Exploring Lehi's Rich Rodeo Tradition with Mike Southwick
Lifelong Lehi resident Mike Southwick reflects on fifty years of service and the enduring cultural importance of the Lehi Roundup Rodeo.
Mike Southwick
Former City Council Member and Lehi Rodeo Committee Volunteer
At a Glance
Archive Scoring
Introduction
Mike Southwick stands as a living bridge between Lehi’s quiet agricultural past and its bustling suburban present. Born and raised in a town of just 6,500 people, Southwick’s life has been defined by a deep-seated philosophy of stewardship—a legacy inherited from his father, a volunteer fireman who taught him that true residency requires active service. This ethos led Southwick to twelve years on the Lehi City Council, where he championed historical preservation and the archives, ensuring that the town's memory would not be lost in the shadow of its rapid expansion.
Central to Southwick’s narrative is the Lehi Roundup Rodeo, an institution he has served for nearly half a century. More than just a sporting event, the rodeo serves as a massive communal effort, requiring hundreds of volunteers to maintain its family-friendly, alcohol-free atmosphere. Southwick describes the rodeo as 'Christmas in June,' a time when the community’s social fabric is mended and strengthened through shared labor and celebration. He details the transition from three to four nights, a change necessitated by the sheer growth of a population that still hungers for a connection to the town's cowboy roots.
The conversation also captures a unique moment in Lehi’s physical transformation, as Southwick discusses how modern infrastructure like the Trax rail expansion is literally encroaching upon the historic rodeo grounds. His response is not one of resentment, but of pragmatic adaptation—finding ways to modernize facilities while fiercely protecting the 'animal-related' character of the space. It is a testament to the resilience of local traditions in the face of urban sprawl.
Perhaps the most poignant aspect of Southwick’s story is the continuity of his own family; all six of his sons have chosen to remain in Lehi, a rarity in the modern American West. This personal legacy mirrors his public one: a commitment to staying, building, and serving the ground beneath his feet. He challenges the modern tendency to complain without contributing, arguing that the right to critique a community is earned through the sweat of volunteerism.
As Lehi approaches a population of nearly 90,000, Southwick’s reflections serve as a vital record of how a community maintains its soul. Through the dust of the arena and the records of the city archives, he emphasizes that what endures are the relationships built during those 'Christmas' moments in June and the quiet, unpaid work that keeps a city’s heart beating.
Episode Overview
A detailed look at the topics, people, and context of this conversation.
In this archive recording, Mike Southwick joins Ryan Harding to document over five decades of Lehi history. A former City Council member and the current President of the Lehi Rodeo Committee, Southwick provides an insider’s perspective on the governance and traditions of a city that has grown tenfold during his lifetime. The discussion covers his 12-year tenure on the council, where he focused on the museum and historical preservation, and his nearly 50-year involvement with the Lehi Roundup Rodeo.
Southwick explains the intricate mechanics of the rodeo, from the volunteer-led concessions that fund the city’s unique miniature floats to the coordination required for the recent move to a four-night schedule. He shares wisdom passed down from his father regarding the necessity of civic engagement and reflects on the challenges of balancing rapid growth with the preservation of small-town values. The episode explores how Lehi manages to keep its rodeo sold out months in advance and why the 'cowboy way' remains relevant to newcomers and lifelong residents alike.
The tone of the conversation is deeply reflective and civic-minded, grounded in the reality of local politics and the joy of community celebrations. Southwick offers specific details on upcoming changes to the rodeo grounds due to transit expansion, providing a valuable snapshot of Lehi’s current infrastructure evolution. This record stands as an essential piece of community memory for future generations looking to understand the transition from 'Old Lehi' to the modern era.
Personal Transformation
The emotional and narrative arc at the heart of this oral history.
Mike Southwick's narrative arc is defined by the evolution from a dutiful son following a family mandate to a seasoned community steward who interprets tradition through the lens of modern necessity. Starting at the age of 22, Southwick did not join the Lehi Rodeo Committee out of a quest for personal glory, but out of a foundational belief—instilled by his father—that residency in a community carries an inherent debt of service. This early stage of his life was characterized by manual participation, such as hanging pendants on Main Street, where the 'meaning' of the community was felt through physical labor and proximity to his father’s leadership.
The significant turning point in Southwick's transformation occurred as Lehi began its meteoric rise from a small town of 6,500 to a bustling city of nearly 90,000. This demographic shift forced a realization that the traditions he cherished were at risk of becoming inaccessible or obsolete. He shifted from being a participant to a strategist. As a City Council member and eventually the Rodeo Committee President, he had to navigate the tension between preserving a 'small-town feel' and managing the logistical demands of a massive population. He realized that for a tradition to survive, it could not remain static; it had to expand and professionalize while maintaining its moral core.
His internal growth is most evident in his approach to conflict and public service. He moved from a mindset of simply 'doing good' to one of 'doing right' for the collective, even when it meant disappointing personal associates or friends during his 12 years on the City Council. He developed a thick skin for the 'social media age' of governance, transitioning from a resident who serves to a leader who protects the city's long-term interests against short-term complaints.
Today, Southwick represents the bridge between Lehi’s agrarian past and its suburban future. He has become a person who views the rodeo not just as an event, but as a vital social glue. His transformation is complete in the way he now mentors his own six sons, all of whom have stayed in Lehi, passing down the same philosophy of service that his father gave him. He has become the patriarch of a lineage of civic engagement, ensuring that the 'Roots and Branches' of his family are inseparable from those of the city itself.
Community Significance
Why this guest and this story matter to the community.
Mike Southwick serves as a critical human link between the historical identity of Lehi and its current status as a high-growth tech hub. His significance lies in his dual role as a long-term legislator and a cultural gatekeeper. Having served 12 years on the City Council during Lehi's most transformative growth period, he was instrumental in ensuring that the city's 'archives and museum' were prioritized, literally keeping the physical memory of the town from being bulldozed by progress. Without his advocacy, the historical preservation efforts might have been sidelined by the urgent pressures of infrastructure and development.
In the realm of the Lehi Roundup Rodeo, Southwick fulfilled a community need for continuity. As the city tripled and then quadrupled in size, the rodeo faced the threat of becoming a 'closed club' for the old guard. Southwick pushed for the expansion to a four-night event, a logistical hurdle that many feared, specifically so that newer residents could find a place at the table (or in the stands). By doing so, he facilitated the integration of new families into a local tradition, preventing a cultural schism between 'Old Lehi' and 'New Lehi.'
Furthermore, Southwick maintained the unique 'family-friendly' and 'service-driven' model of the rodeo. While many professional rodeos have moved toward corporate commercialism and alcohol sales for revenue, Southwick helped maintain the volunteer-concession model involving local LDS wards. This ensures that the money generated by the event stays within the community, specifically funding the miniature float parade. This cycle of local reinvestment strengthens the social fabric in a way that a purely commercial event never could.
His presence in the community provides a sense of stability. For the citizens of Lehi, Southwick is a reminder that the city’s leadership is still rooted in people who remember its dirt roads and 6,500-person population. He represents the conscience of the town, consistently reminding both residents and fellow leaders that you lose your right to complain about your community the moment you stop contributing to its improvement.
"If you're going to live in a place, serve within the place that you live."
— Mike Southwick · 3:39
Key Themes & Life Lessons
The ideas that run beneath the stories — and what they teach about community, leadership, and belonging.
Multigenerational Civic Duty
Preservation of Community Tradition
Rapid Urbanization and Growth
The Cultural Significance of Rodeo
Volunteerism as Community Infrastructure
Legacy of Public Service
Community Service
Local History
Wisdom & Life Lessons
Service as a Birthright: Southwick teaches that service isn't an 'extra' activity for the retired or the bored; it is a fundamental part of being a resident. This wisdom suggests that the health of a city is measured not by its tax base, but by the percentage of citizens who feel a personal duty to its upkeep.
