Farr West • Plain City • West Haven • Marriott-Slatersville • Hooper & Unincorporated
WEBER COUNTY CONNECTION
bulldogging . id m r e te s a n es dow Chase Black tak t the Pioneer Days Rodeo. Come see him a ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS IN UTAH
FE ATURE July/August 2021
Stories of SUCCESS
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WEBER The Weber County Connection is published bi-monthly by Connection Publishing© www.webercountyconnection.com ryan@connectionpub.com 801-721-3762 PUBLISHER Ryan Spelts PUBLICATION DESIGN Kristina Case Robert Dodd WRITERS Commissioners: Jim Harvey Gage Froerer Scott Jenkins
Weber County Receives AAA Credit Rating Before and After COVID-19 Pandemic
Thatch Elmer Jenny Goldsberry Kris Blankman Hailey Minton Vy Trinh Abigail Laing Kari Fiagle Rachel Bitton Rachel Long Camryn Spelts Elizabeth “Becky” Hougaard AD DESIGN Robert Dodd Abigail Rigby Crystal Rappleye EDITORS Brittany Carroll Kassie Baker
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News, contests, photos from readers and lots more! We love hearing from you! webercountyconnection webercountyconnectionwest Connection Publishing www.connectionpub.com Disclaimer: The paid advertisements contained within the Weber County Connection magazine are not endorsed or recommended by Connection Publishing or Weber County. Therefore, neither party may be held liable for the business practices of these companies. The County is also not responsible for any content in the magazines except for that which they directly submit for print.
I
nspired by the advice of an economist who presented at a 2018 meeting to “put your house in order, financially, by the year 2020,” Weber County Commissioners Jim Harvey, Gage Froerer, and Scott Jensen, and Weber County Treasurer John Bond set in motion a two-year plan to do just that: put the Weber County finances in “order.” With input from the County Auditor and Comptroller, the plan to reduce debt, increase liquidity, and improve the county’s credit rating was set in motion and meticulously implemented step by step. By December 2019, the Weber County financial goals were realized.
The excellent financial position of Weber County sends a powerful message to the community: one of confidence, forethought, and preparation. Every minute spent in meetings and the steps we implemented to reach our financial goals was worth it. We work diligently, in all capacities, to keep Weber County one of the best places in the United States to live, work, and gather together. –Commissioner Gage Froerer
The plan started with the refinance of debt on the animal shelter, which resulted in huge interest savings. Those savings and additional pooled savings were put toward paying off the remaining debt of the Pleasant Valley Library. Next, both the Ice Sheet and Health Department buildings were paid off. Then, as part of the plan, the county took steps to refinance the larger of two bonds that the county received for libraries during 2013-2015, which totaled 45 million. As a part of the refinance process, the county’s credit rating was re-evaluated by two of the three major credit rating agencies. In 2013, when the county initially got the bonds, credit rating agency Fitch gave Weber County a (Continued on pg. 5)
PLEASE RECYCLE
July-August 2021 | WeberCountyConnection.com 3
in this issue
JULY-AUGUST
The Connection Publishing Team Meet the people behind the pages of our magazines!
What is your favorite summer hobby?
Summer produce guide Page 41
Melissa Spelts Owner
“Camping. I love being outdoors in the mountains, especially if there is no cell service.”
Rhett Long Sales VP Vy Trinh Sales Leadership Kristina Case Graphic Design
CONTENTS
Robert Dodd Graphic Design of Roy Connection, and Ad Design
5 COUNTY UPDATES 11 WEBER COUNTY LIBRARY 12 COMMUNITY
Calendar of Events Reflections of a Cowboy Doin' it Right Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo Meka Farr & Chase Black Vocal Motion Miss Weber County Big Game Baiting Law The Thrill of Thrifting Chicken Math & Other Bad Animal Decisions
Ryan Spelts Owner/Publisher
“Swimming!” Read more about Kevin Nguyen's success story in the feature on page 26!
16
A LOOK BACK Lorene Donaldson: The First Real “WHOOPIE GIRL”
17 CITY UPDATES Plain City
40
BUSINESS Back Country Horseman Nils Swedish Creamery
46
FASHION CONNECTION The Amazing Versatile T-Shirt
48
RECIPES Fresh Summer Produce-Eat Local and Support Utah Farmers
Crystal Rappleye Ad Design
ON OUR COVER 28 Asian and Pacific Islanders in Utah: Stories of Success Cover photo by PRCA photographer Amanda Dilworth
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Questions or comments? ryan@connectionpub.com or 801-624-9652 Website: webercountyconnection.com Advertising: Kendal Jensen 801-603-6216 or Kendal@connectionpub.com 4 WeberCountyConnection.com | July-August 2021
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“Hitting the rodeo trail with my husband and kids!”
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COUNTY UPDATES Connect with us! @webercountyut
Due to the county’s debt reduction from the previous two years, Weber County’s credit rating was upgraded to AA1, just one step under AAA.
(Continued from pg 3.) AAA rating, the equivalent of an 850 FICO score. This rating was given to only 72 out of 3,006 counties nationally, ranking Weber County among the top 2% of counties in good financial standing. The credit review of AAA from Fitch has been twice re-affirmed since, most recently for the 2019 review. The credit rating agency, Moody’s, was also included in the current review and, due to the county’s debt reduction from the previous two years, Weber County’s credit rating was upgraded to AA1, just one step under AAA. These esteemed credit ratings allowed Weber County to refinance the library bond at a lower interest rate, the final implementation of the two-year financial plan. The refinancing resulted in over two million in interest savings to the county. Of course, no one, not even Treasurer John Bond, could have predicted the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic or anticipated how important the financial health of Weber County would be. Having reached the two-year goal of reduced debt, increased liquidity, and good financial standing, the county was able to carefully, thoughtfully, and successfully navigate through hiring and purchasing freezes that began in March of 2020. “We have worked hard over the past three years to get positioned to weather any economic challenges that might come to our county. Last year was the test for that model, and we were very successful in getting through that test, thanks to good insight, wisdom, and decision-making by the commissioners and the finance team.” –John Bond, Weber County Treasurer “The excellent financial position of Weber County sends a powerful message to the community: one of confidence, forethought, and preparation. Every minute spent in meetings and the steps we implemented to reach our financial goals was worth it. We work diligently, in all capacities, to keep Weber County one of the best places in the United States to live, work, and gather together.” –Commissioner Gage Froerer
Assessor's Office
Our team in the Assessor's office worked hard this past year to continue assessments, all while keeping the safety of residents and business owners their number one priority. The assessment process has taken an extended amount of time, as not everyone has been comfortable with on-site visits for assessments during the pandemic. Our employees took extra precautions to ensure the safety of those they encountered during on-site assessments by maintaining six-foot distances and wearing CDC-approved face coverings. With little time left for assessments, the office is right on schedule to complete its workload and cap off the year with a job well done. We appreciate your patience and hope you recognize our efforts in protecting your family's health.
Attorney’s Office
The Weber County Attorney's Office provides legal counsel to the county as an organization. They also handle literally thousands of criminal cases each year, including every felony crime that occurs within the county. They operate a robust victim advocate program and work diligently with a variety of specialty courts, such as Drug Court and Mental Health Court, in an effort to rehabilitate offenders and provide them with opportunities to succeed. We have an amazing team that helps keep our county strong and a great place to live.
July-August 2021 | WeberCountyConnection.com 5
COUNTY UPDATES
Weber County Clerk/Auditor ADDRESSES CONGRESS
Our very own Ricky Hatch was called upon to address the US House Committee on House Administration on the measure House Resolution 1. It addresses voter access, election integrity and security, campaign finance, and ethics for the three branches of government. Ricky Hatch spoke of federal policy that would give locales flexibility in crafting the rules which govern elections. It is incredible to have someone in our office that the whole nation can go to for his impressive insights.
Weber County Jail Receives 2020 JAIL OF THE YEAR AWARD Salt Lake City – The U.S. Marshals Service in Utah is proud to announce Weber County Jail as its 2020 Jail Stakeholder of the Year award. On Tuesday, April 20, United States Marshal Matthew D. Harris presented Sheriff Ryan Arbon and the Weber County Jail it's award at the Weber County Commission meeting. Weber County received its award for overcoming
6 WeberCountyConnection.com | July-August 2021
many obstacles associated with inmate housing, quarantining, testing, and monitoring inmates during the 2020 Global Pandemic. Weber County's Medical staff was a central part of Weber County and winning the award. At times, Weber County houses 40% of all federal inmates in the State of Utah. The jail also aided in facilitating hundreds of remote federal hearings to ensure the federal judicial process continued.
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July-August 2021 | WeberCountyConnection.com 7
COUNTY UPDATES
Weber County’s 2021 Fair Tickets NOW AVAILABLE Get your tickets today at https://tickets.goldenspikeeventcenter.com/p/tickets
Utah Youth Rodeo
July 13, 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. MDT The Utah Youth Rodeo Association is an organization of boys and girls from around the state of Utah and surrounding areas, ranging in age up to 14 years or ninth grade. The purpose of this association is to provide western youth with athletic opportunities in the American sport of rodeo as they compete monthly in standard rodeo events. This youth organization has been successful for several years in helping to keep youth active and involved in a good cause. Come support the kids and let them impress you with their skills!
