona .c om

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SOMETHING TO WINE ABOUT Less than half a century ago, a new crop came to Arizona: grapes. It was bound to happen. The high elevations and sandy soils and grasslands of Sonoita, Willcox and the Verde River Valley are prime spots for cultivating vineyards. Since the 1970s, dozens of vineyards have sprung up throughout the state, and viticulture has made its way to the list of Arizona industries. In the last decade, the quality of Arizona wines has improved by leaps and bounds, and many are now in high demand. In recent years, Arizona wineries are taking titles in national competitions—something unheard of just a few years ago. They are even venturing into niche markets, like Dos Cabezas WineWorks’ Methode Canpenoise, which took azcentral’s Arizona Wine Competition’s Best in Class award in 2017—a first for both a sparkling wine and wine fermented in a can.

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Crow's Dairy

DOLLARS AND SENSE Arizona has come a long way since its early roots in ranching and farming. Today, three of the Five Cs (citrus, cotton, cattle, copper and climate) responsible for the bulk of the state’s economic power are based on agriculture. In fact, the only industry topping Arizona agricultural’s $23.3 billion annual economic impact is mining.

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Arizona is the second-largest producer of lemons and the third-largest producer of tangerines. For a time, cotton was the state’s largest crop, and it is still a significant export. Surprisingly, dairy is Arizona’s top agricultural product, and even more remarkable, Arizona ranchers produce enough beef cattle to feed 4.6 million people. Drive south toward Yuma and you’ll be surrounded by mile after mile of farm fields. Arizona farmers are growing cauliflower, broccoli, head lettuce, leaf lettuce, romaine lettuce and more beneath the desert sun. Even apple growers call Arizona home. They produce a whopping 20 million pounds of apples each year— and when it comes to homemade pies, apples aren’t the only crop that take the cake. Arizonans grow about $52 million in pecans each year.

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Date Creek Ranch

WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE Even in Arizona’s cooler climates, water can be a challenge. Agriculture in our state consumes an estimated 70 percent of the state’s water, and in some areas, that number is even greater. In Yuma, for example, where the Imperial Dam rises above the Colorado River, 90 percent of the water above the dam is diverted to farm fields and ranches.

Hassayampa Vineyard and Farm

Water is quickly rising to the forefront of greatest challenges in our state. The challenge, of course, is to protect fragile wetlands that migratory birds and wildlife depend on, while providing food for a growing national and international market.

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Most farmers and ranchers in Arizona are all too familiar with the issues presented by decreasing groundwater levels. After all, their livelihood depends on conservation. Together, many of them are working toward— and implementing—measures in irrigation, technology and land management that reduce water usage. These methods include dry farming, no-till planting and irrigation recycling, as well as the development of low-water, nonfood crops like sorghum and guayule.

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Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography Courtesy of Azy Scotten Photography and Judy Potter

Move over Alexander Hamilton. There’s a new historical figure who is making the leap out of high school social studies textbooks and onto the stage. Naturalist John Muir, one of the early founders of the National Parks System, gets the star treatment in “Mountain Days”—a musical that has been around for many years but is finally making its debut in the Valley in concert form courtesy of ProMusica Arizona Chorale and Orchestra. The non-profit arts organization will present the concert three times in March, beginning with a free public performance 7 p.m. Friday, March 22 at Murphy Park Amphitheater in Glendale. “John Muir is significant as being the person who went to Teddy Roosevelt and said, ‘We need to

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preserve the beauty of our country,’” says Patti Graetz, interim artistic director of ProMusica Arizona Chorale and Orchestra. Acclaimed Phoenix composer Craig Bohmler initially developed the musical for the Willows Theatre Company in the Bay Area of Northern California at the request of the theater’s artistic director Richard Elliott. Tonynominated playwright Mary Bracken Phillips wrote the script and the lyrics for the project, which was conceived as an epic, outdoor production.

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Graetz says ProMusica’s chorale and orchestra members are also falling in love with “Mountain Days” and not just for its beautiful music and fun story.