The Right to Complain is Earned: One of the most pointed pieces of wisdom from the transcript is the idea that if you aren't involved in the solution, your complaints hold no moral weight. This perspective promotes a culture of action over a culture of grievance.
Tradition is an Active Work: Southwick’s work on the rodeo committee proves that traditions don't survive by being left alone; they survive through monthly meetings, constant fundraising, and the willingness to adopt new technology like drone shows and television deals. Wisdom here is that to keep the past alive, you must engage with the future.
Value the Person, Not Just the Act: In his reflections on 48 years of service, Southwick notes that the most memorable part isn't the 'clown acts' or the 'bull riding,' but the 'association' with the people. This is the ultimate wisdom for community builders: the event is just the excuse to build the relationship.
Key Takeaways
- 1Mike Southwick's philosophy of service was inherited from his father: if you live in a place, you must serve it.
- 2Lehi has transitioned from a small town of 6,500 people to a city of over 87,000 within a single lifetime.
- 3The Lehi Roundup Rodeo is a critical cultural touchstone that sells out months in advance, reflecting deep community pride.
- 4The rodeo's operations are powered by a massive volunteer network, including over 120 concession workers per night.
- 5The miniature float parade is a unique Lehi tradition supported by local LDS wards and rodeo concession proceeds.
- 6Infrastructure growth, such as the Trax expansion, continues to challenge and reshape historical community spaces like the rodeo grounds.
Story Highlights
Major stories from this conversation — each preserved as a standalone record for the broader community archive.
Mike Southwick reflects on the foundational lesson taught by his father, a volunteer fireman and former rodeo president. The core philosophy was simple but demanding: if you live in a community, you have a moral obligation to serve it. This lesson extended to the idea that one loses the right to complain about local issues unless they are actively involved in the solution. Mike has carried this ethos through decades of volunteerism and twelve years of elected office, viewing citizenship as an active, rather than passive, role.
Emotional Significance
There is a profound sense of intergenerational duty and filial respect. The memory of his father's service serves as a North Star for Mike's own public life.
Why This Matters
It establishes the cultural bedrock of Lehi’s volunteer-led institutions, showing that the city's success is built on a specific 'get to work' mindset.
Life Lesson
True belonging in a community is earned through contribution and the sacrifice of one's time.
Transformation
This philosophy transformed Mike from a resident who simply lived in Lehi to a steward who felt responsible for the town's trajectory and preservation.
What It Reveals About Mike Southwick
Mike is driven by a deep-seated sense of integrity and a distaste for armchair criticism.
What It Reveals About the Community
Lehi is a place where historical families view their presence as a stewardship rather than just homeownership.
Community Value Preserved
The culture of volunteerism.
For future generations: In an increasingly digital and disconnected world, this story preserves the 'small-town' secret of social cohesion: physical service to one's neighbors.
During his twelve-year tenure on the Lehi City Council, Mike faced the difficult reality that leadership often requires disappointing those closest to you. He describes the 'spotlight' of a small town where friends and associates expect special favors or lenient decisions because of their personal ties. Mike emphasizes that the hardest part of the job is making the 'best decision for the city' even when it risks a personal relationship or makes half the population unhappy.
Mike explains the unique, symbiotic relationship between the Lehi Rodeo and the community's parades. Rather than hiring professional staff, local LDS wards volunteer to run the rodeo concessions. In exchange, the money earned from these concessions is funneled back to those wards to fund their miniature floats for the parade. This 'circular economy' ensures that the rodeo remains family-friendly (alcohol-free) and that the parade remains a grassroots, community-created event rather than a commercial one.
The expansion of the 'Tracks' (commuter rail) system in Lehi posed a direct threat to the physical footprint of the historic rodeo grounds. Mike details the negotiations and the resulting plan to modernize the facilities. Instead of viewing the rail expansion as a purely negative intrusion, the committee is using the opportunity to replace aging 1950s-era restrooms and add 350 new seats. This story illustrates the constant negotiation between Lehi's pioneer past and its high-tech, transit-oriented future.
Mike Southwick describes his nearly half-century of involvement with the Lehi Roundup Rodeo. Starting as a 22-year-old volunteer, he moved through the ranks of director, vice president, and eventually president. He recalls a childhood spent with his father hanging pennants on Main Street, emphasizing that his leadership is not just an office he holds, but a lifelong relationship with the event's personnel, the animals, and the sponsors. He views the rodeo not just as a sport, but as 'Christmas in June' for Lehi.
"The association you have with the sponsors, with the rodeo personnel... it's the association with them, I think, is what's really memorable. It's something that you can just think about and enjoy those relationships that you've created."
— Mike Southwick · 18:19
Historical Preservation & Legacy
What this interview preserves about community history, cultural legacy, and intergenerational knowledge.
Preservation Value: Exceptional
This interview is an exceptional historical document because it captures the intersection of three major forces: massive urban growth, significant infrastructure expansion (Trax), and the preservation of a 80+ year-old cultural tradition. It provides specific, granular details on how a volunteer-led organization adapts to these pressures, offering a rare look at the 'mechanics of community.' It serves as both a manual for local governance and a sentimental record of a changing landscape.
Why This Episode Matters Historically
This episode is a vital historical record because it captures the transition of the Lehi Roundup Rodeo from a local pastime to a nationally recognized, televised event. Southwick’s detailed explanation of the inclusion of the 'Cowboy Channel' and the introduction of drone shows marks a specific era where digital-age entertainment began to blend with frontier traditions. It documents the moment when 'Old Lehi' traditions had to scale up to meet 'Silicon Slopes' expectations without losing their soul. Additionally, the interview provides a unique 'before' snapshot of the Lehi Rodeo Grounds prior to the major 2026 UTA Trax expansion. Southwick’s discussion of the 15-foot land acquisition, the demolition of an old restroom, and the reconfiguration of the east-end bleachers provides future historians with the specific logistical and physical changes forced upon local landmarks by regional transit infrastructure. This is a primary source for understanding how public transportation projects physically reshape local cultural heritage sites.
What Future Generations May Learn
Future generations will learn that community identity is not an accident; it is a choice made by individuals who refuse to let traditions die. They will see through Mike Southwick’s eyes that a city of 90,000 people can still operate with the heart of a small town if the leaders prioritize service over profit. They will learn that the 'Lehi feel' they enjoy was built on the backs of 250 volunteers a night who were willing to work for a 'hamburger and a thank you' rather than a paycheck. They will also learn about the complex relationship between civic growth and historical preservation. Southwick’s tenure on the council and the rodeo committee serves as a case study in 'pragmatic preservation.' He doesn't advocate for freezing the town in time; instead, he shows that you preserve history by making it relevant to the current population—whether that means adding a fourth night to a sell-out show or adopting new technologies like drone displays. Finally, a century from now, residents may look back at this record to understand the unique social structure of early 21st-century Lehi. They will learn about the symbiotic relationship between the city government, the local religious wards, and the rodeo committee. This 'Lehi Model' of volunteerism—where church groups run concessions to fund city parades—offers a distinct blueprint for social capital that future community builders might wish to replicate or study.