FREE ADMISSION. Masks required for entry. LOCATION: Golden Spike Event Center 1000 North 1200 West Ogden, UT 84404
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8 WeberCountyConnection.com | July-August 2021
Treasurer’s Office Allocates Millions to Help Aid Local NonProfits During COVID-19 Pandemic
As part of the COVID-19 Relief Fund, the CARES Act provides for payments to state, local, and tribal governments navigating the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak. Funds are intended to provide fast and direct economic assistance for American workers, families, and small businesses, and preserve jobs for American industries, which have been impacted by COVID-19. CARES Act funds received by Weber County, nearly 45 million, have been used to aid local small businesses, schools, hospitals, and other entities. 5.7 million was given to approximately 69 non-profit organizations in the county, who, without the CARES Act funding, may have been unable to continue to serve the community or even close their doors for good. Many non-profit organizations have seen a significant decline in state funding, while the needs of the communities they serve have increased dramatically. Allocating these funds was imperative to help our community best serve its residents.
CARES Act funds received by Weber County, nearly 45 million, have been used to aid local small businesses, schools, hospitals, and other entities.
Leann Kilts Receives RECORDER OF THE YEAR AWARD
Weber County Recorder, Leann Kilts, was named Recorder of Year by the Utah Association of Counties, an organization consisting of most of Utah’s 29 counties, which aims to provide services to elected county officials in their effort to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Utah’s county governments. This prestigious award is well-deserved, as Leann’s expertise, collaboration, and exceptional work ethic has had a significant impact on services for Weber County and statewide residents alike.
What does the recorder's office do? • Record, store and retrieve land documents in the public record. • Assist the public in locating real property parcels on ownership plats. • Assist the public in locating records. • Sell and provide copies of documents for a fee.
July-August 2021 | WeberCountyConnection.com 9
COUNTY UPDATES
Community Development Department
Our Community Development Department has had a very busy year, with projects ranging from constructing a new parking lot at the Weber Center to water and sewer studies in Ogden Valley.
HERE ARE SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM THEIR AMAZING TEAM:
Wastewater Planning The Ogden Valley has seen its share of residential and commercial growth in recent years, and Weber County officials expect this trend to increase in the future. Weber County has initiated a project for high-level wastewater planning in Ogden valley and has partnered with Weber Basin Water Conservancy District for a Valley-wide water study. These studies will help the county appropriately plan for the anticipated growth and address potential water quality concerns with Pineview Reservoir.
New Scale The Weber County Transfer Station has recently installed a new scale that will divert most commercial traffic away from the existing scale. This new scale will reduce wait times for residential customers and improve safety on site. The Transfer Station has seen a substantial increase in traffic over the last year, but our amazing employees have risen to the challenge and continue to provide great customer service.
Building Inspections Over the past few years, the State of Utah has released mandated building inspection and plan review timelines. Our amazing Building Inspection Division has risen to the challenge in meeting and exceeding the state's standards. We continue to look for ways to become more efficient and provide professional service.
Planning Division The Weber County Planning Division has been hard at work with a general plan update for the unincorporated area of western Weber County. This comes after several discussions with residents and the Western Weber Planning Commission over the last few years. The Planning Division is also working on ordinances to address short term rentals, accessory dwelling units, and updating subdivision requirements, among others. As anticipated growth comes to Weber County, we will be prepared for it.
New Parking Lot for Weber Center Construction of a new parking lot for the Weber Center in downtown Ogden is nearly complete, with an expected opening date of early May. The new parking lot has taken the place of an old and dilapidated parking garage, which was demolished last summer. Cracking concrete and corrosion of some of the aging structure’s reinforcements had long been a concern of county officials, but the decision to demolish the parking structure was expedited after the March 18, 2020 earthquake caused additional uncertainty of the overall stability of the structure. We know parking has been difficult over the last year and look forward to providing ample and accessible parking for visitors to the Weber Center.
Sean Wilkinson, Director of Community Development 10 WeberCountyConnection.com | July-August 2021
WEBER COUNTY LIBRARY Every day is FREE DAY @ Weber County Libraries Visit in person or virtually to do any of the following: • Borrow and download books and audiobooks • Stream movies and music • Participate in programs, classes, and community events • Attend community sponsored meetings • Rent spaces to hold family reunions and business events • Use a computer, large format printer, vinyl cutter, 35 mm slide digitizer, and other makerspace equipment • Get professional help with a question, project, or a referral to community resources
CHECK OUT OUR SUMMER PROGRAMS AND CLASSES:
www.weberpl.lib.ut.us/events/calendar
Check out our Weber County Library VIMEO CHANNEL and watch video programs we've been making for kids, teens & adults.
• Tutoring and reading clubs for all ages • Exercise, Tai Chi, and yoga classes • Art and craft demonstrations • Magic shows, African drumming, Old Time Fiddlers • Book discussions & more!
Learn more about your library at:
www.weberpl.org
July-August 2021 | WeberCountyConnection.com 11
COMMUNITY
JULY/AUGUST EVENTS
Pioneer Days Activites July 11-24
July 19: Ogden Pioneer Days Horse and Hitch Parade 7 p.m. Ogden's Horse & Hitch parade is one of the finest in the state. Come see every kind, color, breed, and size of horse imaginable. July 24: Ogden Pioneer Day Parade– 9 a.m. The Ogden Pioneer Days Grand Parade is a magnificent site to behold. The parade route begins on 31st Street, continues northbound on Washington Boulevard, and ends on 20th Street. July 18: Lindquist Pops Concert & Fireworks @ WSU Duck Pond Dusk
JULY
AUGUST
July 11 - 24: Pioneer Days Activities/ Rodeo–Please plan to join us at Utah's biggest and best statehood celebration, starting with the Friday, July 2 First Friday Art Stroll. This year's art theme is "Traces of the West" art show at the Eccles Community Arts Center, 2580 Jefferson Ave. Go to ogdenpioneerdays.com to see more activities available to our community
Aug 2 - 6: The Great Ogden Art Hunt @ Eccles Art Center 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m Aug 4: Wasatch Audubon Bird Walk @ Antelope Island Aug 6: Open Studio Night @ The Monarch 6 - 9 p.m. Ogden’s First Friday Art Stroll @ Downtown Ogden 6 - 9 p.m. Gallery Stroll @ Union Station 6 - 9 p.m. August 7: The Gourmet Market @ The Monarch 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Aug 11 - 14: Weber County Fair @ Golden Spike Event Center 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. Aug. 13 - 14: NUMOA Mustang Car Show at The Junction - All Ford Stampede. Go to mustang.org/event/ intermountain-mustang-and-all-fordstampede-imafs/ for more details. Aug. 13, 20, 21, & 28: Ogden Twilight Concert Series @Ogden Ampitheater. For artist line-up go to www. ogdencity.com/709/Amphitheater
June 5 - Aug 21: Ramp Free Saturdays July 11: LDS Devotional @ Ogden Tabernacle 6 p.m. Monday Night Movies @ MWC Park July 13: Special Kids Rodeo @ Lorin Farr Park July 15: All about Succulents @ Ogden Botanical Gardens 6 - 8 p.m. Call USU Extension for questions (801) 399-8200 July 17: Untamed Pops Concert 7:30 p.m. @ Ogden Amphitheater
LIBRARY EVENTS WEEKLY Gentle Movements Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m. Ages 18 and older. This vibrant, low-impact class combines gentle yoga, strength and stretch, guided dance, and meditation.
Discovery Time Wednesdays, 10:30 & 11:30 a.m. Summer Sessions run June 1 July 15 & July 26 - Aug 9. Ages 0-2 and 3-5. Help your child get ready to read with stories, music, and art activities. Program sessions for each age group are held simultaneously at 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
12 WeberCountyConnection.com | July-August 2021
Aug 25: Country Dance @ Union Station 8:30 p.m - 10 p.m. Farmers Market in Ogden is open every Saturday from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. through September 11th, 2021. There is something for everyone at Ogden's Farmers Market. Garden fresh veggies and fruits, crafts, yoga in the park at 9 a.m., live music from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., and more. June 7 - July 30: Weber School district Summer Lunch Program Mon. - Fri., 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Sack lunches will be distributed from inside any of the following Elementary school cafeterias. • Burch Creek - 4300 S. Madison Ave. • Green Acres - 640 E. 1900 N. • Lakeview - 2025 W. 5000 S. • North Park - 4046 S. 2175 W. • Washington Terrace - 20 E. 4600 S. Children must be present to receive the meal. Adults eat for $3.50 cash only, no large bills. Restrooms are not available.
Game Club Wednesdays, 4 p.m. Ages 8-18. Learn and play a variety of board and video games. Tai Chi Saturdays, 10 a.m. Ages 18 and older. A form of martial arts, Tai Chi uses slow, controlled movements to regulate breathing and build stamina.