ProMusica’s performances will differ from past fully-costumed productions of “Mountain Days” in that they will be concert versions, enhanced by multimedia visuals of our nation’s natural beauty as opposed to props. “[Craig] is really dedicated to building awareness for these historical characters who, in some ways, are almost forgotten,” says Graetz, noting that Bohmler developed three other musicals about the western United States—“Sacagawea,” “The Haunting of Winchester” and “Riders of the Purple Sage.” “Mountain Days” traces Muir’s life from his youth to his death on Christmas Eve, 1914. Bohmler made it a point to delve into everything that formed the historical figure and his ideas, including a bad relationship with his father and his inspiring marriage to Louie Strentzil. It also illuminates Muir’s famous 1,000mile walk from Wisconsin to Florida, his travels to San Francisco and his discovery of Yosemite National Park. “‘Mountain Days’ is grand in scale and the music reflects that,” Bohmler says.

“It is very symphonic with a large chorus and many characters. I have musicalized Yosemite Falls, a rainbow and a dying valley. I have tried to create a sound that reflects the vast and awesome beauty of the American West.” Muir was a prolific writer, having kept diaries and journals for nearly everything he did over the course of his life. Therefore, his travels and his ideas were easy to capture and put into a production that is an authentic representation of his significance. “Much of John's lines in the show are actually from his writings,” Graetz says. “The words to the songs that he sings come from his writings as well. They've been crafted into lyrics but the concept of what he was trying to convey has been preserved through those words.” That is not to say that “Mountain Days” is strictly an educational experience, though. Phillips’ script exploits the dry personality for which Muir was known to ratchet up the entertainment value of the show. “It sort of capitalizes on his lack of sense of humor as actually being humorous,” Graetz says. “He's got people around him that help to move the story along. All the ladies during that time were really swooning over John Muir. It's very fun.” Award-winning actor Rusty Ferracane, who portrays Muir in the production, credits Phillips with capturing not only the historical figure’s significance but also his essence. He adds that Muir’s writings give insight into his feelings about nature more than they give a glimpse into his psyche.

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“I know [Mary] was a bit frustrated because she needed to create an interesting and entertaining story complete with conflict, dramatic tension and humor but all she had available to her were Muir's letters and very dry, historical information,” Ferracane explains. “With those dry documents, she was able to create a well-rounded character who is very human, filled with great passion, integrity, self-doubt, courage, humor and love.” Graetz says ProMusica’s chorale and orchestra members are also falling in love with “Mountain Days”— and not just for its beautiful music and fun story. This concert is the organization’s first foray into the musical format, offering members a change of pace and a chance to grow in their abilities as musicians.

“They are used to just holding music in their hands and singing a song,” Graetz explains. “Then it's done and they're on to the next song. For this, there is a lot of dialogue that happens in the midst of the songs. There are cues to learn and other things that are unique to a musical. So this stretches our members to do something a little bit different.” ProMusica’s members are also eagerly anticipating the show’s premiere at Murphy Park in Glendale as it, too, will broaden their musical abilities. The organization previously presented an outdoor Broadway and jazz concert at the Carefree Sundial but it has never had the opportunity to perform in an amphitheater until now. ProMusica received a $10,000 grant from Glendale for the concert through the city’s Centerline Arts and Culture Initiative, which aims to motivate, increase and support free cultural events and performances to enrich the experiences of Glendale residents and increase foot traffic in the area. ProMusica will also present ticketed performances of “Mountain Days” 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 23 at North Valley Christian Academy in Phoenix and 3 p.m. Sunday, March 24 at American Lutheran Church in Sun City. Ferracane encourages audiences around the Valley to attend one of the performances, noting the show is a truly terrific piece of entertainment but also an inspiring tale of a man whose contributions were absolutely crucial to our country. “I'm embarrassed to say that when Craig took on this project many years ago and told me about it, I had no idea who John Muir was,” Ferracane says. “The breadth of his work and the legacy he left behind is inspiring. As someone who also loves nature and revels in it as much as possible, I am grateful John Muir helped to protect our natural wonders so that I and generations after me can ‘climb the mountains.’”

