Category: Events

As with many elements in the current American climate, the Urban-Rural divide is growing wider than ever. Countryside communities consistently have higher poverty rates, fewer job opportunities and more disabilities that prevent workability. To combat climbing unemployment and urban migration rates, government officials are beginning to think creatively about how to stimulate rural economies, and, true to our Pioneer heritage, the State of Utah is blazing the trail for innovative solutions.

Darin Bushman, county commissioner in Piute County, Utah, was elected to office in one of the smallest, most poverty-stricken counties in Utah. As he evaluated economic strengths and weaknesses, he discovered that while there were very talented people in the county, many were underemployed, unemployed, had dropped out of the workforce, or were geographically bound because a spouse was employed in the county, but there were no employment options for the other potential wage earner.

 

“I sat in my office posting a freelance job offer, and it hit me – why can’t our citizens, with skills to offer, be the ones doing this job rather than someone halfway around the world?” he said. “Our local people can be the ones taking advantage of these online opportunities and marketing their skills outside the bounds of their current geography.”

 

While discussing the idea with the Vice-President of a Utah State University – Extension, the Rural Online Initiative was born to fulfill a simple purpose – educate rural businesses workers on how to qualify for online job opportunities. In March 2018, Governor Gary Herbert signed House Bill 327 to fund the project in an effort to solve the exportation crisis of young adults moving away from rural counties in the State of Utah in search of sustainable employment.

 

The Rural Online Initiative is the nation’s first government-funded remote work education program that strategizes the impact of freelancing, entrepreneurship, and offsite employment to stimulate local economic development. The 1-month certification course teaches participants the skills required to function successfully in a remote work environment. Participants learn everything from effective communication techniques for team collaboration to specific software tools commonly used in telework settings. The course also assists participants in their preparation to find and interview for legitimate remote jobs, bid on online freelance jobs, or start an ecommerce business. By participating in the Rural Online Initiative program, all members of Utah’s workforce can better understand what remote work is, what the dynamics are required in virtual jobs, and what the benefits of this new work model are for workers, businesses, and economies.

 

As the foundation of the Rural Online Initiative, the Master Remote Work Professional certification equips Utah’s rural workforce with education and resources necessary to prepare for, find, and obtain virtual work opportunities. This is accomplished by facilitating workers, businesses, and cities/counties through an online training course and job search that takes about 6-8 hours per week for a month. At the end of their experience with the Rural Online Initiative, participants should be able to enjoy the full benefits of virtual jobs, including:

• Higher Income
• Lower stress
• Advancement opportunities
• Work-life balance
• Extended working age

 

In 2020, the Rural Online Initiative will also be releasing the Master Remote Work Leader certification that will educate businesses on how to convert on-site roles to be remote-friendly. This additional course is designed for business owners and managers and will support the growing demand for virtual jobs, by supporting local entrepreneurship, connecting workers with local virtual job opportunities, and educating businesses on how to update their operational models to be remote-friendly. By participating in the Rural Online Initiative, businesses and organizations should be able to enjoy the full benefits of distributed operations, including:

• Job accessibility and employee retention
• Lower overhead and recruiting costs
• Cultural diversity
• Environmental sustainability
• Natural disaster recovery

 

Based on the projections and desired impact of the Rural Online Initiative, an initial goal was established to enroll 50 participants between October and December 2018, a goal that seemed quite lofty for the initial rollout of a new program that had not been previously offered or marketed. However, the level of interest and support from rural Utah greatly exceeded initial expectations as Program Coordinators began meeting with community members and local leaders. To the delight of the ROI staff, the final number enrolled was almost four times the initial target, with a final number of 190 participants in the first quarter.

Since then, nearly 1,000 rural Utahns have participated in the “ROI” program to learn more about virtual work opportunities and are enjoying significant life changes as a result. One Duschene County resident reports, “This program gives me so much hope. Before learning about the Rural Online Initiative program, I had decided my only option was to leave the county and move to Salt Lake, but I can now see exciting possibilities and opportunities I had not even considered.”

 

To learn more about the Rural Online Initiative, visit remoteworkcertificate.com to find a local Program Coordinator or enroll in the remote work certification programs.

While in many places winter means a halt to recreation and fun, particularly outdoors, in Castle Country winter can mean people can experience the desert, mountains and event the towns in a different and exciting way.