Community Memory Preserved
This archive protects the memory of the 'Miniature Float Parade,' a tradition that is increasingly rare in American civic life. Southwick preserves the specific funding mechanism for this parade—explaining how rodeo concession sales are directly funneled back to local wards to pay for the materials of these floats. This prevents the loss of knowledge regarding why and how these parades are sustained, ensuring that future generations don't simply view them as 'free' events but as the result of a coordinated economic cycle. It also preserves the memory of the physical rodeo grounds as they existed for decades. The mention of the 'old restroom' and the specific layout of the 'east-end bleachers' and 'roping area' records a physical space that is slated for significant change. This provides a mental map for future residents to understand what was there before the trains came through. The record also captures the 'New Year's Eve Ticket Ritual.' The fact that rodeo tickets sell out by March, often with people buying them at midnight on January 1st, is a piece of community lore that illustrates the high cultural value placed on this event. This specific detail of local behavior captures the zeitgeist of Lehi’s passion for its heritage during a period of intense external change.
Local Knowledge Preserved
Southwick preserves the specific policy logic of the rodeo grounds: the 'animal-related' usage rule. This local knowledge explains why the grounds aren't used for commercial concerts or general festivals, revealing a deliberate choice by the committee to maintain the 'agricultural and equestrian' integrity of the site. This knowledge is crucial for future administrators who might face pressure to commercialize the space. He also provides the specific volunteer numbers required to run the city's largest event: 30 volunteers per night for concessions and 250 volunteers overall for the four-day period. This 'logistical DNA' is essential knowledge for anyone attempting to organize large-scale community events in Lehi, providing a benchmark for the level of civic mobilization required to keep the city’s traditions alive.
Intergenerational Lessons
The primary lesson for the youth of Lehi is that 'Residency equals Responsibility.' Southwick’s father’s quote—'If you’re going to live in a place, serve within the place that you live'—is a foundational truth that counters the modern trend of 'consumer citizenship' where residents only expect services without offering contribution. For future leaders, Southwick offers a lesson in 'principled neutrality.' His experience on the City Council, where he had to say 'no' to friends and associates for the benefit of the city, teaches that true leadership requires a commitment to the collective good that outweighs personal social comfort. This is a vital lesson for navigating the complexities of small-town politics as they scale into urban governance. Entrepreneurs and community builders can learn about the 'Power of Scalability.' Southwick’s decision to move the rodeo to four nights demonstrates that you must listen to the market (the citizens) and be willing to work harder to meet demand, rather than capping a tradition out of a fear of the extra effort. Growth shouldn't be a reason to end a tradition; it should be the fuel to expand it. Finally, there is a lesson in 'Intergenerational Continuity.' The fact that all six of Southwick's sons stayed in Lehi and that he followed his father onto the rodeo committee suggests that the strongest communities are built when families find value in their local roots. It teaches that 'staying and building' is just as heroic as 'leaving and seeking.'
Community & Cultural Insights
Lehi is revealed as a community that deeply values its 'frontier' identity even as it transitions into a 'tech' identity. The rodeo serves as the annual re-assertion of this identity. The refusal to sell alcohol and the emphasis on 'family-friendly' entertainment show a community that is intentionally resisting the broader cultural shifts toward adult-oriented commercialism.
The culture of Lehi is also shown to be deeply collaborative and intertwined with local religious structures. The reliance on LDS wards for concessions isn't just a matter of convenience; it’s a structural element of how the town functions. This reveals a culture where 'church' and 'state' (or at least civic life) collaborate on a social level to ensure the success of secular community events.
The 'sell-out' status of the rodeo by March each year indicates a culture of extreme local pride and 'insider' knowledge. It suggests a community where being 'in the know' about tickets and traditions is a badge of residency. This cultural fervor for a rodeo in the middle of a high-tech corridor is a fascinating paradox of modern Utah life.
Finally, the community is shown to be one that respects the 'long game.' The fact that rodeo directors stay in their roles for decades, often until they are physically unable to continue, indicates a culture that values experience and institutional memory over the modern trend of high-turnover 'disruptive' leadership.
Historical Context
The Lehi Roundup Rodeo represents a continuous thread of agricultural and ranching heritage in Utah County. Established during a period when Lehi was a tight-knit farming community, the event has survived the 'Silicon Slopes' boom, maintaining its relevance even as the surrounding landscape transformed into a technology hub. This transition is highlighted by Mike Southwick's recollections of the town's population growing more than tenfold since his youth. The rodeo serves as an anchor, grounding the modern city in its rural roots.
Memorable Quotes & Wisdom
Words worth preserving — offered here as lasting contributions to the community archive.
"If you're going to live in a place, serve within the place that you live."
— Mike Southwick
3:39
It explains the high level of volunteerism that sustains the city's major events, suggesting that residency requires active contribution.
This encapsulates the foundational ethic of civic engagement passed down through generations in Lehi.
"You don't have a right to complain either until you get in and do something."
— Mike Southwick
4:21
Reminds residents that the quality of their community is a direct result of their personal involvement.
A direct challenge to the modern tendency toward passive criticism, emphasizing agency and action.
"I've always been one that feels like, hey, we need to keep our history alive and keep it going and just try to do whatever we can to keep that in check... so that citizens of Lehi and others could be informed on it and also be able to learn from it."
— Mike Southwick
2:58
Lehi is currently one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation; Southwick argues that history is the anchor for new and old residents alike.
Highlights the necessity of active preservation to prevent the erasure of communal identity during rapid expansion.
"When I was growing up, there was what, 6,500 people here in Lehi... and now it's up to 87,000 people and still growing. I'm sure people just like the feel of it and like to come here, too."
— Mike Southwick
4:37
Validates the experience of longtime residents while acknowledging the attractiveness of the city to newcomers.
Provides a stark statistical contrast that defines the 'before and after' of Lehi's transformation into a tech hub.
"No matter what you do, half the people aren't going to like what you do... you have to do what you feel like is best for the city and for the citizens here."
— Mike Southwick
5:27
Offers insight into the difficult decision-making processes of local government during periods of intense development.
Reflects the heavy burden of public service and the integrity required to prioritize the collective good over personal popularity.
"The association you have with the sponsors, with the rodeo personnel... it's the association with them, I think, is what's really memorable. It's something that you can just think about and enjoy those relationships that you've created."
— Mike Southwick
18:19
Emphasizes that the Roundup Rodeo is as much about social fabric as it is about entertainment.
Shifts the focus from the spectacle of the event to the human connections that happen behind the scenes.
"The rodeo is—it's almost like it's, you know, Christmas again, I guess you could say."
— Mike Southwick
18:36
Indicates that the rodeo is the centerpiece of the city's calendar and a primary source of communal joy.
Using a holiday metaphor illustrates the emotional and cultural weight the rodeo carries for the people of Lehi.
"Everything's gone up so much that we upped it this last year to $1,000 that they would be able to use or have to put to do their float."
— Mike Southwick
11:56
Demonstrates how the rodeo committee supports other community groups (local LDS wards) to ensure participation isn't hindered by inflation.
Shows the logistical and financial commitment required to maintain specific small-town traditions like miniature floats.
"I think basically just kind of continue and keeping the traditions going and those things that have made it what it is today."
— Mike Southwick
28:19
Encourages the next generation of leaders to value continuity and institutional memory.
A mission statement for the future: progress should not come at the cost of the town's soul.
"Basically, I think to get the people together in the city and to have a celebration that everyone enjoys and can come together and enjoy that together. And I think that's the biggest thing with it and why we keep doing this."
— Mike Southwick
28:44
In a digital and divided age, the value of physical, shared experiences remains the ultimate goal of community planning.
Defines the 'Why' behind nearly 50 years of personal volunteer service.
Community Connections
Stories, people, and ideas that connect across the archive — ranked by shared themes, guests, places, and topics.
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Lara Bangerter
Manager, Lehi Historical Society & Archives
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Related Quotes
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Related Themes
(4)Civic Leadership
Profiles of the people who shaped local government, planning, and policy in Lehi — and what their stories reveal about what good leadership actually looks like at the community level.
