Brenn Hill brings a little Nashville back home with him to Weber County.

The Western Star of Weber County: Brenn Hill

By Jenny Goldsberry

Brenn Hill was a student at Mount Ogden Middle

School when his English teacher suggested he submit something to an upcoming youth literature contest. This was at the peak of his interest in riding and writing. In class, they had just studied poets like Robert Frost and Robert Service. Brenn had recently returned from a horseback hunting trip with his father and uncle. They had brought a cassette player and a single album: Cowboyography by Ian Tyson. As he listened to the songs by the campfire, it sparked a fire inside him to write songs of his own. So, he wrote and submitted a poem and a song to the contest. As a result, both of his pieces won awards. From there, he took them to the Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nevada, to read them aloud to the crowd. That was just the start of Brenn’s writing career. After graduating from Weber State University, Brenn took off for Nashville, Tennessee, to pursue a songwriting career. He had already written some songs with his college garage band. However, in Nashville in the 90s, most Western songwriters were going the way of popular country music. Brenn was pushed to write to the demands of the industry. In the midst of his displeasure with his new gig, he saw an interview with Billy Joel. The pop star claimed, “The best songs come from life.” “I’m not living here,” Brenn realized. “When I’m out West, I’m alive.” He knew he’d won the lottery being born in Ogden, Utah, so he moved back to the area. His wife, Sylina, married him shortly before they moved to Hooper. They knew they had the best of everything. “I’ve been able to have a horse in my backyard, drive an hour to ski, or drive an hour to hunt,” Brenn said. “I have this giant pool of inspiration I can

“When I’m out draw on constantly all my life. Why would I not West, I’m alive...I’ve write about it?” been able to have Brenn really did write about his life. A few a horse in my years after the move, community leaders backyard, drive an announced the construction of Legacy hour to ski, or drive Highway. He strongly opposed the highway at an hour to hunt,” the time. He wrote his album “Endangered” to express his frustration. As a young man, he remembered pheasant hunting there. The family who let their cattle roam there was a personal friend of his. Years earlier, his grandfathers had farmed in west Layton. Areas similar to Legacy Parkway used to sound like music to Brenn. One could hear the calls and chirps of many animals. Now, the natural sounds are replaced with cars zooming on the freeway. Then, some years later, his son, Briggs, was diagnosed with brain cancer at two years old. He first caught on to Briggs’ symptoms when Briggs didn’t enjoy riding their family horse, Jessie, anymore. As Briggs recovered and began horseback riding again, Brenn took the inspiration and wrote songs for his fifth album, Equine. Three songs commemorated their cancer struggle and the healing power of horses. Now, he’s won several awards not only for his songwriting but his singing too. He also produces his own music now, having learned from his previous phenomenal producers. Among them is Eddie Schwartz, who produced for Pat Benatar, the Doobie Brothers, Joe Cocker, and more. There are fifteen albums to discover at brennhill.com.

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FARMHOUSE Life Changes

BY RACHEL BITTON

One of my favorite Brenn Hill songs includes the line “It’s said life is that which happens while making other plans.” The older I get, I realize how true this line is. As the new year rings in, it is easy to make goals and plan, but I like to reflect on how life changes. A few years ago, I decided it was finally time to get my real estate license. I thought about it off and on for about 10 years. I was used to sitting at a computer with the kids during my jail sentence (I mean homeschool during COVID shutdown), so I was prepped and ready for hours behind a computer learning real estate.

After being a stay-at-home mom, returning to the society of working adults was a bit of a shock – adults can’t be bribed with fruit snacks, and there were no songs about potty training. It was nice to feel like an adult again, and I really enjoy real estate. It is so fun helping people find their perfect home or navigate the stress of selling a home. I didn’t account for how much I would rely on my husband for his help and knowledge in the real estate space. It’s super handy to have an electrician/general contractor in my back pocket. He joins my cooking segments on my Facebook live show to give advice. I also talked him into playing ridiculous games with me while making total fools of ourselves on the internet. Bless that man! The more I worked, my goal became retiring my husband from his ‘side work.’ My husband not only had a full-time job managing my wild requests and bad animal decisions, but he also had a real full-time job and owns an electrical/general contracting company too. To put it mildly – he was stretched very thin. Our plan was to always retire from the side work…this is where life changes. We are now fully self-employed. Being self-employed with kids, a funny farm, house, jobs, etc. means that there is never-ending juggling going on. Sometimes, I get the kids ready for school and ship them out the door, sometimes, my husband does. It really is a team effort to keep everything afloat. Recently, there were a few weeks where I never washed a dish. My husband stepped in to load the dishwasher while the kids took turns unloading. It seems like a small thing, but it was so helpful to me to have just one thing taken out of my juggling act. It’s important to us to teach our kids that everyone in the family can help, no matter what the job is. This was never our plan, but here we are, enjoying this life change. I hope this means my husband will have more time for some of my projects…like finishing the old grain silo into an outdoor kitchen or buying more mini cows.