Around the area the desert presents some great possibilities for hiking and other even snow shoeing in some places. Often the days in the San Rafael Swell are warm and perfect for those hikes to places where many people don’t go that time of year. Solitude in the winter in the desert is the rule, not the exception.

The mountains surrounding the area provide a lot of opportunities for cross country skiing and snowshoeing as well. In addition those with snow mobiles can find dozens of trails with fantastic views of the winter scenes that show themselves only during the months of January and February. Particularly popular are the trails around the Huntington Canyon area that connect to Joe’s Valley in Emery County.

Also no one should ever forget about the great ice fishing that goes on during the winter at Scofield Reservoir and Joes Valley Reservoir either. They are two of the best spots in the state for winter anglers to enjoy their sport.

But fun isn’t all about being out in the snow and the wilderness. Cities and towns in the area keep people busy with many events.

Helper, in Carbon County continues during all the cold months with their new tradition of First Friday. On January 3 the town comes alive with music as the art galleries will be open with local musical talent playing in the venues along Main Street.

On January 11, Price City will hold one of its every other month celebrations called Music, Meals and Mingle on Main. Because of the short days with darkness falling so early this event will be moved from the usual Thursday date to that day from noon to 4 p.m. Called the Winter Fest, Main Street will be shut down to any through traffic during the event. Once again the street will be filled with food trucks of every kind. Also, as entertainment for the kids, there will be the Bouncy Castle and a Kid’s Corner with things to do. In addition there will be an ice fishing event for youngsters. The program will also feature some winter sports information and displays along with ice block races with the Price City Council members participating. Businesses along Main Street will be open during the event for those who attend and want to browse the shops.

On February 13 Collin Raye will be live in concert at the Carbon County Recreation Center and Fairgrounds. Originally from De Queen, Arkansas, he was one of the true hit makers of the 1990’s. Collin still continues to crank out soulful, heartfelt material with the honesty and richness that is signature to his vocals alone.

These and many other activities are taking place this winter in one of the best places to live and work, Castle Country.

People often look for a place to go as the weather transitions from the hot days of summer to the cooler days of fall and beyond to the beginnings of winter. While many head south to places like Arizona and Nevada to spend some time there is a place that is usually temperature right as well as beautiful in the mid to late fall. That place is Castle Country.
While the mountains and bookcliffs that surround Castle Country are splashed with color and autumn glory, the deserts have forgotten their 100 degree plus temperatures of the past summer and now settle into comfortable and amazing places to see and recreate.
While the San Rafael Swell is growing in popularity every year, there are places in that region that see so few people, that they can be counted on one hand per day during this time of year. The flora and the fauna are in abundance as plants go into their colder weather mode and animals prepare for the winter. Everything from Mountain Sheep to wild horses can be seen as the meadows and flats turn into a variety of colors.
But the past is where the Swell and other areas in Castle Country shine in the fall. It is a good time to hunt for out of the way petrogylphs and pictographs, with hiking temperatures during the day in 60s and lows at night in the upper 30s or low 40s. And they are not hard to find. Some that can be walked to in a few minutes or an hour seem like they have been hidden from the world until the hiker herself or himself discovers them. And one can ask, “Am I the first” and not be too far off at times.
There are also old mining camps, railroad grades and improvements as well as many kinds of sights to see that ancient peoples created in this seemingly inhospitable environment.
The area offers many nice motels and accommodations for those that don’t want to rough it too much, and cities like Price, Castle Dale and Green River are welcoming places.
So come and see our backyard, the one where we recreate and live in. You might just decide that it is a place where you would like to live too.