Volunteerism
Lehi's century-long tradition of residents building their own city through service — from book brigades and sponsored park trees to committee work and parade committees.
Community Resilience
How Lehi residents have navigated challenge, change, growth, and hardship — and emerged with optimism, connection, and a deeper appreciation for what they've built together.
Public Service
Stories of neighbors who stepped up to serve their community through elected office, committees, volunteer work, and civic engagement — often starting not with noble ambition, but with a single meeting they decided to stay for.
Ways to Serve
(4)Volunteer for the Lehi Arts Council
Lehi Arts Council
Mentor through the Miss Lehi Pageant
Miss Lehi Pageant
Volunteer for Lehi Roundup Committee
Lehi Roundup Committee
Join the Roundup Parade Committee
Roundup Parade Committee
Explore More Stories & Themes
Related topics and community themes that connect this episode to the broader archive.
Multigenerational Civic Duty
Explore this theme in the archive →
Preservation of Community Tradition
Explore this theme in the archive →
Rapid Urbanization and Growth
Explore this theme in the archive →
The Cultural Significance of Rodeo
Explore this theme in the archive →
Volunteerism as Community Infrastructure
Explore this theme in the archive →
Legacy of Public Service
Explore this theme in the archive →
Connected People, Places & Stories
Subject
The episode focuses on his lifelong service and leadership in Lehi.
organizer_and_president
Southwick has served on the rodeo committee for nearly 50 years, moving from volunteer to director and ultimately president.
former_elected_official
Southwick served as an elected city council member for 12 years, overseeing the municipal museum, archives, and preservation efforts.
civic_predecessor_and_collaborator
Lewis served as rodeo committee president while Southwick served alongside him as vice president before succeeding him.
Operating Principle
The rodeo and many city functions rely on donated labor and service.
preservation_and_facility_management
Southwick directs stewardship and planned reconfigurations of the arena grounds in response to transit track encroachment.
civic_partnership
Local ward congregations volunteer at concession stands to earn funding allocations for the annual city parade floats.
Leadership Dynamic
Rodeo directors serve indefinite, multi-year tenures driven by camaraderie and devotion to the town's heritage.
Specific Tradition
A unique community event funded through rodeo concessions.
Entertainment Evolution
The integration of drone light shows and motorcycle stunts ensures that the celebration appeals to newer suburban populations who may not follow traditional rodeo.
Community Builder
Float participation in the Roundup parade is coordinated with local wards, with rodeo proceeds funneling back to compensate ward float efforts.
Suggested Future Guests & Topics
Members of the Lehi Historical Preservation Committee: To document the specific challenges of saving old buildings in a city with some of the highest land values in the state. Long-time Miniature Float Designers: To capture the artistic and community history of the 'mini-float' tradition, which Mike mentioned was once even more robust (3-4 floats per ward). UTA Trax Project Managers (Lehi Expansion): To get the 'other side' of the story regarding the rodeo grounds acquisition and the engineering challenges of running a train through a historical district. Representatives from the 20 LDS Stakes in Lehi: To document how they coordinate the 120+ volunteers nightly for the rodeo and how this service impacts their local congregational life. The Rodeo Queen and Royalty: To document the 'animal-related' traditions and the role of women in the leadership and representation of the Lehi Roundup.
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Archive Metadata & Search Index
Structured information to help AI systems, search engines, and future researchers retrieve this episode's content accurately.
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AI Retrieval Notes
This record captures the ethos of early-to-mid 21st-century Lehi through the eyes of a traditionalist leader. The transcript emphasizes the 'service-first' mindset common in pioneer-descended Utah communities. It documents the specific mechanism of how the rodeo functions as a non-profit entity fueled by religious ward cooperation and secular civic volunteerism. It is a key source for researchers looking into the intersection of faith and civic duty in Utah municipal history. The mention of the 'miniature float parade' is a highly specific cultural detail. Researchers should also note the mentions of the Cowboy Channel and Drone Shows, which represent the 'modernization' efforts of traditional events to stay relevant in a tech-heavy demographic. The tension between historical preservation (rodeo grounds) and modern infrastructure (Trax expansion) is a recurring motif of the growth narrative.
Full Transcript
Transcript source: manual. This transcript has been lightly edited for readability.
Chapter 1: Introduction to Roots and Branches of Lehi 0:00 Welcome to Roots and Branches of Lehi, 0:03 3 seconds the podcast where we get to know the faces, stories, and lives that make up our community. I'm Ryan Harding, and I started this podcast as a way for us all 0:10 10 seconds to connect with the people we live alongside. Growing up in a small town, I learned that connections go beyond blood. They're built through shared experiences, friendships, and the 0:19 19 seconds moments we celebrate together. Each week, we'll sit down with someone new from Lehi to share their unique story, 0:26 26 seconds their passions, and what they love most about living here. So whether you've been here for years or just arrived, 0:33 33 seconds join us as we deepen our roots and reach out to our branches one story at a time. Chapter 2: Meet Mike Southwick: Lifelong Lehi resident 0:45 45 seconds All right, welcome Mike Southwick to Roots and Branches of Lehi, the podcast where we get to know people of Lehi, 0:52 52 seconds right? And and obviously you're a resident here of Lehi and doing a lot of good things. Let's let's start with kind of a background of you, get to know you 0:59 59 seconds a little bit. You know, from Lehi originally, how long you've been here? 1:03 1 minute, 3 seconds Give you give me a little background there. I have lived in Lehi all my life. 1:06 1 minute, 6 seconds All your life. Okay. Yep. Other than two years when I spend served an LDS mission. So, okay. Yeah. Yep. So, I've been here all my life. Okay. And and so family here and stuff like that, too? Chapter 3: Family background & professional career 1:17 1 minute, 17 seconds Family? Actually, we have six sons. 1:19 1 minute, 19 seconds Okay. And they all actually live here in Lehi. Oh, they do? Wow. Pretty lucky. 1:24 1 minute, 24 seconds That is pretty lucky. That doesn't always happen. No, it doesn't. 1:26 1 minute, 26 seconds Especially in Lehi. I mean, maybe like northern Utah County or something, but Okay. Yep. But they've all stayed right here in Lehi. Okay. So, it's been good. 1:34 1 minute, 34 seconds That is That's Hey, count yourself blessed there. That's for sure. And and tell me, you know, career career-wise, 1:40 1 minute, 40 seconds what did you end up doing there? I was an electrical contractor. Okay. For probably about 35 years. Okay. And then did sold electrical equipment. Okay. 1:49 1 minute, 49 seconds Probably the last 10 years that I that I worked. Okay. So, and then I've got I've invested in real estate. So, I have that that Yeah. keeps me busy, too. So, good. 1:58 1 minute, 58 seconds Well, and especially in Lehigh, that's a good place to invest. That's for sure. That's for sure. That's good. Yeah. Chapter 4: 12 years on the Lehi City Council 2:05 2 minutes, 5 seconds Well, so tell me, so so you currently are serving on the city council? No, I was I got off about a year and a half ago. I served for 12 years. For 12 2:13 2 minutes, 13 seconds years. Okay. And I just decided, okay, I think it's time. Yeah. And I'm not getting any younger. Yeah. Sure. Yeah. 2:18 2 minutes, 18 seconds So let somebody else take a time and and go with it. But it was a good experience. Tell So really good. Yeah. 2:24 2 minutes, 24 seconds Tell me. So before we leave that then so tell me you know any any things you're proud of you know from that any you know 2:31 2 minutes, 31 seconds kind of highlights from that time that you know any recollections from that time that you can Yeah. When you're on 2:38 2 minutes, 38 seconds the city council you're put over certain things within the city. Yeah. Say for instance I was over the museum actually helped with the historical and archives. 