"Being self-employed with kids, a funny farm, house, jobs, etc. means that there is never-ending juggling going on."

DOIN' IT RIGHT

Outstanding Local Kids

BY KRIS BLANKMAN

Jamie showing off both of her 4H Projects

Photo by Sher Elliott

Masen snags a nice buck during bow season.

Photo by Konner Thomas

Jamie Elliott

Jamie Elliott says that the day her teacher asked her if she wanted to show a sheep was one of her most life-changing experiences. Jamie’s 4th-grade teacher, Kari Breeding, made the offer, and thanks to the Breeding family and hard work, she has won multiple showmanship and market classes with her sheep and ended her 4H career with the Grand Champion lamb at the 2021 Weber County Fair. Jamie also found success showing pigs, thanks to the Holden Steed family and 4H group. Jamie graduated from Fremont High School this past spring, where she was a member of the FFA and played soccer. She is currently a student at Weber State, pursuing a degree in Elementary Education. I’m sure this infectiously positive and happy young lady will be one of those lifechanging teachers. She plans to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in March. Giving credit to 4H and an amazing community for enriching her life is something Jamie shares, but she also has changed lives! When asked what her most meaningful experience in 4H was, she said it was setting a goal to win the 4H buckle in memory of Lindsy Westergard. Lindsy, a fellow 4H youth, lost her life in a tragic accident. Jamie put in many hours and lots of work that year and accomplished that goal; she presented that buckle to Lindsy’s family. I have no doubt this inspiring young woman will accomplish all she sets out to do!

Masen Thomas

Responsibility and caring are just a couple of the life lessons Masen Thomas has learned from 4H. A member of the Holden Steed Winners Circle 4H group, Masen, along with his two younger brothers, shows goats. This polite and articulate young man is a junior at Fremont High School and resides in Farr West. He enjoys auto class and math and loves to hunt and fish. He harvested a buck this year on an archery tag. Masen works for his dad at Cutting Edge CNC and hopes to one day take over this business. When asked what he likes best about 4H, Masen declared how much he appreciates learning responsibility. He also enjoys all the clinics that 4H offers, whether it be different livestock or helping younger members learn about showing goats. He enjoys helping set up before the Weber Fair and getting to be involved in all aspects of 4H life. Masen has been successful in 4H with Showmanship and Reserve Grand Champion titles under his belt in the last few years. He enjoys the animals and says that he, “connects with animals more than people.” After high school, he would like to remain in the family business and have some land and a small farm. It is not lost on this bright young man that homes are replacing many of the agricultural fields. They say a country boy can survive, and there is no doubt this amazing young man will not only survive but will successfully thrive!

Happy New Year from the Weber CTC

As the New Year begins, we find ourselves making resolutions to lose a few pounds, keep a journal, and many other things. Here at Weber Communities That Care, would like to share our resolution for 2022.

Let’s connect.

We would like to encourage you to take time and reconnect with family, friends, and neighbors.

Connect

Friends: Give them a call and ask how they are doing. Perhaps, share a treat with them. Family: Sit down and eat dinner together at least once a week to talk, laugh.

Connect

Neighbors: Take a moment and get to know a neighbor.

Connect

At the Weber CTC, we are also looking for connections and hope that we can connect with our community. Please get to know the Weber CTC, become a part of the Weber Communities That Care Coalition. Joining Weber Communities That Care will help bring awareness of substance misuse and mental health to our community.

CHECK US OUT:

Instagram: @WeberCTC and @WeberCTCYouthCouncil on Facebook/Instagram! Website: www.weberctc.org/