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Warm, heavy air and the acrid smell of earth and fire have settled into the dust. Tables and racks scarred by creative sparks stand solidly on the concrete floor, and motley tin cans filled with odds and ends line well-worn shelves. In the middle of it all, a masked figure stands before a glowing crucible, its heat echoing in rumbles through the room. Embers escape from the glow of the vessel, flying like stars toward the heavens before their passion light fades and gravity drops them to the floor. Wearing a heavy apron and thick gloves, the smith works a pair of smooth metal jaws, extracting a crucible of bronze lava from the heart of the furnace. The molten metal flows from the crucible, and thin, vine-like designs emerge from inside the mind beneath the mask. What began as cold ingots becomes a beautiful artistic expression as the bronze begins to cool. Though its state is transformed, energy from the heat and passion that created it remains inside. With an unconscious flourish, a gloved hand nudges the square mask upward, and an elf-like face framed by a fringe of bouncy bangs emerges. A dark ponytail cascades over one shoulder and blue eyes shine as Jennyfer Stratman removes her gloves and smiles, content with her work. A renowned metal sculptor, Stratman’s creativity and zest for life seem to abruptly contrast with the stark surfaces of her Phoenix workshop. Yet it is here where some of her best work has been born. Just outside, surrounded by eight acres of open desert, she shares her shady space with four horses, a tribe of goats and an iguana named Cosmo. She dedicates about half of her time in this little oasis; the rest is spent on a life she’s built for herself in Australia. It’s not a conventional life, but then again, Jennyfer Stratman was never destined to be ordinary. Raised in the Valley, Stratman has always marched to her own beautiful beat. It’s something she comes by honestly.

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“My mother was a photographer and very creative. I think that part of her spirit will always be in me,” she says. She made her first ceramic sculpture of a dinosaur when she was three, and she’s been expressing herself through art ever since. For years, ceramics were her preferred medium, but over time, her figures began to change. They sprang roots that begged to dig deeper, and branches that reached toward the stars. “By the time I was at ASU, my ceramic sculptures were becoming so tall and thin that they were often breaking under their own weight and gravity. My professor nudged me toward the foundry, and I never looked back.” She is known for her work in cast bronze, steel, aluminum and pewter, but she occasionally mixes it up by adding touches of wood or ceramics. “There is a sort of spiritual force in these earth-based materials that translates well with the conceptual side of my practice,” she explains. “The materials of the earth, in a way, dictate the form of something. They have their own personality. They do what they want sometimes.” Stratman has the uncanny ability to create pieces that, at first glance, may appear simple, but that draw the viewer in with surprising, thoughtprovoking details. Human forms often show up in unexpected places, and flower-like blooms burst from the earth and skies, painted in brilliant International Klein Blue. “For me, it’s an ethereal and other-worldly color,” she says of the intense hue. “It translates the cosmic ideas I have into my work. It’s an interesting color, and it elicits an almost emotional response.” Her eyes smile beneath a pair of librarian-chic glasses, and she tucks her small hands into her jeans pockets, as if to hold them back from punctuating her sentences. She adds, “Originally, my work was more sparse. Over time, it has developed a lot more life and complexity to it.” As much as her expression has changed, her overall message has always been the same. “Most of my work had an ethereal theme, even from quite a young age. A lot of it has ideas of the cycle of life or birth, transformation and renewal. “While much of it is loaded with metaphor for my personal journey, we share many similar experiences. I think that’s why a lot of people can relate to what I do,” she adds.

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“Mapping Time” 40” by 40” by 2”

March 21 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Meet Jennyfer and experience her bronze sculpture that is rich with emotion, content and form. Jennyfer explores the interconnectedness between self, the earth and the cosmos with her thought-provoking, evocative sculpture. ~ Light appetizers and refreshments served ~

Historic Spanish Village | 7212 E. Ho Hum Rd. # 7, Carefree, AZ 85377 | 480.575.8080 GraceReneeGallery.com M arch 2019

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To illustrate, she points to a round bronze sculpture she created. It’s a self-portrait of sorts, and its gorgeously complex roots, bright blue flowers and golden starbursts carry a theme common in much of her work. A lone figure stands in the center, connected to both the earth and the sky. “The figure suggests the interconnection that we have with nature and the cosmos. It represents the essence of humanity and the body while longing for connection with people,” she explains. “The trees are a metaphor for growth and renewal. The cycles of trees are a metaphor for my life being uprooted from Arizona and transplanted to my second life in Australia. “When I first moved and was trying to find my way in a new country, the simple tree roots I was making started to grow. As I get older, my work is blossoming with life and I’m finding myself connected with other people in more spiritual and emotional ways. “There is often a duality in my work—being connected to my roots and also creating a second life in a new country. One of those two sides to myself is longing for my homeland and the other open to new experiences.” It’s an autobiography of sorts for the part-time Melbourne, Australia resident.