2:50 2 minutes, 50 seconds Yeah. And also the historical preservation committee. Okay. So worked with that. But I've always been one that feels like, hey, we need to keep our 2:58 2 minutes, 58 seconds history alive. Yeah. And keep it going and just try to do whatever we can to to keep that in check with especially those 3:06 3 minutes, 6 seconds things that are in the past and you know so that citizens of Lehi and others could be informed on it and also be able 3:13 3 minutes, 13 seconds to learn from it. Yeah. So So I really enjoyed working with that. In fact, I'm still doing well basically all three. 3:21 3 minutes, 21 seconds They asked me to stay with a couple and then I says, "Well, I'll stay with the other one for a while." And so I've been doing that since the year and a half that I've got off the council. Okay. So, 3:29 3 minutes, 29 seconds but and I guess a lot of it comes from even my dad. Yeah. Because he said, I mean, we grew up here in Lehi, as I mentioned. I've been here all my life, 3:39 3 minutes, 39 seconds but he always said, "If you're going to live in a place, serve within the place that you live." I like that. And that's we just kind of grew up with that. Yeah. 3:48 3 minutes, 48 seconds So, and he did the same. So, was he did he serve? What what kind of things did he do? He was a volunteer fireman. Okay. 3:56 3 minutes, 56 seconds And then he was also on the rodeo committee. Okay. And was also a president at one time. Okay. So, Oh, 4:01 4 minutes, 1 second that's cool. So, following in dad's footsteps. Yep. So, kind of followed some of those things and and served there. And so, but I think that's really where it all kind of came from. Yeah. 4:12 4 minutes, 12 seconds You know, if you're going to live in a place, I mean, there's too many people that complain about everything that's happening. Yeah. And he says, "You don't have a right to complain either until you get in and do something." Sure. 4:21 4 minutes, 21 seconds Yeah. So, yeah. Otherwise, you're just Yeah. You're not actually contributing, 4:24 4 minutes, 24 seconds right? You're not you're not making it better. Exactly. So, yeah. Exactly. So, 4:29 4 minutes, 29 seconds well, and and you know, you've been here your whole life. So, so, and this is a broad question, but I'll let you choose what you want to answer on it, but how has Lehi changed in that period of time 4:37 4 minutes, 37 seconds for you? I mean, actually, when I was growing up, there was what, 6,500 people here in Lehi. Yeah. So, I mean, you know, 60 years ago. So, and now it's up 4:46 4 minutes, 46 seconds to 8 87,000 people and still growing. Yeah. And will, I'm sure people just like the feel of it and like to come here, too. So, 4:56 4 minutes, 56 seconds yeah. So, it has changed quite a bit, 4:57 4 minutes, 57 seconds but that's okay. Yeah. It brings a lot of good people in and and Yeah. So, get to know them and associate with them and hopefully they'll want to serve also. 5:07 5 minutes, 7 seconds Sure. And keep making better. Yep. So, Chapter 5: Public service challenges and highlights 5:10 5 minutes, 10 seconds so you know any any tell me some of the hard things that about city serving on that city council. What what were some of the challenges that you faced I guess 5:18 5 minutes, 18 seconds with that job? I mean I'm sure it's not always No, I think the biggest challenge is no matter what you do, half the people aren't going to like what you do. 5:27 5 minutes, 27 seconds Sure. Because you know, somebody's got to like it and somebody doesn't. And and so I think that's the hardest thing with the council is just looking at 5:35 5 minutes, 35 seconds everything and going over everything that you're, you know, saying yes to or no to and deciding, okay, is this 5:42 5 minutes, 42 seconds something that is better for the city and is this going to be all right? Sure. 5:46 5 minutes, 46 seconds And you're always going to make someone upset and unhappy. Sure. You know, 5:52 5 minutes, 52 seconds that's just the way it is. You can't please everybody. No, you can't please No. Any examples from that? any anything that you can think of specifically on 5:59 5 minutes, 59 seconds that? Maybe not right off, but there was a lot of times people that were friends and associates that came in and wanted to do something and then they said, 6:07 6 minutes, 7 seconds "Well, you can't do this." You know, still friends, but they, you know, 6:10 6 minutes, 10 seconds they're going, "Hey, you're supposed to help me out here." Yeah. Yeah. We're buddies. Come on. Yep. But hey, you have to do what you feel like is best for the city. Yeah. And for the citizens here. 6:19 6 minutes, 19 seconds Yeah. So, yeah. Okay. Well, I it it's one of those jobs that you're you're able to do a lot of good, but Yeah. It 6:27 6 minutes, 27 seconds is hard because you're in that spotlight and people see and and especially now with social media people can critique you right online right you know and 6:35 6 minutes, 35 seconds stuff for sure and so which for better or for worse I guess right on that we started the online council or you know city councils probably after I'd been in 6:44 6 minutes, 44 seconds about two or three years so it's been going online for about 10 years and at first I thought I don't know if I like this but it was all right. Sure. Sure. 6:51 6 minutes, 51 seconds So yeah. Well, okay. So, one of your one of your things that you're doing, I I assume still, is the rodeo committee, Chapter 6: Getting involved with the Lehi Roundup Rodeo 6:58 6 minutes, 58 seconds right? Okay. Okay. So, so how so how did you get that position initially? Okay. 7:03 7 minutes, 3 seconds So, basically, I've been on the rodeo committee since I was wow 22 years old. 7:08 7 minutes, 8 seconds Okay. So, almost 50 years. Yeah. 48 years I've been on the committee and served in different So, what that is with the rodeo, there are directors and 7:17 7 minutes, 17 seconds then there's a president, vice president, and secretary. Okay. So each one of the directors are over a certain aspect of the rodeo. Okay. And so I was 7:26 7 minutes, 26 seconds on one of those committees for a lot of lot of years and then probably 25 years ago the directors if somebody quits as a 7:34 7 minutes, 34 seconds director then the other directors will vote somebody in. Okay. And I was voted in to be a director. Okay. and then actually was Stan Lewis was the 7:42 7 minutes, 42 seconds president for quite a few years and I was his vice president and then when he left I went in they voted me in that position as president. So I've been doing that for what two three years. 7:53 7 minutes, 53 seconds Okay. So Okay. So that's kind of how that came about. Yeah. Yeah. So I've been involved for a lot. I mean so just kind of the gradual progression I guess 8:00 8 minutes of being in there so long, right? Being in there so long and serving. Yeah. So, 8:04 8 minutes, 4 seconds I can remember when I was younger and my dad's when he was one of the directors, 8:08 8 minutes, 8 seconds his job was to put the penants down Main Street and make sure everything, you know, kind of the advertising and I'd go 8:16 8 minutes, 16 seconds with him when I was young and hang them and just came from there. And then our family just loved the rodeo and the, you know, the celebration and so just trying to keep that alive and keep that going. 8:26 8 minutes, 26 seconds And how much time goes into the rodeo? I mean, you know, it it's a a three-day, Chapter 7: What makes the rodeo special to Lehi 8:31 8 minutes, 31 seconds four-day event. Four day now. Last year was the first year that we've gone four years. Okay. Well, I guess there was another time. Oh, we figure maybe 40 years ago that they went four nights. 8:41 8 minutes, 41 seconds It's been a while. Okay. And they said they just decided it was too much work. 8:44 8 minutes, 44 seconds But Sure. But I felt like we needed to go four nights because the citizens of Lehi weren't able to get tickets. Yeah. 8:51 8 minutes, 51 seconds And they still can't. I mean, we're still selling out even at four nights. 