Summer Reading Need a good summer reading list? Weber Book Links is an organization that helps facilitate the Utah Humanities Book Festival in Weber County and promotes all things literary in Northern Utah. Summer is a terrific time to catch up on reading! Here are a few suggestions to get you ready for some of our fantastic fall events:
CHILDREN:
Brian Floca (Saturday, Oct. 9, 6:30-7:30 pm) Locomotive; Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11; Lightship; The Racer Alphabet; Keeping the City Going Treehouse Museum welcomes back Brian Floca for a webinar for families as part of the Book Festival. Brian is an author and illustrator and winner of the 2014 Caldecott Medal for his beautiful Locomotive. Brian will be talking with families about his latest book, Keeping the City Going, published just this spring. It’s a tribute to healthcare and other essential workers who stayed on the job during the COVID-19 pandemic. Brian lives and works in Brooklyn, New York. Registration opens in August on the Treehouse website (www.treehousemuseum.org) and the Utah Humanities Book Festival site. To celebrate Brian’s participation in the Festival and his new book, Treehouse is hosting families of essential workers during the afternoon on October 9 for a Keeping the City Going Open
FUN & LEARNING Origami Animals July 1 -31 All Locations Ages 12 and under. Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Get everything you need to create your own origami animal.
House prior to the webinar, and these children and parents will be invited to participate in the webinar in the Treehouse Theater. Treehouse will be giving away copies of Brian’s books to lucky participants in the webinar who are watching at Treehouse or at home.
YOUTH/YA:
Alix Harrow (Oct. 25, 7 p.m., Weber County Library, Southwest Branch) The Ten Thousand Doors of January and The Once and Future Witches. Sci-fi/fantasy Harrow is the winner of a Hugo Award for her short fiction, and her two novels have been received with wide acclaim. She combines history with science fiction and fantasy, and her newest book The Once and Future Witches, reimagines witches and the women’s suffrage movement in the early twentieth century. Harrow lives with her husband and two children in Kentucky.
ADULT:
Self-Publishing Panel of local writers (Sept. 30, 7 p.m., Weber County Library, Main Branch) Ben Behunin: Authentically Ruby: The Illustrious Matchmaker of Niederbipp. Fiction Margaret Pettis: In the Temple of the Stars. Poetry Felice Austin: Awake As In Ancient Days: The Christ-Centered Kundalini Yoga Experience. Non-fiction Kaylee Nipko: Growing the Alphabet. Children’s/picture book
Book Discussion: Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann Wednesday, July 14, 7 p.m. Ages 18 and older. Limited free copies of the book will be available. Register at: 801-337-2670 The 5 Ws of Cooking: When did it all start? Thursday, July 15, 7 p.m. Ages 18 and older. Explore cookbooks from every continent.
Check out our reading list for all ages!! Vince Font: founder and editor of Glass Spider Publishing. For a list of their self-published writers, visit: www.glassspiderpublishing.com. Other events: Spoken Word Sessions (first Friday of every month, 7:45 – 8 p.m., The Monarch) Weber Book Links has partnered with The Banyan Collective to start a new reading series called Spoken Word Sessions. Each First Friday Art Stroll between van sessions at the Monarch, a local poet will read from their original work. Come out and support our local poets!
Attend the program and receive 20% off one item at Kitchen Kneads! Register at: 801-337-2670 Art Class: Scratchboard Etching Wednesday, July 21, 7:30 p.m. Ages 16 and older. Scratchboard art offers a unique style of mark-making and image creation that is perfect for exploring the use of positive and negative space. To register call: 801 337-2670
July-August 2021 | WeberCountyConnection.com 13
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS OF A
cowboy
Rodeo season, to me, means the smell of concession stand hamburgers and a freshly watered arena. It sounds like a crowd singing along to “Sweet Caroline,” the buzzer after an eight-second ride.
MY FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR BY THATCH ELMER
M
y favorite time of the year is finally here. It’s summer time, which means rodeo season. We’ve waited all year for this moment, from freezing our tails off feeding horses all winter and spending all spring getting them back into shape to practicing whenever we can to prepare ourselves. It’s time to finally shine. Rodeo season, to me, means the smell of concession stand hamburgers and a freshly watered arena. It sounds
like a crowd singing along to “Sweet Caroline,” the buzzer after an eightsecond ride, and young cowboys and cowgirls sitting on the top rail of a fence watching their mother and father live their dreams. It means young competitors getting their first taste of rodeo, and veteran competitors just trying to get enough money to get to the next rodeo. So, here are my words of advice for all you cowboys and cowgirls who are trying to make your most out of your July run. For all you veteran ropers, barrel racers, bull riders, and bronc riders, do what you know how to do and capitalize on every chance you get to win. Stay safe; you’re not as young as you once were.
14 WeberCountyConnection.com | July-August 2021
For you young men and women trying your hand and dipping your toes into the world of professional and amateur rodeo, take your best shot, do what you do in the practice pen, and let your hard work speak louder than someone’s luck. Ladies and gentlemen, support your local small-town rodeo, whether entering and trying to win or paying your ticket to watch, because if you do, there will be another rodeo next year. We’ve been waiting all winter long for this moment. Make the most of it and don’t forget to be proud to live in the great country we do. With that being said, God bless rodeo, and God bless America.
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July-August 2021 | WeberCountyConnection.com 15
CITY UPDATES
Plain City Events
4th of July
Parks & Rec
City Election
WFFL Tackle Football Equipment Pickup: July 14 - July 30 1st day of conditioning: August 2, 2021 1st Game: August 21, 2021
Plain City Municipal Election is November 2, 2021 Two candidates filed for Mayor: Jon Beesley Miles Robinson
Coed Flag Football Games will start the last week of August
THANK YOU to everyone who helped make this 4th of July the best ever! Plain City rocks!
Two candidates filed for two council seats: Luigi Panunzio Jed Jenkins
Senior Center Open
The Plain City Senior Center is open again for congregate meals. Reservations for meals must be made by Tuesday, 12 p.m. by calling 801-399-8393. • Lunch is served on Wednesdays 11:30 to 12:30 • Blood Pressure clinics are held the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month • Pedicures are $10 (no polish) 3rd Wednesday of each month Other activities are coming.
Garbage Cans Reminder
Write-in candidates can file for either office now through August 30. Forms and candidacy requirements are available at the city office. Do you know someone who needs to register to vote? Forms are available at the City Office, or go online at vote.utah.gov All registered Plain City residents will be mailed a ballot approximately 30 days before the election. Plain City has a ballot drop box located in front of the City Office. It will be open 24/7 beginning October 1. No postage necessary. If you don’t get a ballot in the mail, there will be voting assistance centers open on November 2 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. A list of voting assistance centers will be posted on our website: plaincityutah.org
The blue can is yard waste between April and November. It can be used for regular garbage only in the winter months between December and March. Both blue and black cans are emptied weekly. Please put your can(s) out the night before pickup day. They begin hauling the garbage very early in the morning.
STRATEGIC PLANNING The Mayor, City Council, Planning Commission, and Staff are working on a strategic plan. This plan will include a mission statement, vision statement for the future, and areas of focus. The purpose of this plan is to help all elected and appointed officials and employees work towards common goals for the betterment of Plain City. Currently, we are finetuning the plan and, hopefully very soon, it will be adopted and put on the city website so everyone will be able to see. THE FIVE AREAS OF FOCUS ARE:
Fiscal Responsibility
Employees
16 WeberCountyConnection.com | July-August 2021
Community Engagement
Recreation Arts & Culture
Economic Devlopment
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July-August 2021 | WeberCountyConnection.com 17
A LOOK BACK
Lorene Donaldson: The First Real “WHOOPIE GIRL” BY JENNY GOLDSBERRY ADAPTED FROM “A GRAND CELEBRATION” BY JUDY ANDERSON
It
wasn’t easy for the Donaldson family to own a horse while living in the big city of Ogden in the late 1920s. So, when their then seven-year-old daughter Lorene showed an interest in horse riding, they rented a pony for her to ride. That wasn’t enough, and Lorene eventually wanted a horse of her own. Her parents told her, if she could buy the horse, they would buy the feed. As a result, Lorene started pooling her money. Meanwhile, other kids were buying candy. Five years would go by before she could afford a horse; however, that gave her enough time to study up on how to take care of one. Throughout the years, she received gifts like riding pants and boots.
The “Whoopie Girl” began with the vision of Ogden City Mayor Harman W. Peery to create an iconic image that would help promote the Ogden Pioneer Days celebration. It's been a symbol of the state's biggest statehood celebration since then. The tradition
Eventually, she rallied the funds for a beautiful bay mare named Ginger. Lorene went on to win many races with her. She also rode alongside every parade she could that allowed horses. Then, after a couple of years’ practice, Mayor Harman Peery noticed her riding. He was the third mayor of Ogden at the time. He wanted to put Ogden on the map, and seeing Lorene ride so expertly gave him an idea. But first, he tested her.
Lorene's recreation of Epoch Bolle's "Whoopie Girl." She was 14 years old.