EXPERTS IN HIGH “My husband is Australian. We met in 1995 when I took a semester off of college and backpacked through Europe. I ended up in a hostel in Edinburgh, where I met Brad.” Together, they’ve built a two-faceted life, splitting their time between two very different worlds. Growing up in the Valley, Stratman was organically drawn to other artists and stepped

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into the gallery and public art scene quite naturally. Though it took time, through the years Stratman has nudged her way firmly into the Melbourne art scene, too. She’s not just a hometown artist. Stratman has exhibited in 28 solo and over 100 group exhibitions throughout the world. From public art to private collections, her work can be found in the United States, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore,

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Taiwan, Israel, England and throughout Europe. In the Valley, Stratman’s work is on display at Grace Renee Gallery in Carefree. “I love the range of work at Grace Renee Gallery. Shelly has a

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great eye for curating and all of the different artists present well together,” she says of Grace Renee Gallery owner Shelly Spence. Stratman’s art is profound and imaginative, yet carries a sense of familiarity. In particular, her use of nameless, faceless figures seems to ground her pieces in interconnected intimacy. Some feel lonely, and some elicit a feeling of kinship in the human experience. “I think what I’m doing is my calling, for sure,” she says. “I’m super passionate about what I do and don’t expect to ever stop making art.” “It’s an evolution. I go with the flow in some ways. I have seen in hindsight that I’ve chosen the particular path I knew would take me in the direction I wanted to head.” Stratman is among a small few of local artists whose professional trajectory will be exciting to watch. For now, her own lofty goals are tucked safely inside of her head. “For now, as I get older, I kind of have to trust in the universe,” she adds. “If you ask for something and give it your attention and intention, you get what you want.”

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In the art of ballet, it is not the lithe bodies, the graceful form or even the fluid, athletic concert of movement that are most important to master. Though all are part of the final performance, before a dancer can begin to master choreography, he or she needs to first find their center. Poised and confident, Kathryn Morgan faces sideways, her slippered feet parallel to a mirrored wall. Her muscled thighs are engaged, her weight on the balls of her feet. Her abdomen is tucked above her hips. Her spine is straight and her shoulders relaxed, her arms purposefully hung low with fingertips touching. With a slightly lifted chin, a calm strength appears on her face. This position is the foundation for a dancer to establish balance. As music and movement begin, every plié and relevé requires a symmetric counterbalance. For Morgan, “finding center” has been just as important in her illustrious yet challenged ballet career as it has been a metaphor for her life. Formerly a New York City Ballet soloist, Morgan was a child prodigy. She began studying ballet at the age of three in Mobile, Alabama under the tutelage of Winthrop Corey, a former principal dancer with the National Ballet of Canada and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. By 2004, at the age of 16, she danced her way into New York’s School of American Ballet. Two years later, she joined New York City Ballet as an apprentice, and less than a year later, became a member of the corps de ballet for the company.

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Hard work and natural talent continued to keep Morgan light on her feet, and with each split leap and grand jeté, she rose among the competition.

Hard work and natural talent continued to keep Morgan light on her feet, and with each split leap and grand jeté, she rose among the competition. By 2009, she was a soloist—the best of the best. As hard as she worked, Morgan began to notice that something was amiss. Her constant workouts had kept her ballerina-slim, but inexplicably, she began to gain weight. Before long, her hard-earned muscle mass began to disappear, too, and her once boundless energy seemed to disappear. Diagnosis of a thyroid disorder, most likely caused by autoimmune disease, confirmed the worst: in order to heal, Morgan would need to step back from her budding career.

A NEW DIRECTION Morgan left the company in 2012 and was tasked not only with caring for her health, but with rebuilding a life without the daily routines and sense of purpose she’d had her entire life.

She didn’t miss a beat. Born to be a performer, Morgan developed her own personal brand based on what she knew best. She started a YouTube channel, now with nearly 150,000 followers, to talk tips on everything from ballet moves to beauty tips to healthy living. She launched a podcast, “The Kathryn Morgan Show,” and began writing a column for Dance Spirit magazine; She also launched a scholarship program, a clothing line, and Kathryn Morgan Haul, a monthly subscription box of dance supplies and products. That wasn’t all. She began a public speaking career, and became a judge and master teacher for the Youth America Grand Prix Ballet Competition.