One of the fastest growing sports in the country is that of “bouldering” or the climbing of rocks for the challenge and fun of it. And one of the best places to do this is in Emery County in Joe’s Valley.
Each year for the last four years this festival has been held with all kinds of activities and educational programs concerning the sport. This years festival runs from September 26-29.
One exciting thing that will go on with the festival is the fact that American Ninja Warrior Champion, and the author to the original Joe’s Valley Guidebook, Isaac Caldiero will be joining the festival for several events over the weekend. His appearance will kick off with a B4 Adventure Ninjaline course and poster signing at the Emery County Recreation Center.That will happen at 5 p.m. on the first day of the festival. This event is free to everyone.
That evening to enter into Autumn with a hayride ghost tour starting at 8 p.m. This year the Emery High Theater Department will be leading the tour. Catch the ride at the Emery County Recreation Center.
On Friday find out what makes Joe’s Valley one of the top bouldering areas in the world. Geologist Paul Anderson from Braun Lapidary, Castle Dale’s rock shop, will take the group and head up to the canyons to shop talk about rocks. The tour will last around two hours.
At 2 p.m. enjoy a Yoga session in Orangeville City Park and then at 3 p.m. learn how to make beef jerky. At 4:30 p.m. find out what rodeo is all about by learning how to use a lasso, ride a horse, and get tips on how to ride a steer. At 6 p.m. see the Cowboy Games which will feature everything from chicken chases to hide races.
At 9 p.m. end the day with tales of Castle Country and its development into the climbing area it is today. At the same time Petzl Night Bouldering will take place. The company wants people to test out some of their newest lighting equipment out at the boulders! Meet at the Emery County Rec Center lawn to carpool to New Joe’s.
Saturday is filled with some of the same events as well as testing out equipment, artisan Pizza making, climbing meet ups and clinics, as well as many other activities.
Many of the events are free to the public, while others require a festival ticket or donation for a single event. Tickets can be purchased at Cup of Joes in Orangeville.
For more information and an entire schedule for the weekend go to https://www.joesvalleyfest.com/schedule.html?mc_cid=0de1c8a905&mc_eid=706e5e1d69

This event is basically the last celebration of summer in the Castle Country area. This year the party will start on Saturday, September 15 and will run intermittently through the next weekend.

The first day of the event will include a car show and cruise, called the Melon Cruise that starts at 10:30 a.m. It takes place at Anderson City Park in the middle of the desert town.

On Friday, September 20 there will be a Three-Man Scramble Tournament at the Green River State Park Golf Course and at noon vendors will begin selling their wares in the park. A carnival also begins at that same time. That afternoon there is a softball tournament and that evening square dancing will take place from 7 to 10 p.m.

The next day there is a 5K called the Melon Run will take place at 6:45 a.m. and from 7 to 9 a.m. a Scout Pancake Breakfast will be served at the City Park pavilion.

The heart of the event begins at 9 a.m. with the Melon Carving competition as well as the Melon Days Parade at 10 a.m.

Other events at different times during the day are the Chicken Show, the Melon Day Fun Shoot, performances by the Melon Days Queen and Princesses, various Melon Games and a John King Concert in the park. The day ends with Square Dancing in the park.

Another favorite thing for people to do is the melon tasting event in the park that goes on all day. This is a chance to savor some of the best melons grown in the west.

It’s a great time and a great way to end the summer and usher in the fall.

For more information go to http://melon-days.com/

On August 16-19, one of the biggest attractions of the year will take place in Helper, Utah, The Helper Arts, Music and Film Festival. Begun as a small festival that featured Plein Air painting, a few in town galleries, some entertainment and a few vendors in the early 1990s, the festival has grown to be a major event combining art of all kinds.

The festival has a rich history of bringing the arts to not only Helper, but surrounding areas as well. The Helper Arts, Music and Film Festival’s mission is to encourage art and culture in Carbon County, support the local artist community, stimulate and enrich the local economy through the arts, and to educate and give access to art for everyone, regardless of income level or art experience. The festival endeavors to not only put on a great festival, but to bring the arts to the community throughout the year as much as possible.

Supported by a committed group of volunteers, the festival continues to evolve in order to provide a well-rounded experience to all patrons including but not limited to music, visual arts, photography, ceramics, woodworking, film and performance art. Over the course of the third weekend in August every year, patrons can enjoy great music, catch a film and purchase fine art! The festival’s original purpose was focused on revitalizing Main Street and supporting local artisans. That focus has expanded into bringing art to local area schools via the SmART Program. Working closely with the Carbon School Board, a theme is selected and various students are selected to participate in creating art works displayed during the festival.

The event also includes a car show on Saturday, August 18.

This years entertainment on stage includes Amber-Rae Scott, Angela Murray, Kate MacLoed, Kelly Volgrinec, Mariachi De Mi Tierra, Megan Huber, Natural Causes, Quicksand Soup, Shuffle, The Deltaz and Wild Flower Moon among others. Entertainment is spread over all the days of the festival. Along with this is a competition called Helper Idol, which is modeled after American Idol and that returns this year after a short hiatus.

The Rio Theater will present many movies and documentaries that vie for prizes, many of them locally produced.

Art of course is the heart of the festival with galleries spread all over downtown Helper open as well as vendors downtown. A gallery stroll takes place the first evening of the festival with galleries providing drinks and dessert items.