Mayor Peery asked Lorene to lead a parade. Instead of riding Ginger, though, he had her mount his horse to see how she’d do. Lorene accepted and led the parade without a hitch. So, he told her he had a job for her. He was the titular owner of Peery’s Egyptian Theater, which gave Lorene the impression that the job was for the theater. There was something much bigger in store for her. He asked her to be the face of Ogden’s Pioneer Days Rodeo. She was 14 years old at the time.
18 WeberCountyConnection.com | July-August 2021
Lorene and Mayor Peery during Ogden Pioneers Day parade.
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A LOOK BACK during the Ogden Pioneer Days parade, and it’s recreated every year for other girls to be her proxy. The Pioneer Days celebration that year was a huge success. Celebrity rodeo performers came in to compete. Utah’s Governor Blood was there too. Mayor Peery wanted the experience to be open to all people, so he only charged 50 cents a ticket for the seven-day celebration. Lorene was crowned Rodeo Queen that year. Over 1,400 newspapers went on to publish Lorene’s photo, some long after Pioneer Days was over. Even international papers got a hold of it. Lorene received lots of fan mail following the photoshoot. She went on to get a teaching degree from Utah State University. Then, she married a man in the Army named Richard W. Hall. They would go on to live all over the United States, returning to Ogden occasionally. Lorene passed away in 1995 at the age of 73. Lorene in the Pioneer Days Parade of 1964, wearing the original outfit. Later, her daughter Judy would wear it for years during the same parade, and it's recreated every year.
The dress
The rodeo pageant was a new concept, even in 1936. There had only been one Rodeo queen before: Marilyn Eccles, in 1935. A photoshoot with Lorene Donaldson would become the promotion for rodeo pageants in perpetuity. Mayor Peery wanted to recreate the cover of Film Fun Magazine of October 1935. The original cover was a cartoon drawing of a “Whoopie Girl” by Enoch Bolles, but he wanted to have Lorene pose in a picture. A nearly exact replica of the outfit was made for the photoshoot. There is some discrepancy on who actually sewed the outfit. In a 2009 interview with KSL, Lorene’s daughter, Anne Call House, claimed that Lorene’s mother made the outfit. In “A Grand Celebration” by Judy Anderson, Mayor Peery commissioned the outfit. If you know, call in! Either way, it was an outfit that Judy would go on to wear for years
Lorene Donaldson was a charming young woman who has been an inspiration for the Ogden Pioneer Days Whoopie Girl for the past 85 years.
20 WeberCountyConnection.com | July-August 2021
Lorene riding her horse
July-August 2021 | WeberCountyConnection.com 21
COMMUNITY
DOIN' IT RIGHT
Junior High Rodeo Spotlights BY KRIS BLANKMAN
Mylee Dolan
Brykn Burnett
Meet Mylee Dolan. She is the definition of “Cowgirl Up!” This amazing young lady is a 14-year-old 9th-grader at Wahlquist Jr. High. She is a member of the UYRA, the Idaho High School Rodeo Association, and the Turn Pro Jackpot Assoc. Mylee’s favorite event is poles, which she competes on with her horse Coke. She also competes in barrels, goat tying, and breakaway roping. Due to a serious knee injury in April, she missed out on the spring rodeo season. A big accomplishment for Mylee was being part of the National Jr. High Cinch Team. Though she couldn’t compete, she was present to cheer her peers on. She is hopeful to be back and competing by January. Like most serious competitors, her goal is to make it to the High School National Finals Rodeo. Mylee’s mantra is “Stay weird, life is funner that way!” She says she has the longest legs in the family and that, sometimes, it provides comic relief because she looks like a newborn filly learning to walk. Mylee is a big sister to her younger brother, Daxton, who also rodeos. Her hero is her great-grandma Wanda. She loves to hunt, snowmobile, go four-wheeling, and raise hogs for the county fair. Mylee has big goals and plans on being an Equine Chiropractor and practicing Equine Sports Medicine.
“Never Give Up! Because when things get hard, if you give up, you will never have the chance to succeed.” This is the code that 15-year-old cowboy Brykn Burnett lives by. He is a 10th grader at Fremont High School. He is the real deal, competing in tie-down roping and team roping. Brykn would rather rodeo than go to school, but since that’s not possible, he likes math and PE. He is a wrestler at Fremont High School and likes to hunt, fish, and camp. Brykn broke his leg six weeks ago when a horse fell on him. He was told he wouldn’t be able to get back on for three months. Three weeks later, he was in a cast up to his thigh, with his leg strapped to his saddle with rubber bands. He and his partner won the team roping event. Brykn says catching that steer was a great accomplishment for him. This young man gives new meaning to the words ‘Cowboy Tough’. As part of a rodeo family, they are at it every weekend, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. Along with his horses Rio, Goose, and Wildcat, they have goals of qualifying for the National High School Finals Rodeo in the next few years. Brykn plans on rodeoing in the PRCA when he graduates.
Top: Mylee Dolan, photo by Alesha Bailey Bottom: Brykn Burnett, photo by Tiffany Burnett
22 WeberCountyConnection.com | July-August 2021
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COMMUNITY property,” she said. “I usually buy my horses between one and two years old.” She has to halter break him and get him leading. “Now he goes in and out of the trailer, it has been way fun!” Meka’s mare is currently in foal, and she is looking forward to going through the process again. Growing up, her dad used horses for hunting. When they were old enough, Meka and her sisters wanted to get involved with 4H, and they rode the family horse for it. “We all started on a pony. We had two ponies, and we would ride them around every day. If it involved a horse, we were in! We loved it, did the posse, and grew up through the ranks. The things I learned and the friendships I made during that time were priceless.” She still sees those friends at barrel races today.
Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo:
MEKA FARR
BY HAILEY MINTON
This local barrel racer gives a glimpse of what it’s like to raise, train, and ride horses that can compete in rodeos.
M
There are a lot of associations that put on barrel races and Meka loves to race with her horse Woody. He holds the arena record at Sister’s Oregon. “My little horse is amazing; he is an athlete! We’ve qualified for the Wilderness Circuit Finals five times. We also qualified for the RAM National Circuit Final Rodeo. “
Woody was a yearling when she bought him. He is a gelding quarter horse with a very calm demeanor. She sticks to a training regimen to keep him in shape, and Meka tries to change it up to keep him from getting bored. She explained it’s a team effort, and the horse needs to like his job if they want to compete well. “Every night we’re walking and training horses. Our routine revolves around them. Without them, we’re not barrel racing.”
eka Farr is a barrel racer, and she has lived in Honeyville for four years. She was raised in Davis Meka’s friends and family have been a major support for her, County in West Point, and has grown their way up and she turns to them and their vet for advice when she needs north. The family most recently moved from Farr West because it. Meka also makes sure to attend clinics once a year to keep they were needing more land for their ten horses. She explained herself sharp. “Ed Wright, Martha Wright, Terry Wood Gates, that, back in the day, people would ride the same horse for 4H, Norma Wood… There are so many amazing queening, barrels, or any competitive event on barrel racers, and there’s always something I can horseback. “It’s just not the same today,” she "Every night take away.” said. Each of her horses are raised and trained we’re walking and for specific purposes. They have a kid’s horse Meka grew up participating in the Ogden for their daughter to gain confidence in riding Pioneer Days rodeo. She rode in the All Horse training horses. Our and two rope horses for her husband. Her four Parade and participated in the pre-rodeo. Today, routine revolves barrel-racing horses range in age from four she participates in the WPRA (or Women's around them. Professional Rodeo Association) in barrel years old to twenty. They recently bought a racing, so watch for her this year at the Ogden mare to breed barrel racing horses. The mare Without them, we’re Pioneer Days Rodeo if you plan to attend. “It’s has a three-month-old colt at her side, and not barrel racing.” a big, beautiful arena, and Ogden Pioneer Days this is the first time Meka has raised a horse is a legacy.” this young. “He is the littlest thing on our 24 WeberCountyConnection.com | July-August 2021
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COMMUNITY Chase as bulldogger while his father Hazes. Photo by
Jaden Sorenson Photography
Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo:
CHASE BLACK BY JENNY GOLDSBERRY
S
teer wrestling is in Chase Black’s blood. His dad, Glen Black, also competed in steer wrestling. The Black Family grew up in Coalville, Utah. Chase’s parents lived across the street from each other, and now Chase lives in a house built next to his paternal grandmother; it has a practice pen in back. Chase watched Glen compete until 1995, when Chase was five. Now, Glen is his hazer, and rides across from Chase while he competes. It’s Glen’s job to drive the steer to a place where Chase can get to it. In the beginning, Chase rode what he calls “an old man horse,” which was well-trained when it came to steer wrestling. All he had to do was nod his head, and the horse knew exactly what to do. Glen taught and coached while Chase learned. Even though Glen is in the arena with Chase, he doesn’t always have the best view of his bulldogger son. He used to get in trouble for looking back and watching. “I don’t think he’s quite as bad anymore,” Chase says. This may be on account of the big screen most rodeo stadiums have. On the other hand, Chase’s mom, Gena Black, is also seeped in the rodeo community and has been involved with the Ogden Pioneer Day Rodeo committee for over 30 years. Gena is one of the Vice Chairs over special events, opening ceremonies, and hospitality. Because Chase was raised in and around this event and community, this Pioneer Days Rodeo “feels like a hometown rodeo” to him. 26 WeberCountyConnection.com | July-August 2021
“Those are the ones you get the most nervous for,” he says. “We have a lot of friends there. I have a good cheering section.”