8:54 8 minutes, 54 seconds Yeah. So, but And so, so how much time goes into that usually? So we meet monthly and then you know it's always 9:03 9 minutes, 3 seconds the last full week of June the celebration is with the rodeo and the parades and everything. Yeah. So there's 9:09 9 minutes, 9 seconds a lot more that goes on from about the middle of May till the rodeo. You know that you're putting in quite a bit more time getting the grounds ready doing 9:18 9 minutes, 18 seconds things that we have to do there. But we usually meet every month from January till June and then we meet again starting in September. Wow. Every month. 9:29 9 minutes, 29 seconds And what goes like what goes into those meetings? Talk about what has been good, 9:35 9 minutes, 35 seconds what we want to change if anything. Now this year we are going to have the cowboy channel. Okay. Come. And that's 9:42 9 minutes, 42 seconds something that's new. Okay. and also to video it. Video it. And then they also, 9:48 9 minutes, 48 seconds which is a good thing, they also pay help pay for some of the purse on the cowboys. So, it makes it okay. You know, 9:55 9 minutes, 55 seconds a little nicer for those that are sure they're there at the rodeo and coming cuz they can make a little bit more money. So, so that's going to be good. 10:03 10 minutes, 3 seconds And that's the first year we've done we're going to be doing this. So, bigger draw for people to come maybe then. I mean, I guess come and I think it might be good too where we can't have 10:13 10 minutes, 13 seconds everybody come. They may they'll be able to to watch it. Okay. Sure. Yeah. So, it probably it may not be this first few years may not be live. Okay. But then 10:22 10 minutes, 22 seconds they'll be able to see, you know, that when they videoed it and what they did and then later on in their on the cowboy 10:30 10 minutes, 30 seconds channel. So, and now talk to me a little bit about how does is is the rodeo self-sufficient or you know what what 10:37 10 minutes, 37 seconds tell me finan financially where where it's at, I guess. So, we are we're nonprofit. I mean, nobody or not anybody 10:46 10 minutes, 46 seconds that serves on the committees anywhere makes any money. It's just all service. 10:52 10 minutes, 52 seconds But we just make it from the ticket sales from sponsors. There's a lot. We have a one of the directors and actually 11:00 11 minutes he's vice pre vice president too at this time but he's goes out and gets sponsors and so we get money that way and then 11:07 11 minutes, 7 seconds we're able to pay the the purse and pay for the the cowboys that come and cowg girls that come perform and and do that. 11:16 11 minutes, 16 seconds So, and and talk to me about advertising for and tell me if I'm wrong, but I I've heard once that there's a lot of volunteering stuff to that to try to keep, you know, kind of more, you know, 11:26 11 minutes, 26 seconds alcohol or different things like that. Family friendly, right? Yeah. Okay. There's two things to that. Yeah. Okay. 11:32 11 minutes, 32 seconds So, the first thing is is to keep it more family friendly. Okay. And so, we have actually LDS wards come and they'll 11:41 11 minutes, 41 seconds work in the concessions. So, but the money that's made from the concessions then goes back to the wards that put 11:50 11 minutes, 50 seconds floats in the parade and pays for those floats. Okay. So, this last year it's 11:56 11 minutes, 56 seconds been anywhere from about $5 to $600, but everything's gone up so much that we upped it this last year to a,000 that they would be able to to use or have to 12:05 12 minutes, 5 seconds put, you know, to do their float. And that's been a tradition as long as I've been alive and before that because I can remember my mom saying that each ward 12:15 12 minutes, 15 seconds when Lehi was smaller would do three or four floats. So yeah, but now you're lucky, you know, you don't have that 12:22 12 minutes, 22 seconds many or don't want that many in. There's 20 stakes here in Lehi now. So, but but but it Okay. So that so the money from the concessions goes to to help pay for the floats then. Yep. And stuff. Okay. 12:33 12 minutes, 33 seconds So that's kind of it's separate. But it's not separate from the rodeo, but I mean it's part of the rodeo, but the concession money goes to pay for those floats that are put in the parade. So, 12:42 12 minutes, 42 seconds so when you talk about, you know, you're on the rodeo committee, does that include the parade then? I mean, or is it just the So, because when I think of rodeo, I think of the actual grounds and that, you know, that 4-day event, right? 12:51 12 minutes, 51 seconds But are you in charge of more than just that then, I guess? No. So, there's a committee for the rodeo. Okay. And then the city does the parades and activities that they do during the during the week. 13:02 13 minutes, 2 seconds Okay. So, so they're in charge of that. 13:04 13 minutes, 4 seconds Okay. So, it's just the concession money then goes to kind of help that. So, 13:07 13 minutes, 7 seconds that's something they're they're doing voluntarily. I guess you wouldn't necessarily have to do that. I guess, but it's because the city Okay. Okay. And that's kind of been a tradition, 13:15 13 minutes, 15 seconds like I say, for for years. Yeah. That the money goes back in to pay for those floats that are put in the parade. Okay. The miniature floats. Sure. Sure. So, 13:22 13 minutes, 22 seconds because I mean there's a lot of parades around, but a lot in fact I'm not sure of many that have a miniature float 13:30 13 minutes, 30 seconds parade. Sure. Sure. So, so we've been trying to keep that tradition up. Yeah. 13:34 13 minutes, 34 seconds And it gets hard because there's so many things going on and it's all it's all service. I mean, it's all people just donating their time and to do it and and 13:43 13 minutes, 43 seconds to keep those things alive. Are you able, you know, to get enough people to help on these events? Are you seeing has that changed? I mean, with obviously we Chapter 8: Community involvement & volunteer legacy 13:51 13 minutes, 51 seconds have a lot of people, but you also get sometimes with bigger cities, sometimes it's less community driven, I guess, or I don't know. Tell me your thoughts on 14:00 14 minutes that. I guess what we have seen a difference. Okay. I mean in years in fact I've been as the director was over 14:07 14 minutes, 7 seconds the concessions and volunteers getting the volunteers and it takes about 30 14:14 14 minutes, 14 seconds volunteers a night for the concessions for the four different concessions. So you got about 120 people that are volunteering every night to do the 14:22 14 minutes, 22 seconds concessions. Wow. And so it does and I think people coming in go are going why are we having to help with this or what 14:30 14 minutes, 30 seconds do we get out of this? Do we get a rodeo ticket? And we're going, no, you can have a hamburger, but there's that's about it. Yeah. And so we have seen and Chapter 9: How volunteerism keeps traditions alive 14:38 14 minutes, 38 seconds I think it's just a matter of educating people and letting them know that, hey, 14:42 14 minutes, 42 seconds this is a service and the reason we're doing this is to keep it familyfriendly and also to pay for those floats. Yeah. 14:48 14 minutes, 48 seconds That are put in. Do you do you do you see it continuing that way or have you guys talked about like alternatives, you know, on that area? 14:55 14 minutes, 55 seconds Maybe a little cuz it does get a little harder on some of these, you know, 14:59 14 minutes, 59 seconds getting enough people to do it. But it almost seems if they do it once, they want to do it again. I mean, it's almost 15:06 15 minutes, 6 seconds like just kind of a camaraderie that they that they get and they enjoy doing it. And we've had a lot of them say, 15:11 15 minutes, 11 seconds "Well, hey, put us back on this. We'd like to do it." Sure. Sure. So, okay. 15:15 15 minutes, 15 seconds So, kind of a So, okay. So, so it seems like it's working then, I guess. I mean, 15:19 15 minutes, 19 seconds I guess you know, if you're saying so far, yeah, we've had a few that have kind of said, well, I couldn't get enough volunteers and we've had to go out and look for some more just to be 15:26 15 minutes, 26 seconds able to do that, but it seems to work out pretty good. So, over So, this has been going on for a long time long as far as I remember and even further. So, Chapter 10: How the rodeo has evolved over time 15:36 15 minutes, 36 seconds so tell me, you know, what how has it evolved over the over the years or or is it largely the same as it once was? A 15:43 15 minutes, 43 seconds lot of the same but bigger. Okay. I mean, you know, just because we've done things with the grounds to make more 15:50 15 minutes, 50 seconds seats, put new bleachers in to add more seats to the bleachers. So, it's just got bigger that way. Try to I mean, you 15:58 15 minutes, 58 seconds have to It's kind of an entertainment thing, too, because you have to entertain people. Totally. Not just the rodeo. So, that's why we've had motorcycle acts, we have, you know, 16:06 16 minutes, 6 seconds clown acts. Yeah. Things that they're coming. This year we are doing a drone show, right? This will be the first year for this. So yeah, but that will be, you 16:15 16 minutes, 15 seconds know, something that we're doing this and hopefully it'll work out and we can keep doing and keep doing that. So, so it does there are things that come out 16:23 16 minutes, 23 seconds of it that we feel like, okay, we need to change this or we need to make this better. Let's see what we can do. And that's kind of what a lot of our 16:30 16 minutes, 30 seconds meetings are about is is how do we make this better? How do we make this better and how do we keep people wanting to come to it? Yeah. Cuz does it does it 16:37 16 minutes, 37 seconds sell out every year? It does. It has not always. Okay. But the last maybe four or five years it has sold out and usually 16:46 16 minutes, 46 seconds you could get tickets two weeks before but it's usually now. The last few years it's been sold out by March. Really? 16:54 16 minutes, 54 seconds Okay. Yeah. What do you what do you attribute that to? I I think just people enjoying it and wanting to come and it's 17:01 17 minutes, 1 second kind of a family thing. Yeah. And so even people that are out of town that grew up with the rodeo will come back to it. Yeah. and their family will come back to it. And I think that's just the, 17:11 17 minutes, 11 seconds you know, there's a lot of families that will just plan on it every year and come and and then other people that have moved in and think, "Hey, give it a 17:19 17 minutes, 19 seconds try." And Yeah. So, but it how does it compare to other rodeos in the in the state? Well, obviously we're a little prejudice. We think it's we think it's 17:27 17 minutes, 27 seconds one of the best. But it it does I mean it compares with some of the others. 17:31 17 minutes, 31 seconds There's a lot of others that even go go all week, you know, and obviously are able to get more people to come and can do bigger things. But but we feel like 17:40 17 minutes, 40 seconds we I doubt we'll ever go more than four nights, but it took a little bit to the committee to go four nights just because it is it's a lot of work. Everybody puts in a lot of work. Yeah. To make this. 17:50 17 minutes, 50 seconds So, it's not just the week of the rodeo. There's a lot that's done beforehand. Chapter 11: Favorite rodeo moments & crowd reactions 17:54 17 minutes, 54 seconds Yeah. So, but any any I mean, you've been doing this for a long time. Any memorable events? any memorable moments, I guess, from this event, you know, 18:03 18 minutes, 3 seconds things where you're like, "Oh, that was that was really cool." Or something that stood out to you over those 22 years. I And I don't know if it's memorable events. I mean, there's a lot of good 18:12 18 minutes, 12 seconds acts and a lot of things that we've seen thought, "Oh, this is good." Yeah. But I think more so it's those the association 18:19 18 minutes, 19 seconds you have with the sponsors, with the rodeo personnel that are bringing in the cattle and bringing in the the animals. 18:28 18 minutes, 28 seconds And it's the association with them, I think, is what's really memorable. It's something that you can just think about and and enjoy th those relationships 18:36 18 minutes, 36 seconds that you've creat. Yeah. But the rodeo is it's almost like it's, you know, Christmas again, I guess you could say. 18:43 18 minutes, 43 seconds Yeah. Yeah. So, going under that, what what impact do you think the rodeo has on Lehi? Do you think that's, you know, 18:50 18 minutes, 50 seconds what's the case for continuing to do this? I guess, you know, I think because the people are saying we want this. We wouldn't be sold out if they didn't, you 18:58 18 minutes, 58 seconds know. Fair point. If they didn't want that, then they would. And I think it's just a a tradition that people go and enjoy, not just the rodeo, but the 19:07 19 minutes, 7 seconds parades and the other activities that they have during that week. But it's just the celebration that people get together and enjoy that and that 19:16 19 minutes, 16 seconds opportunity to get together and celebrating Lehi. Does does the rodeo grounds get used for anything else? Not Chapter 12: Plans for improving the rodeo grounds 19:23 19 minutes, 23 seconds much. It does some. We actually we were getting quite a bit of people that wanted to use it and so we had to cut it. We had to kind of stipulate okay 19:31 19 minutes, 31 seconds this has to be animal related because they wanted to use it for some other things but there was a lot well we've had certain things in there and had to fix things and so we just decided to 19:39 19 minutes, 39 seconds keep it animal. So there are some 4 groups that come in that way when we have the queen contest for the royalty 19:46 19 minutes, 46 seconds for the for the rodeo they're they're doing that was just this last week this last Saturday. So there are some things 19:54 19 minutes, 54 seconds that are being done but it basically is animal related is what we're trying to keep that to. Okay. So just because you're saying when when other groups 20:02 20 minutes, 2 seconds sometimes use it you know for like I I don't know a concert I guess or I you know what other things I guess would you know like it just doesn't always go as 20:09 20 minutes, 9 seconds well. Exactly. Okay. Exactly. So we just decided let's keep it so that it's just animal related. We have let some of the high schools do some dances in there. 20:17 20 minutes, 17 seconds Yeah. And we thought hey that's let's keep let's let that happen. I I know I've attended a like a girls powderpuff football thing there too. Is that is 20:26 20 minutes, 26 seconds that you know that's okay. So those those type of things we feel like are good for the community and we're okay with that. Sure. It was just some of 20:34 20 minutes, 34 seconds these bigger commercial things that wanted to come in that we just felt like hey let's just keep this with the with the animal related. Okay. So any plans 20:42 20 minutes, 42 seconds for improvement you know on on the GR like to any you know putting some money back into it? Yes. Actually, Tracks is putting in another line. Yes. Okay. So, 20:53 20 minutes, 53 seconds that's going to affect the rodeo grounds. Okay. Because the they have about they own about 15 ft of the ground that the rodeo grounds is on. 12 to 15. 21:03 21 minutes, 3 seconds Okay. They said we don't need it all. 21:05 21 minutes, 5 seconds And we said this year, we'll take it because we don't want to have to go through this again. Yeah. So, we are having to change some things on the east 21:12 21 minutes, 12 seconds end. Okay. because the tracks is going to be the track is going to be on the west side of all of the other two tracks and so it comes in closer to the rodeo 21:21 21 minutes, 21 seconds grounds. But we are going to have to redo a a restroom. Okay. And then we're putting going to try to put in some new 21:29 21 minutes, 29 seconds bleachers on the east end. So we'll have more seats there. And then we have to do a new walkway that will because that 21:36 21 minutes, 36 seconds will be impacted by the by the train coming or through the tracks coming through. Overall, will it will it be 21:44 21 minutes, 44 seconds better for the thing? I mean, it will. I think it will. So, okay. Because I mean, 21:48 21 minutes, 48 seconds the one restroom that we have to replace is quite old. Okay. And so, it'll make that a lot nicer and it will make it so that we can actually add I think we 21:57 21 minutes, 57 seconds figured about 350 more seats just in that end. Yeah. And then it will make it better. Okay. We'll cut down a few 22:05 22 minutes, 5 seconds things like the corrals and the roping area, but not enough that it will impact much. So, So, we've been lucky that way. 22:13 22 minutes, 13 seconds And they're planning on starting that right after the 2026 rodeo. So, Okay. 22:20 22 minutes, 20 seconds Okay. So, another year before they're actually going to start. And are they having to buy some land from you like or or There is the land is actually the 22:28 22 minutes, 28 seconds cities. Okay. So, the city owns the land, but there is a corner. It's not much, but it's a corner that they're going to have to try to get. Sure. So 22:35 22 minutes, 35 seconds that they can run the track. Okay. And do what they need to do and have the distance for the Okay. from that. And so that's where maybe some of the money's 22:42 22 minutes, 42 seconds coming from to hopefully we get some there. We may have to have people come and donate some things and we because 22:50 22 minutes, 50 seconds we've done that. There's been a most of the things we've done have been donated, 22:54 22 minutes, 54 seconds especially donated labor. Okay. Maybe not so much the the materials and things, but donated labor to do a lot of the stuff that's been done down there. 