COMING TO PHOENIX Through it all, the crux of Morgan’s mission has been to support up-andcoming dancers. It’s only natural, then, that she would end up in Phoenix supporting another organization with the same goal. Phoenix Youth Ballet Theatre (PYBT) is a 501(c)3 non-profit formed to provide dance, music and art education to young Valley dancers. Almost 100 dancers from ages 3-18 are involved in the group’s annual Nutcracker Suite and spring ballet productions, and their ballet scholarship program provides performance and training opportunities young performers may otherwise not have.

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Phoenix area students involved in PYBT learn to challenge themselves and each

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“Someone on FaceBook told me to YouTube it... other through their classes at Legacy Ballet Academy. They also receive mentorship and training through guest artists from prestigious companies like American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet and Ballet West. Like Morgan, many local dancers aspire to take bigger leaps. PYBT dancers have been accepted to collegiate ballet programs and national and international summer programs, a stepping stone to future success, including Alvin Ailey, Alonzo King LINES University of Arizona Dance Department, Indiana University, Jacob's School of Music, Houston Ballet, Ballet West, Grand Rapids Ballet, The Joffrey Ballet, Colorado Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and The Rock School. March 16, Morgan will be performing at PBYT’s upcoming Raising the Barre Gala, the biggest fundraiser of the year. She will dance excerpts from “Romeo and Juliet” and Act 2 from “Giselle,” with PYBT students dancing the corps de ballet.

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She’ll also be partnering with Ballet Met’s Sean Rollofson for a performance that will feature group and solo dances from PYBT students. Morgan will also be holding two master classes for students 8 years and older March 17 at Legacy Ballet Academy, formerly Arizona Dance Artistry.

ACT THREE For Morgan, this rewarding work is no curtain call. Following her divorce last year, she found herself back in the ballet studio, reclaiming her body. Both physically and mentally, she’s back on track and ready for her next act. At the age of 31, she’s ready to join another ballet company, not as an instructor or mentor, but as a dancer. Morgan is ready to take the stage, one graceful step at a time, now that she’s once again found her center. arizonadanceartistry.com

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Writer Sue Kern-Fleischer Photography Courtesy of Cave Creek Rodeo and Loralei Lazurek

David Kimmerle was a sophomore in high school when he found himself caring for a newborn calf with a broken leg. Just days earlier, he had let a farmer know that a cow was giving birth to the calf in the pasture. When the farmer was taking them to sale, the mother jumped and broke the calf’s leg. With no use for the calf, the farmer asked Kimmerle if he wanted it. It was an exciting and scary moment for a kid who was raised in Brooklyn, New York. He and his family were living in Arizona, and while he did have some experience with livestock through his 4-H club, now he was alone with a young calf in pain that looked close to death. “I called my mother, who was a nurse, and asked her to bring some casting material so we could set the leg,” Kimmerle, now 74 years of age, recalled. “Then we gave it a shot to get rid of the fever. I fed and raised her until we weaned her. I had her artificially bred and later sold her and her calf.” Little did Kimmerle know that the little calf would lead him to become a young livestock entrepreneur, an experience that would help prepare him to work his way up to his positions as CEO of Sanderson Ford in Glendale and as CEO of Sanderson Lincoln. Sanderson Ford is the title sponsor for the 42nd Annual Cave Creek Rodeo Days, set for March 22 through 24 at Cave Creek Memorial Arena. Kimmerle’s passion for rodeo and Cave Creek helped to keep the rodeo going a few years back when an abrupt leadership change set off a series of what seemed like insurmountable logistical challenges.

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Cave Creek Rodeo Days Committee/Sanderson Ford Sponsors Top to Bottom, Left to Right: Steve Alley, director (top); 2nd row: Deb Lish, volunteer; Max Sirstins, Sanderson Ford; Luke Kautzman, director; Kena Green, membership/volunteer chairman; 3rd row: Chelsea Miller, volunteer; Daniel Piacquadio, treasurer/director; Beth Cornell, president/director; Cathy Nielson, member; 4th row: Thom Schuester, member; Jean Franzmeier, member; Jill Banks (David Kimmerleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wife/Sanderson Ford); Linda Anderson, volunteer; David Alsever, member. Bottom Row, Left to Right: David Kimmerle, CEO of Sanderson Ford and Cave Creek Mayor Ernie Bunch M arch 2019 imagesar iz ona .c om

“Sanderson Ford’s support of the rodeo over the years has been incredible,” said Beth Cornell, president of the non-profit Cave Creek Rodeo Days. “We are particularly grateful to David Kimmerle, who stepped up to the plate and helped us navigate some rough waters when our new committee was formed two years ago.” Kimmerle, though, is quick to pass the kudos to Cave Creek Mayor Ernie Bunch, Beth Cornell, a local realtor, Danny Piacquadio from Harold’s Corral, Max Sirstins from Sanderson Ford and the rest of the rodeo team, including the stock contractor Binion Cervi, for pulling it all together in just a few short weeks. “We couldn’t let the rodeo die,” he said. “The people of Cave Creek are very special, and it was amazing to watch everyone come together to have a 40th anniversary rodeo.”