“I took the reject horse, and he found his calling in steer wrestling."
Today, Chase rides a bay horse named French Fry. The horse used to belong to Chase’s sister; she intended to barrel race on him. She did not get along with French Fry. He had the habit of dumping her before the second barrel. So, according to Chase, she actually started his bulldogging training. He found his calling in steer wrestling. While Chase rode his “old man horse,” French Fry trained alongside him as a haze horse. Now, they’ve been bulldogging together for the last four years. Their best time so far is 3.4 seconds. “It just clicks for him,” Chase said. “I took the reject horse. He found his calling in the steer wrestling event.” Meanwhile, his sister’s name is still on French Fry’s papers, and she likes to tease Chase about needing mount money. Even though Chase will be making a 45-minute drive down to the rodeo, he’s honored to be a part of his “hometown rodeo.” It’s a family affair. “This year’s especially hard, ‘cause it’s the first year we don’t have Aunt Des (Desiree Larsen) with us,” Chase said. “I’ll be trying to do my best. I know she’ll be watching me. It’s going to be great to get to Ogden after we missed out last year. Better lucky than good.”
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July-August 2021 | WeberCountyConnection.com 27
ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS IN UTAH
Stories of Success J BY VY TRINH AND
JENNY GOLDSBERRY
Read until the very end to see how you can help a local museum keep a collection of stories just like the ones you’re about to read.
ust because Asian American and Pacific Islander month is over, it doesn’t mean we’ve stopped appreciating their stories of triumphs. This month, we at Connection Publishing want to highlight some very important histories that happened right here. Read until the very end to see how you can help a local museum keep a collection of stories just like the ones you’re about to read.
The first Asian immigrants came to the area thanks to the railroad. Chinese workers made the journey halfway across the world to build the transcontinental railroad. They were there when the Golden Spike was hammered in Ogden to mark the final touch on the railroad; once it was complete, they helped build stations along the railroad. Ogden Union Station was only the second building in the area, and it was largely built thanks to the help of these Chinese immigrants who stayed to see the project through. Some workers stayed in the foreign state of Utah for good. The Union Station Museum has kept a record of some of these early first-generation Asian people in the area. Some sold tableware and others sold cuisine, but all of their early merchandise reflected their home country’s culture. Many stayed at the Marion Hotel while they ran their businesses along 25th street. You can visit the museum and read about the stories of these first entrepreneurs. In this article, we’ll focus on contemporary examples of successful people in the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.
28 WeberCountyConnection.com | July-August 2021
THU NGUYEN left Vietnam to move to the United States
years ago. She and her husband raised two children and put them both through college. Eventually, they saved up enough of their hard-earned cash to open their own business, which had been their dream from the beginning. They opened a nail salon in Roy, Utah. First, it was called TJ Nails, but now, it’s known as Royal Nail and Lashes. She has a tremendous entrepreneurial spirit. Her name is Thu, pronounced “like the number two,” she often tells clients. One time, someone asked her, “You’re number two? Then who’s number one?” Thu thought quickly on her feet and replied, “The customer is number one!” While it started as a joke, it’s also her business practice. Lately, more and more salons have moved into the area since Thu started her business, which was the first of its kind. She’s had many opportunities to move, to try and avoid competition, but she welcomes others to follow in her footsteps. Since she feels lucky to have “made it,” she won’t stand in the way of someone else having the same opportunity. Plus, her salon has been around for 20 years now. “I want my customers to know that I’m not going anywhere,” Thu says, so she won’t move from her location at 1916 West 5600 South. Her customers are loyal too and have stayed with her through minor moves around the town and salon renovations. In fact, it was actually
L-R: Benjamin Fonua and family, Thu Nguyen, Henrick Le and family
a client of Thu’s that recommended her to be highlighted in this issue. Thu loves Roy because Roy loves her back. She says she won’t be retiring soon either, because she would just miss her customers. Her hours are limited, so you’ll have to schedule an appointment with her weeks in advance.
JULIE VO WEIGHT is the daughter of two biracial parents.
Both her mother and her father were born to Vietnamese mothers and absent American fathers, who were serving in the US military. As a result, her parents were bullied for having single mothers and faced racism for being mixed race. The only way they survived all the criticism was by working really hard. Eventually, they moved to Utah with their two youngest children, Julie and her brother Tony. In North Ogden, Julie’s mom continued to work while raising her children. She is Julie’s greatest inspiration because she gave her daughter greater opportunities by moving to a new country. When Julie turned 18, her mom asked her what she wanted to do with her life. She said that she wanted to serve in the military. Her mom was surprised but supported her choice completely. Julie joined the National Guard soon after. While serving, she also received her bachelor’s degree in criminal July-August 2021 | WeberCountyConnection.com 29
justice. Just like her mom, Julie applied her strong work ethic to her service and is currently First Lieutenant for the Army National Guard and Agent for the Major crimes unit with the State Bureau of Investigations. Julie is very young for her rank but also very deserving. Her brother, Tony, also chose to serve in the military. Both of their parents are the result of war, but they serve to show their patriotism for this country. Now, Julie gives back to the country that gave her so much opportunity as an immigrant child.
KEVIN NGUYEN immigrated to the states five years ago
from Vietnam. At first, he was very frustrated with his entrylevel job. He knew he couldn’t afford to go to college in the U.S. with his pay. One particularly frustrating day, he came home from work early, and on his way, he saw an eighteen wheeler with an advertisement for the National Guard on the side. The ad said the National Guard could help pay for college, which was just what he needed. After only a year in the country, he met with a recruiter and signed a contract. After six months of initial military training, Kevin began studying finance at Weber State University. His original plan was to transfer to the University of Utah after a year, but he liked WSU so much he ended up staying the full four years. Not only did he never pay a penny for tuition, but his housing was also covered. He also got an ROTC minor. In the summers, he went to more army training. They sent him to places like
30 WeberCountyConnection.com | July-August 2021
L-R: Julie Vo Weight, mom Jumy Nguyen and brother Tony Vo, Kevin Nguyen & fiance
Fort Knox or Fort Bragg to train. While he balanced his military duties, he was also a fantastic student with a 3.98 grade point average. “I spent all four years in the library and in the gyms,” Kevin jokes. He often helped his struggling classmates study too. His study habits paid off, literally. Kevin earned scholarships that financed study abroad programs in Japan and Korea. Now, he’s recently graduated, stationed in Florida, and on his way to second lieutenant.
BENJAMIN FONUA
lived in Syracuse for 15 years, but he’s been selling plates for over seven years. Back in 2014, he was working as Weber County corrections assistant, but he knew he wanted to start his own business. His parents immigrated from Tonga in the 70s. Ever since he could remember, they ran their own landscaping business. So, he longed to follow in their footsteps. Then, one day at one of their neighborhood cookouts, someone suggested to Benjamin that he start selling his shredded pork, macaroni salad, and chicken plates. Sharing food came natural to him because it was part of his cultural traditions. However, he was hesitant to start a business around it. “Running a restaurant was the last thing I thought I’d be doing,” he says. He tested the waters anyway, selling his first plates at Heritage Days. Then, it became a second job, where he’d visit various farmer’s markets on his day off to sell more plates. Eventually, he leased a storefront, running the business
“Running a restaurant was the last thing I thought I’d be doing.”
After neighbors suggested Benjamin Fonua start selling his shredded pork, macaroni salad, and chicken plates, he tested the waters, selling his first plates at Heritage Days. That grew to a second job, then a leased storefront, and now a brick-and-mortar location at 2107 West 1700 South that he runs with his wife and daughter. At the tail end of 2019, they started a food truck.
with his wife and daughter. He named it Leila’s Luau after his daughter. Next, they tried out a food truck. In the end, they went for a brick-and-mortar location at 2107 West 1700 South. It opened at the tail end of 2019, which surprisingly turned out to be a blessing. 2020 hit a lot of industries hard, but the food truck particularly suffered. Meanwhile, at the brick-andmortar, the Syracuse community got behind them and supported them through the pandemic. Plus, Benjamin felt like his newest installment was truest to his culture. Growing up, family celebrations were enriched with food. Weddings, graduations, and even funerals are centered around food. With a food truck, customers came for the food, but with a restaurant, customers stayed for the conversation. “That’s been one of the best things about getting into a brick-and-mortar,” Benjamin says. “I get to know their families. Something I would never be able to do with a food truck.” They’ve been doing so well now, they’ve hired employees, mostly from Syracuse High School.