Plays include the Pirates of Penzance ( Castle Valley Acting Company) and A Midsummers Night Dream by the Grassroots Shakespeare Company.

Many other activities and events will be taking place over the course of the festival. For more detailed information go to http://helperartsfestival.com/schedule/

Each year on Independence Day Castle Country celebrates its energy heritage with an event called Energy Days that is held at the Carbon County Fairgrounds at 450 South Fairgrounds Road in Price.

Beginning on July 4 everyone is invited to attend starting at 5 p.m. There will be free hot dogs and Cold Stone Ice Cream to the first 1000 guests.

The event will feature a Kid’s Corner, a cornhole tournament, music. food and a coal shoveling contest, that is always a big hit with the large crowds that attend.

This event is sponsored by the Southeastern Utah Energy Producers Association to help promote a better understanding of the energy industry and its place in our modern society.

At the end of the evening (after it gets dark) a huge fireworks display will take place.

For more information go to www.castlecountryevents.com

Each year the Utah State University Eastern Prehistoric Museum in Price holds a Family Day. This year that will take place on May 11 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Prehistoric Museum creates understanding and appreciation of natural and cultural processes that formed the geologic, fossil and prehistoric human records found in eastern Utah. They do this through educational and interpretive programs based upon academic research, preservation programs, authentic exhibits, and the creative efforts of the staff and community.

Family Day features free admission and children’s activities from 10 a.m. through 2 p.m. This will include making hand puppets of prehistoric animals and learning ancient crafts such as cordage, split twig figurines and slate drilling for jewelry making.

There is also a new exhibit in the special exhibitions gallery which is called Making Sense of Archaeology. In it are many 3D printed touch artifacts from Utah history.
In the Paleontology Hall there are two new pterosaurs hanging above one of the museums first dinosaur exhibits, the Allosaurus. There are also several exhibits that explore Jurassic dinosaur life stories including eggs, growth and injuries. In addition there is also a new crocodile discovery.

In the afternoon Kevin Jones and Layne Miller will talk about their new book “Standing on the Walls of Time: Ancient Art of Utah’s Cliffs and Canyons.”

At lunch time a Waffle Love food truck will be in the parking lot for those with an appetite.

On April 18 one of the premiere sites for viewing the extraction of dinosaur fossils will open for the season in Emery County.

TheCleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry contains the densest concentration of Jurassic-aged dinosaur bones ever found. Over 12,000 bones (belonging to at least 74 individual dinosaurs) have been excavated at the quarry. Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry has helped paleontologists learn a great deal about the Jurassic period, yet the site presents at least as many mysteries as it helps to solve. Curiously, more than 75 percent of the bones come from carnivores, primarily Allosaurus fragilis. With more than 46 individual specimens of Allosaurus, scientists have been able to deduce much about how Allosaurus aged and compare individuals to better understand intraspecies diversity. Yet the sheer density of bones proposes many questions. How did the carcasses of so many animals end up in one place, and why are most of them meat-eaters? While many good hypotheses have been presented, they all still have major flaws – the mystery has yet to be solved.

The quarry is located in the San Rafael swell and the roads are dirt and gravel much of the way. However they are well maintained and any vehicle can pass over them. Be careful because they can be slippery when wet.

To get to the quarry from Price take Hwy 10 south to the Cleveland/Elmo turnoff and follow the signs. The last 12 miles are on a graded, unpaved road.

To get there from Huntington follow Hwy 10 north and take the Cleveland turnoff. In Cleveland, go south toward the San Rafael Swell and follow the signs. The last 13 miles are on graded, unpaved road.

Carbon County is known in Utah for having one of the best Motocross tracks in the state. On March 30 and 31 that track and the surrounding area will become The Drunkards Wash Grand Prix on Saturday with the track lighting up on Sunday for Motocross Racing.

These races attract people from all over the region. This race will feature all classes of dirt bikes and ATV/UTVs. The motocross track and Grand Prix start will take place at the Fairgrounds in southwest Price. The purse for the two day race is $2000.

Sign up for racers starts on Friday night at 6 p.m. and will also take place on Saturday morning from 6 a.m. until noon. Racing will start that morning with dozens of riders competing.

The Sunday MX race will start right after the practice rides are done. Those start at 8 a.m.

The gate fee for spectators in $5.

For more information on the race call 435 650 1515.

Come to a day of exciting racing with all the spills and thrills of dirt machines at their finest.