A LOVE FOR LIVESTOCK Kimmerle credits the 4-H non-profit organization with teaching him about livestock. “We weren’t a farm family, but I loved animals, and I raised chickens in the yard,” he said. “4-H taught me about animal husbandry and how to be of service to others. It was such a positive experience, I had a rule with all of my kids that they had to be in 4-H for at least one year.” His entrepreneurial spirit kicked into high gear in 1962. While on his paper route, he met a customer who worked as a bank manager. “With his help, I was able to get an unsecured loan to rent a vacant feed lot in Glendale to raise and sell cattle,” Kimmerle said. “I paid interest only until I could repay the entire loan. I signed my life away—no one else signed for me. I was just a junior in high school. That would never happen today.” His goal was to buy 40 head of cattle and sell them for beef. He presented his plan to the bank manager and, when the loan was approved, he paid $1 per head per month for the barn, pens and a scale. During the same time, he was working at Sanderson Ford and he had a Ford Ranchero. “When it was time to sell, the market tanked. I sold 30 of the 40 head and paid off what I could. I kept 10 head to fatten them up and I made locker beef. I was able to

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have aged beef. … It was the right move. I paid off the bank and established credit,” he said. After high school, he served in the Air Force for six years and then did advertising for the Arizona National Livestock Show, the Turquoise Circuit and the Old Timers Rodeo at the old Maricopa County Coliseum. “I never competed in rodeo, but I loved being behind the scenes promoting it,” Kimmerle said, adding that he produced his first rodeo in 1986 at the coliseum. For the 40th anniversary of the Cave Creek rodeo, he had a special treat of reuniting with his long-time rodeo clown friend, Leon Coffee, who is now in the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame.

BLESSED WITH A BIG FAMILY Kimmerle’s first passion was livestock, but he found a successful career path through Sanderson Ford as he advanced from sweeping floors to working in parts and service, and then later managing the sales department. He also fell in love with founder Don Sanderson’s daughter, Sue, and the two married in 1968. Together they had six children and 16 grandchildren. While rising up the ranks of Sanderson Ford, Kimmerle and his family continued to own cows, sheep, llamas, and alpacas, even though they lived in the ‘city’ in north central Phoenix. Sadly, after 46 years of marriage, Sue passed away in 2015. To honor her legacy, Kimmerle and his family established an agriculture youth scholarship that is given each year in her name at the Maricopa County Fair. With his kids grown, Kimmerle decided to get rid of most of the animals and focus on selling breeding stock. Currently, he has Angus and highland cattle, which he cares for both in Phoenix and at his Flagstaff ranch. A few years back, he re-connected with Jill Banks, an old family friend. A spark ignited between them and they were married. “The twists and turns of life can be surprising,” Kimmerle said. “Now we have 26 grandchildren between us with five great-grandchildren and two on the way.”

RELATIONSHIPS ARE EVERYTHING Whether it’s family or business, Kimmerle said nothing matters more than relationships. M arch 2019

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“Sanderson Ford has a 64-year track record of long-lasting relationships,” he said, adding that he bought the dealership from the estate in 1985 after Don Sanderson passed. “We built this dealership to what it is today based on our relationships. Our customers write our report card, and it’s gratifying to see repeat customers bring in their kids and grandkids when they’re ready to buy a car.” Kimmerle is also dedicated to the more than 500 employees at both Sanderson Ford and Sanderson Lincoln. “Many of our employees have been with us for several decades. We try to be good to our people, and we’re the only car dealership in Phoenix that closes on Sundays,” he said. “We’re also very committed to giving back to the community. Last year, our two dealerships helped to support several local Valley charities. Our main focus is on kids and military. We help raise over a million dollars a year for our charities.” Kimmerle, who drives a Ford truck, acknowledges that the auto industry has changed and that consumers have more choices. “Regardless of all the changes, we’re still in the people business,” he said. “We want to make customers for life.”