HENRICK LE moved to Utah in 2001 after being born
and raised in Vietnam. At the time, he didn’t even speak English. He hit the ground running and started school. He remembers his first day he went to class instead of lunch. His teacher tried to explain to him it was lunchtime, but he didn’t understand and simply smiled back. So, his teacher took him by the hand into the
lunchroom. That left an impression on Henrick because in Vietnam teachers weren’t so friendly. As he made more friends, he wanted to be a part of American culture. Henrick thought a great way to embrace the culture and community would be to join the military. His own grandfather was a Major in the South Vietnamese Army. Growing up, his grandpa told him war stories that inspired Henrick to follow in his footsteps. “If my grandpa can do it, I can too,” he told himself. So, he improved his English and signed a contract with Army National Guard in 2009, and now he serves in 4th ID MCP-OD under 204th Maneuver Brigade of the Utah National Guard. His mentors helped him study English and go to college. Once, his mom asked him, “Why don’t you study hard and be a businessman instead?” That just wasn’t what he wanted. “I’m serving my community in a different way,” he told her. “I want to be successful in the military with the flag on my shoulder. That’s my dream come true.” Henrick has also found a sense of camaraderie, because now he knows what unity really means. His unit is his family, and he’s proud he chose to serve alongside them. They are a counterpart to the 4th infantry division too, so he’s connected with people serving in the Army overseas. His unit was deployed with 4th Infantry Division in 2019 to support the Resolution Support Mission in Afghanistan. Now, he’s a captain in the National Guard. He has a wife and five-year-old daughter, and they live together in Roy. “Without them, I would be unable to serve the country and the community,” Henrick says. To close, we at Connection Publishing are asking for your help on behalf of the Union Station Museum. Curator Holly Andrew is in the process of creating an exhibit called “Ogden at its Core,” to tell the stories of early residents. Lately, her focus has been on the Asian immigrants. She’d like to solicit your help to understand their personal histories. So, if you think you can help her, drop by the Union Station Museum to share what you know.
VISIT HOLLY ANDREW at the Union Station Museum today to share your Asian American heritage. She needs help recording the personal histories of folks she currently only has the names for.
July-August 2021 | WeberCountyConnection.com 31
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SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT 801.333.3456 2685 N 1000 W Pleasant View, UT 84414 June 2021 | northogdenconnection.com 45 July-August 2021 | WeberCountyConnection.com 33
BUSINESS Backcountry Horsemen of Utah BY JENNY GOLDSBERRY
A non-profit organization that welcomes riders of all types, ages and interests.
N
ancy McKay is a cityslicker who developed a love for horses later on. She was raised in the city, but her parents were raised on ranches and farms. “We loved to go to their farms,” Nancy remembers.
Backcountry Horsemen is more than just a riding club, they also maintain trails used by hiker, riders and bikers.
INFO Business: Riding Club Locate a chapter at www.bchu.com
As she and her three siblings grew up, something drew them all back to their ranching roots. First, her brother-in-law bought a horse, then her brother bought a horse, and finally she caved in as well. Horses have such a mystical nature that is, frankly, intoxicating. Soon, she was riding so much alongside her siblings, she started hunting for more riding buddies and more riding trails so that she could go out more often. That’s how she happened upon Backcountry Horsemen.
There, she was impressed with the young bucks and old cowboys in the organization. All of her new friends showed her new and more technical trails, how to camp with a horse, and even how to pick a horse when it came time to buy more. She hadn’t even been riding for five years, and now she had friends helping her pack to camp with her horse. “The friendships extend into our personal lives,” Nancy said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a hardcore horse owner or a newbie, you’re all spending time around the campfire, watching out for each other in the wilderness, and you’re all friends.” But Backcountry Horsemen is more than just a riding club. They’re the organization behind public trails for horse riders, bikers, and hikers alike. Horses were the first to clear the paths along the Wasatch Front, and now horses are still performing the maintenance.
on a trail that features a bridge”, she says “I can almost guarantee those were brought up by pack horses.” Now, 10 years after her first ride with Backcountry Horsemen members, Nancy has found herself as president of the Wasatch chapter. She’s served as chapter treasurer and even state treasurer for the nonprofit. “It’s not something we just do for fun,” she said. “It’s a valid purpose and a needed purpose.” Sign up now by finding “BCHU Youth Camp” even on Facebook. There, you will find the application. Just bring your horse, some light supplies, and they’ll teach you the rest. If you have any questions, email Linda Price at lind.price37@gmail.com
“Our country was built on the backs of horses,” Nancy said. “If man didn’t have horses, we wouldn’t have anything. In fact, if you ever find yourself
“The friendships extend into our personal lives,” Nancy said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a hardcore horse owner or a newbie, you’re all spending time around the campfire, watching out for each other in the wilderness, and you’re all friends.”
34 WeberCountyConnection.com | July-August 2021
COMMUNITY
VOCAL MOTION
kids from fourth to sixth grade. Melissa worked with her sister Kaitlan, who works at North Ogden Elementary, and got both schools performing very similar shows.
BY HAILEY MINTON
Northern Utah’s Vocal Motion Show Choir represented the US in the eleventh World Peace Choral Festival last month which was held virtually. They showed several of Vocal Motion’s music videos, one of which was their rendition of Shawn Mendes’ song “Wonder.”
The creators behind the group are Melissa Chertudi, Kaitlan Toole, Brittany Bennett, and Brita Miles. Melissa and Kaitlan are sisters. Melissa put her talent and energy into the choir at Lomond View Elementary about ten years ago, and it grew from 60 kids to 240 kids. She and her team of directors have been instrumental in the program’s success. Families were reaching out to her, wanting their kids to get involved with the choir, but age and school boundaries limited who could participate. The choir only involved
Brittany attended one of these performances to watch her son, and the caliber of performance was not what she was expecting. She was drawn to contribute her own skills and use her education in music and experience as a musician to add to what she saw. Brittany eventually became a co-director with Melissa at Lomond View. Melissa and Brita’s paths first crossed when they were both involved in the cultural celebration performance for the dedication of the Ogden Utah Temple in 2014. Brita was the head music director for the performance, which involved the participation of 16,000 youth. She coordinated with 74 stake music directors, and Melissa was one of them. Brita wrote original music for the program, and Melissa saw how well Brita interacted with and taught teenagers. Melissa knew Brita’s talents would contribute to their vision of what they could bring to the community. All of them had a spark of desire for something more. They knew they could contribute their talents to create
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July-August 2021 | WeberCountyConnection.com 35
something bigger and more inclusive to children ranging from ages eight to 18. They could now involve the students who participated in the elementary programs but had since moved on to Junior High or High School. In January of 2020, they decided to create Vocal Motion. They were working on the business in preparation to launch right before the pandemic shut things down. They still opened for auditions in June and were hopeful they could get 40 to 50 kids. Because they were a private business, they left involvement up to the discretion of parents and youth. The response was greater than anticipated. By September, 180 kids had signed up.
Vocal Motion creaters left to right, Kaitlan Tolle, Brita Miles, Brittany Bennett, & Melissa Chertudi
“It was a bright spot for these kids in 2020,” said Brita. It really made a difference to them being involved in something like this during a year where practically everything was canceled. They shared their performances via video, and that is how the World Peace Choral Festival found them. They also digitally participated in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Christmas Devotional. Going digital helped them shift in a way that really expanded their reach, and they plan to include music videos in their performances in the future. They also plan to expand their program to Utah Valley in January 2022.
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36 WeberCountyConnection.com | July-August 2021
COMMUNITY
Miss Weber County
Abigail Laing – Current Reigning Miss Weber County
from elementary education and will very soon begin graduate school at American Military University to pursue a master’s degree of Intelligence Studies (i.e., Homeland Security). I have collected and donated over 14,000 pairs of new and used shoes to send to third world countries through Soles4Souls. Hundreds of food, hygiene, and clothing items were donated to my drives that benefited the Ogden Rescue Mission. Thousands of dollars were donated by the communities of Weber County to benefit Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. None of this would have been possible without you. I encourage you to go back and read the quote by President Roosevelt once more. Dare greatly. Spend yourself in worthy causes. Never find yourself with those cold and timid souls. Understand that we can only appreciate victory if we have known defeat.
BY ABIGAIL LAING
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." – President Theodore Roosevelt My name is Abigail Laing, and I have served as Miss Weber County for the last 20 months. This quote holds deep meaning to me, not only because it serves as a call to action, but also as a rallying cry to pick yourself up out of the dirt when life knocks you down. In the four consecutive years I have served with the Miss America Organization, I have formed incredible bonds with many nonprofits, community leaders, small businesses, and people just like you. There have been many times I have found myself knocked down, with my face “marred by dust and sweat and blood.” Each and every one of YOU served as the motivation I needed to get back up and keep pushing onward.
Join me on October 14th at Peery’s Egyptian Theatre in Ogden to celebrate and support the brave women who will compete for the title of Miss Weber County 2022. It is only through community support that programs like this succeed. If you (or someone you know between the ages of 17 and 24) would be interested in learning more about the Miss Weber County Scholarship Organization and the Miss America Organization, please send me a message on social media (@misswebercounty.ut) or email me directly at misswebercounty@gmail.com.
Thank you, Weber County, for being in my corner: for helping me back onto my feet when I have been knocked down and for supporting, loving, and doing your best to help our community not just survive but to thrive. We truly live in the best county in the state.
I have been awarded nearly $16,000 in scholarships during my time with the Miss America Organization, which paid for my bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. I am moving on July-August 2021 | WeberCountyConnection.com 37
BUSINESS Nils Swedish Creamery Ice Cream Shop
BY KARI FIAGLE
with his grandfather, Ollie, who also made ice cream with his father, Nils. Kevin always talked about eating ice cream cones in the bed of his grandpa’s truck in the summer. Sometimes, they would make it together, and sometimes, they would go to a shop and find the best flavors. For Kevin, the love of ice cream and family bonding go hand-in-hand. The name of their shop is inspired by Nils, Kevin’s great-grandfather, who immigrated to the United States from Sweden in 1901.
As a family-owned business that specializes in high quality ice cream, we use only the best ingredients and make each batch by hand.
INFO Business: Ice Cream Shop 1812 N. 2000 W., Suite 2 Farr West, UT 84404 385-238-4706
nilsswedishcreamery nils_swedish_creamery
H
eather Bergsjo and her husband, Kevin, had a dream to teach their four children about what it takes to work hard and own a business. Running a business isn’t new to the Bersjo’s; they offer vehicle service contracts for dealerships and have owned a car dealership, multiple independent direct sales businesses, along with several other business ventures in the 22 years they’ve been married. In 2018, when Heather’s teens were looking for jobs, she decided it was the perfect time to put her dream of a family business into reality, and she had a great idea for it! Heather’s husband and his Swedish ancestry had a tie to homemade ice cream. Kevin grew up making ice cream
38 WeberCountyConnection.com | July-August 2021
Nils Swedish Creamery isn’t like other ice cream shops. Together, they make all of their ice creams in small batches right in their shop. Every recipe is original to Nils and inspired by Heather’s love of travel, fresh fruits, favorite desserts like pie, and of course, Kevin’s Swedish ancestry. Their ice cream is chock full of the best, freshest, and highest-quality ingredients around. Customers know that, in every scoop of ice cream, they will get exactly what they’ve been craving since the last time they came. Heather says, “We don’t skimp on anything!” In the Spring of 2020, during the Pandemic, they closed their shop. Customers were blowing up their inbox, trying to get their ice cream while they were home. One customer wrote them,
begging them to open. He wrote, “The world needs your ice cream,” and they opened their shop on a limited basis, so customers could enjoy their ice cream. Some of the unique flavors you will find at Nils are Crazy Coconut, White Chocolate Raspberry Habanero, Lemon Oreo, Strawberry of Fun, Brownie Explosion, Cookie Butter, and Fika Love (coffee). Recently, their Huckleberry Cheesecake was a contender in the Utah Taste-Off competition. Flavors vary by season and availability of ingredients, but every time you come in, you will be delighted by the flavors they offer! You can easily find Nils in Farr West on 1812 N. 2000 W. Follow Nils on Facebook at Nils Swedish Creamery and on Instagram @ nils_swedish_creamery. Summer hours from 3 p.m. - 9 p.m. Mon. - Thurs., 3 p.m. - 10 p.m. Fri., & 1 p.m. - 10 p.m. Sat.
COMMUNITY
Chicken Math & Other Bad Animal Decisions BY RACHEL BITTON
Years ago, I decided I wanted chickens. I promised my husband if he built me a little chicken coop, I would only need two to three chickens, max. He vowed to build one chicken coop…then chicken math happened. Have you ever heard of chicken math? If not, please allow me to educate you. Chicken math goes like this – one chicken really equals three chickens, two chickens equal six chickens, and so forth. At this funny farm, we operate by chicken math. Last year, as schools and businesses closed, I decided to order some chicks from an online hatchery. It would be good for the kids to have more babies to take care of as we waded through home school. Eighteen chicks were the perfect number to balance cost and shipping. Knowing chicks are very delicate, I figured there would be a few casualties. We carefully prepared a spot in the garage, I picked up the cheeping box from the post office at 6:30 a.m. the morning they arrived, and we got them all settled in. My oldest daughter spends half of her life with the chickens, and she especially loves chicks. Her careful care and attention to the chicks was amazing. It was so amazing that we had zero chick casualties and are now begging the resident builder of all the things (my husband) to build us yet another larger coop. This will be chicken coop number four for those counting. Have you Oops! ever heard of Unfortunately, our bad animal decisions do not end with chicken math. Last year, I was talking with a neighbor who said she wanted to get into the miniature cattle business. She suggested we get some too. I told
chicken math? Chicken math goes like this – one chicken really equals three chickens, two chickens equal six chickens, and so forth."
fe r a l
FARMHOUSE her, with no hesitation, that my husband would never agree to this. Three days later, he brought home our first mini cow. That escalated quickly! When people ask our reason for buying a mini cow, our standard response has been “we were making bad animal decisions”. We had no other explanation for our momentary lapse in judgement. That mini cow recently had her first calf, and we are all smitten. The whole family watched that cow around the clock, waiting for the new arrival. The cute little ‘Oreo’ calf has a white belt around her middle. My dad always said, “There is nothing whiter that the white on a new baby calf.” The calf’s belt is such a bright white. We decided to expand our mini cow herd, so we recently bought another young heifer. As we were talking to the sellers, they mentioned having baby goats for sale. Not only did we end up bringing home another mini cow, but we also bought two baby goats. The kids giggled the entire way home about our newest “bad animal decisions.” I didn’t realize chicken math crossed over to other animals. As our funny farm continues to grow, I remind myself I would rather raise my kids in the barn because of the lessons they learn and the responsibilities they take on. Maybe our bad animal decisions aren’t bad decisions after all.
July-August 2021 | WeberCountyConnection.com 39
COMMUNITY
Big Game Baiting Law
HB 295 was passed during the 2021 legislative session and went into effect May 5. This law restricts the baiting of big game animals (like deer and elk) when hunting in Utah. In the new law, "bait" is defined as intentionally placing food or nutrient substances – including salt or other mineral blocks – to manipulate the behavior of wildlife for the purpose of hunting or attempting to harvest big game.
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“In a nutshell, baiting big game is illegal if your intentions are to lure an animal to an area to hunt or harvest it,” DWR Law Enforcement Captain Wyatt Bubak said. “Baiting wildlife can artificially distribute animals on the landscape, which can potentially result in habitat damage and increased disease transmission. There are also concerns related to the ‘fair chase’ of baiting animals when hunting. Our conservation officers will be enforcing this law during this fall’s big game hunting seasons.” Someone can still use bait during the summer months while they are scouting an area they plan to hunt that fall, but they must remove the bait before the hunt – with enough advance time that the animal isn’t still being lured to that area. “An area is no longer considered to be baited when a big game animal’s behavior is no longer influenced by the bait,” Bubak said. “If an animal keeps returning to the exact area where bait was removed right before hunting season, that area is still considered to be baited.” If someone is not planning to hunt and doesn’t have a hunting permit, they are still allowed to use bait to simply view or photograph wildlife. One exception to the big game baiting law is that someone is allowed to hunt big game over a salt or mineral block if it was placed by an agricultural producer – like a cattle rancher – as part of their normal agricultural practices for their livestock.
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Violations under the new baiting law may result in criminal charges ranging from a class B misdemeanor to a third-degree felony, and may also lead to the suspension of one's hunting privileges. Anyone who sees someone hunting big game using bait should report it to DWR conservation officers using one of the following methods:
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40 WeberCountyConnection.com | July-August 2021
• Submit a tip through the UTDWR law enforcement app (available as a free download for iOS (Apple) and Android devices) • Send a text to 847411
RECIPES
>>
Fresh
SUMMER PRODUCE
Eat local and support Utah Farmers
BY HAILEY MINTON
I hope you don’t miss one of the biggest perks of living in Utah during the late summer. Summer was my favorite time of year as a kid, because we had a peach tree in our backyard. The aroma of the tree gave away the fact that it was laden with ripe fruit. I’d sink my teeth in the sunbaked flesh. (Okay, writing this is making my mouth water.) As juice dripped down my chin, I’d try to inhale to keep as much as the liquid gold from escaping my mouth as I could. (And now, this is basically torture. Can it be peach season yet!?) Yes, Utah peaches are one of my favorite parts of summer here, but Utah has a variety of locally grown produce. According to yourutahyourfuture.org, prime agriculture environment for growing fruits and vegetables is right here along the Wasatch Front, but as you could guess, urban growth is competing for that land. Fruit production has been cut in half from 1987 to 2006, since a lot of farms and orchards have been exchanged for homes and businesses. Whether it’s going to a farmer’s market, buying from a fruit stand along the fruit highway, or asking around on your local Facebook groups to see who will sell you some fresh peaches, let’s support our Utah farmers. We can do our part to help keep our local produce producers producing! Below is a guide for what you can expect to find in season during the coming months.
Fun Utah Agriculture Facts
don't chew on this...