SUPPORT THE RODEO He is equally passionate about keeping Cave Creek Rodeo Days alive for years to come. “We’ve adopted Cave Creek. We love the town and the people. Many of our employees live there. We encourage everyone to show their support by attending the PRCA Rodeo competitions or getting a group together to participate in the town’s parade,” Kimmerle said. He also hopes more businesses will show their support for the rodeo and the Cave Creek Rodeo Days organization.

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EXPERIENCE Cave Creek Rodeo Days PARADE Saturday, March 16 | 9 a.m. | Downtown Cave Creek

MUTTON BUSTIN’ March 16 | 2 p.m. Sign-up is at noon; event begins at 1 p.m. Buffalo Chip Saloon (the official CCRD Mutton Bustin’ sponsor)

RESTAURANT

WEDDINGS

CATERING

Beautiful Springtime Patio Dining Awaits 480-488-0698

GOLF TOURNAMENT March 18 | Tatum Ranch

PRCA COMPETITIONS March 22 and March 23 | Gates open at 5 p.m. PRCA performances 7:30 p.m.; March 24 | Gates open at noon | PRCA performance 2 p.m. Cave Creek Memorial Arena 37201 N. 28th St., Cave Creek

RODEO DANCES Buffalo Chip Saloon Kick-Off Dance: Saturday, March 16 Harold’s Corral Official Rodeo Dance: Saturday, March 23 Shuttle: Free shuttle buses from town, pick up locations located in downtown Cave Creek and also at the corner of Cave Creek Road and Carefree Highway. Check the website for specific locations and departure times. RIDE FREE with or without a ticket. Save $3 when purchasing tickets on the bus. Tickets: Rodeo tickets purchased in advance $22; tickets at the gate $25 Premium seating is available in the inaugural Ranchero Club or the prestigious Stockman’s Club. 480-304-5634 cavecreekrodeo.com

“There are so many great opportunities for sponsors, and the committee is always in need of volunteers. The best part about Cave Creek Rodeo Days is that this nonprofit helps other non-profits throughout the year. It’s really one of the best rodeos in Arizona. Join the fun and get involved!”

Lunch and Dinner Daily 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Happy Hour 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. Sunday Brunch 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. 5736 E. Rancho Mañana Blvd., Cave Creek, AZ 85331

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12 Perfect Chocolate Cupcakes For those times when you just need a dozen PERFECT chocolate cupcakes â&#x20AC;Ś. Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients: 1 cup flour 3/4 cup sugar 1/3 cup cocoa powder 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon baking soda dash of salt 1/3 cup softened butter 1 egg 1/3 cup milk 1/4 cup hot water 1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 and prepare a cupcake pan with liners. In a medium bowl, stir together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, soda and salt. Add butter, egg, milk, hot water and vanilla and mix well. Fill cupcake liners half full and bake for 15 to 20 minutes. Ta-da! Perfect chocolate cupcakes, just for you!

Writer and Photographer Kyndra Kelly

kyndraclaire.com

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623-742-6866 nanettemiller.com

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Blackberry Lemon Scones Nothing beats the buttery goodness of crumbly, delicious scones. This blackberry lemon version is the perfect combination of sweet and tangy. Top with glaze for a sweet and tart treat. Prep time: 15 minutes | Cook time: 10 to 15 minutes

Ingredients:

1-3/4 cup flour 4 teaspoons baking powder 1/4 cup sugar 1/8 teaspoon pinch of salt 5 tablespoons cold butter 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon almond extract 1/2 cup milk 1/4 cup sour cream 1 tablespoon lemon zest 1 cup blackberries Glaze (optional): 1/2 cup powdered sugar 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 teaspoon lemon zest

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Blend flour, baking powder, sugar and salt until well combined. Cut in cold butter until pea sized. In a separate bowl, mix together milk, vanilla, extract, lemon zest and sour cream. Add to dry ingredients along with blackberries and stir only until combined. Do not over mix. The mixture should be crumbly. Pat scones into a round disk and cut like a pizza into eight slices. Place on sheet pan and brush with egg wash. Bake 10 to 15 minutes, or until golden brown. Drizzle with lemon glaze or butter.

Writer and Photographer Kyndra Kelly

kyndraclaire.com

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South of the Outlets next to Swankyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fashion Boutique

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