According to USDA.gov, a majority of the 8,419 fruit acres in the state are devoted to tart cherries at 4,732 acres, followed by peaches at 1,582 acres, and apples at 1,211 acres. However, Utah’s top crop valued by sale isn’t something you or I eat (hopefully). The hay grown in Utah feeds beef and dairy cattle.
Seasonal Produce in Utah JULY
Basil Beets Blueberries Broccoli Celery Cherries Cucumbers Corn Strawberries Tomatoes
AUGUST
Apples Apricots Basil Beets Blackberries Broccoli Cabbage Cantaloupes Carrots Cauliflower
From theSpruceEats.com Celery Melons Onions Peaches Plums & Pluots Raspberries Summer Squash Strawberries Tomatoes Zucchini
LET’S SUPPORT OUR UTAH FARMERS!
Visit farmers markets & local fruit stands!
July-August 2021 | WeberCountyConnection.com 41
ART CONTEST Show your Pioneer Days spirit and enter for a chance to win. Submit your personal artwork and tell your friends and family to vote for you.
A chance to win one of two CASH prizes!
WIN H CAS ! S E PRIZ
+ POPULAR VOTE The piece of art receiving the most votes overall will receive a $150 cash prize
+ PUBLISHER'S CHOICE The piece of art most appreciated by our publisher Ryan Spelts - will win a $100 cash prize.
Get in your submissions & votes in by
JULY 31ST!
Look for the winners in our September publication! THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR
HOW TO SUBMIT ARWORK:
To enter the contest visit www.connectionpub.com/pioneerdays
ARTWORK CAN BE SUBMITTED JULY 1- JULY 31 Submissions and votes must be submitted before midnight on July 31st.
This contest is for Weber County and Ogden residents that receive a Connection magazine. Please take a photo of your art work and upload it between the dates of July 15th and July 31st at midnight. Your art can be a drawing, painting, digital art, or sculpture. Entries and votes will be tallied and winners will be announced in the September issue of your magazine. Good Luck! People can vote once per day for the duration of the contest. Photo quality is very important since the photo of your work will be voted on by the community and your peers. All digital files submitted need to be at 300 dpi resolution.
PAINTING • DRAWING • SCULPTURE • DIGITAL ART
RECIPES PICK THE BEST
>>
tips on selecting the best fruit!
Watermelon
Peaches
Cantaloupe
Pineapple
The biggest determining factor of selecting a great watermelon comes from checking its field spot. A field spot is where the melon was sitting on the ground while it was growing. Melons with bright golden yellow or orange field spots will be sweeter than melons with whiter field spots. Also, check out the stem. If it is still green, that means it was picked before it was ready. Go for the shriveled brown stems. Conduct the tap test: If it sounds hollow, it will be juicy! Elongated watermelons taste more watery, rounder ones are sweeter.
Give it a sniff! A ripe peach should smell exactly how you want it to taste. Another way to tell is to wrap your hand around the peach and gently squeeze it to see if the flesh gives. Doing it this way prevents the fruit from getting bruised with your finger or thumb if it is ripe. If it feels rock hard, put the peach back.
Look for the cantaloupes with a light beige surface. Avoid the green ones. Also, heavier means juicer. As with the watermelon, you can tap a cantaloupe. If it sounds hollow, it should be good. Give it a sniff: if it smells sweet, it should be good. Ripe cantaloupes should give a little with you squeeze them.
When choosing a pineapple, check the firmness of the leaves by pulling on them. If they are too tight, it isn’t ripe. If they come out too easily, it might be past its prime. Find one somewhere in the middle. Look for the pineapples that are golden yellow and sniff for the sweet aroma that you’ll find at the base of ripe pineapples. Also, the best pineapples will give a little when you squeeze them.
* Don't forget the juice!
Not only is fruit and vegetable juice full of vitamins, nutrients, and fiber; its’ also packed with hydration during hot months. Cold-pressed juice is the best.
Seasonal Produce in Utah SEPTEMBER
Apples Apricots Basil Beets Blackberries Broccoli Cabbage Cantaloupes Carrots Cauliflower
Celery Grapes Melons Peaches Pumpkins Raspberries Summer squash Winter Squash Strawberries Tomatoes Watermelons Zucchini
From theSpruceEats.com
OCTOBER
Apples Beets Broccoli Cabbage Cantaloupes Carrots Cauliflower Celery Melons Pumpkins
Raspberries Summer Squash Winter Squash Strawberries Watermelons Zucchini
July-August 2021 | WeberCountyConnection.com 43
COMMUNITY
Weber County’s Best-Kept Secret
The Thrill of Thrifting BY RACHEL LONG & CAMRYN SPELTS
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Camryn Spelts, will be leaving soon for her first semester at BYU Hawaii. Spelts first began thrift store shopping to save money and because clothes, especially jeans, have not always fit properly. “The stores don’t always sell what is the correct size for every body type, and it can be expensive,” she says, “Saving money through making my own clothes has become a blessing.” Spelts adds, “I can go to DI, Goodwill, or Savers and buy 10 pairs of jeans for the price of one pair from Pacsun or American Eagle.” Spelts has been thrifting for about eight years now. She says, “I have always loved clothes, but growing up, I never loved the store’s clothes, and I never matched the perfect length or width of sizes.” So, Spelts took matters, including jeans, into her own hands. “I would hand-sew them, and it would take hours, but I slowly got really good at fixing them.” As with most things, practice makes perfect. Spelts explains, “I started to make my technique less noticeably ‘taken-in’ and my collection of jeans and shorts that fit me perfectly began to grow. My parents got me a sewing machine, and the process has become so much faster, thanks to them.” A relative newcomer to the thriftshop experience, seventh-grader, Rachel Long, says, “Shopping at thrift stores is not only a good way to save money, it’s a fun way to express yourself through fashion.” She adds, “I love thrifting. I like that I am upcycling something so that it doesn’t end up in the landfill.”
44 WeberCountyConnection.com | July-August 2021
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Rachel Long (left) and Camryn Spelts both enjoy the treasure hunt and savings from thrift store shopping. Camryn sews the jeans she buys to a custom fit. "I never matched the perfect length or width of sizes."
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Long, like Spelts, says she often cuts and frays hems of jeans or adds holes to make jeans fit her style. “I look for the potential in clothes. I say my aesthetic is sort of funky-alt; my mom says it has a 90s grunge vibe. I have a budget, so thrift store shopping is a fun, creative way to save money and make secondhand clothes work for me,” she says. For Long, the process is like a treasure hunt. “I go through a thrift store; I find something I like, and then I’ll move on to build an outfit based on that piece.” Long says she looks for unique finds and wardrobe basics, then adds her own flair. “I found a cool jacket in the men’s section at Savers,” she says. “Don’t be afraid to look around and make the clothes your own.” Both Spelts and Long agree that thrifting takes patience, but they promise, with a little searching, anyone can find cute clothes and save money in the process.
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July-August 2021 | WeberCountyConnection.com 45
FASHION CONNECTION
The Amazing Versatile T-Shirt BY ELIZABETH BECKY HOUGAARD
occasion.
W
hat is our number one go-to in the summer for a comfortable cool top? The t-shirt. It has always been a staple in any summer wardrobe. Especially in this heat! The great thing is that t-shirts have become such a fashion statement that there are thousands of choices now. T-Shirts are more popular than ever. You can make up your own, wear your favorite team’s name, or display your favorite beverage. That concept has been around for a long time; now, it seems that t-shirt fashion has been expanded with more choices than we have ever seen before. They can be dressed up with skirts, vests, or a jacket for evening wear and are perfectly acceptable for a dressy
At Dallas Market, there were more styles and colors than I have ever seen. The vintage style is huge. Favorite causes, lifestyle, and individual preferences are also popularly incorporated into designs. Farm animals, flowers, and as always, the American flag and patriot tees are my favorite. We also love the quirky, humorous, and unique tees that certain designers have put out there. Pretty much all stores have t-shirts, so they are easy to find. Some of our favorites for the ladies are XOXO’s. They have great theme tees with animals, flowers, and flags. We love Cry Baby’s very vintage look. Rodeo Quincy has vintage looks and flowers with so many bold bright colors! American-made Liberty Wear adds a little fun bling or stones to many of their tees. For the guys, we like the Dale Brisby Rodeo Time shirts and the patriotic Howitzer t-shirts. I don’t know about you, but I have more t-shirts in my wardrobe than ever before, and I love it.
(above) EVERY OCCASION T-shirts are perfectly acceptable for evening wear paired with a cute skirt or dressy pants! (left) FOR THE GUYS Vintage and patriotic themes are great options for men
Brands/Styles/Giveaway Farm animals, flowers, humorous, and unique tees are favorites
46 WeberCountyConnection.com | July-August 2021
Shoot me an email if there are any particular styles or brands you’re looking for at RockinHH@gmail.com. For this month’s giveaway, we will be drawing for one male and one female t-shirt, so send those emails! Let us know what you’d like to see in upcoming articles and don’t forget to let us know your size. Here’s to having a great summer wearing amazing and fun tees!
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