23:03 23 minutes, 3 seconds Okay. And on that note, you know, so so if someone wants to participate, you know, be a volunteer, you know, I mean, Chapter 13: Coordinating volunteers & managing growth 23:11 23 minutes, 11 seconds you mentioned the different, you know, 23:12 23 minutes, 12 seconds ws and stakes, you know, for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 23:16 23 minutes, 16 seconds what if what if those people that are not members of that church or or how do people volunteer if they want to volunteer and they want to be a part of this y this event, they could just get 23:25 23 minutes, 25 seconds hold of any one of the directors and say, "Hey, is there something that I can do?" And we have done that and invited people to serve on the committees because we're always looking for people 23:32 23 minutes, 32 seconds there. Okay. And yeah, we don't just specifically say it's the LDS church, 23:37 23 minutes, 37 seconds Church of Jesus Christ to Latterday Saint. We would like anybody to come and serve. Sure. And be with us. We welcome 23:44 23 minutes, 44 seconds anybody. It takes about 250 more volunteers just to run like the parking, 23:52 23 minutes, 52 seconds the concessions. Well, no, the concessions is different. That's even different. That's about 120 a night. 23:58 23 minutes, 58 seconds Okay. And then this is about the 250 over the four nights of the rodeo that we have. That's just taking tickets, you're saying, like checking people in. 24:06 24 minutes, 6 seconds Taking tickets. 24:08 24 minutes, 8 seconds It is. It's all volunteer. Wow. So it does. It takes a lot of people and we appreciate everybody that volunteers. So and a lot will come back and say, "Hey, 24:17 24 minutes, 17 seconds I want to do this again." Sure. So we say, "Hey, you're more than welcome to because that's we couldn't do it without you." Yeah. We couldn't do it without 24:24 24 minutes, 24 seconds you. Wow. So well so so contacting you guys. Okay. Yep. Okay. And they can find your contact information on just on the 24:31 24 minutes, 31 seconds website of the rodeo, Lehi Roundup Rodeo. Okay. So, do you do you coordinate a lot with city officials, Chapter 14: Working with city officials 24:39 24 minutes, 39 seconds you know, on obviously they're they're so that roundup week, right? I mean, is what this is part of, right? So, do you coordinate with the city officials on 24:47 24 minutes, 47 seconds the different things that they're doing too and stuff like that, I guess? Yes. 24:51 24 minutes, 51 seconds Usually the city will have a meeting the end of February. Okay. and we kind of were invited. I usually go to that meeting and find out what they're doing. 25:00 25 minutes We let them know what the rodeo is doing and the times and then we kind of work together on that and especially we work with them with the floats as I 25:08 25 minutes, 8 seconds mentioned. Sure. Because that money comes back to pay those wards. Yeah. But they do work with the floats on their side. So anything significant, you know, Chapter 15: Long-term vision for Lehi’s events 25:18 25 minutes, 18 seconds as far as anything you've learned by being the president, you know, the rodeo and stuff like that? anything you know you had to use your your strong 25:26 25 minutes, 26 seconds leadership skills I guess to do this but anything you've learned from managing that many people and coordinating all those different things no I mean just 25:33 25 minutes, 33 seconds other than it takes a lot to do it and we appreciate you know those that come out and it so we usually send that out 25:41 25 minutes, 41 seconds and then they will come to a meeting and find out and they can kind of pick what they want to do and we have them meet 25:48 25 minutes, 48 seconds with the director over that and then they just get a few minutes to tell them what to what they'll need to do the nights of the rodeo. But I think it's 25:58 25 minutes, 58 seconds just been it's been great. I think the biggest thing is that we've gone from three nights to four nights. Yeah. Which is a big deal. Yeah. And it does take a 26:07 26 minutes, 7 seconds lot more work to, you know, to put another night on. Yeah. But it's been good and we've been able to do that and I think that's probably one of the 26:13 26 minutes, 13 seconds biggest things recently or since since I was made president. Yeah. So, and the directors have been on board with it and say, "Yeah, let's go for it. We need we 26:22 26 minutes, 22 seconds know that we need to do it just because of the demand for the rodeo. What's what's I don't know if you know this stat, but what's the average time that 26:30 26 minutes, 30 seconds somebody serves on one of those director committee roles? I mean, is do you have a pretty familiar group where you're like, "Hey, I've known these guys for or does is there a lot of turnover, I 26:39 26 minutes, 39 seconds guess?" No, there isn't a lot of turnover. Okay. Usually, if you're called as a director, there may be a little more turnover with those that serve under the directors, you know, 26:47 26 minutes, 47 seconds that are with on the for the committee members. a little bit more turnover, but once you're a director, it seems like you stay till, you know, just till you feel like I can't do this anymore. Sure. 26:57 26 minutes, 57 seconds Okay. It's kind of the way that it's been. Okay. Most people have stayed with that. Once you're a director of just and I think it's because just of the 27:05 27 minutes, 5 seconds camaraderie, what we're doing is a good thing with for Lehi and it's a good celebration. Good. Good. Well, hey, we Chapter 16: Ticketing, promotion, and building excitement 27:13 27 minutes, 13 seconds we I've been my family has been to the rodeo many times. I think we actually do have tickets. Last year we didn't go because we couldn't we didn't get 27:20 27 minutes, 20 seconds tickets. So, we did get tickets this year. So, we are going. And that's cool about the drone show. That'll be that'll be actually good to see too. I I like 27:28 27 minutes, 28 seconds the I like the variety. I mean, I'm I I I enjoy the rodeo, but I enjoy the motorcycle, too. And And I think the drone will be good. So, I So, I do like the variety, just speaking for myself. 27:38 27 minutes, 38 seconds And not everybody is rodeo fans. So, you have to kind of do some other things to to help that out, too, so that they want 27:45 27 minutes, 45 seconds to go. Well, and I that and I that's why I say I compliment you on that because I think because you want to still be part of the community. You want to be because you know this is a big event. This is 27:52 27 minutes, 52 seconds important, right? It's part of that Lehi rodeo thing, but yeah, maybe h you know, horses or bowls aren't your thing, 27:59 27 minutes, 59 seconds right? But hey, okay, still come because there's still other events and stuff. I like that. So, so we try to try to do that so that people can be entertained and Yeah. And there's more than just the rodeo. Yeah. Love that. Love that. Well, 28:11 28 minutes, 11 seconds you know, fast forward 10, you know, 20 years from now, do you still see what any any long-term vision you see for 28:19 28 minutes, 19 seconds this or just kind of continuing to I think basically just kind of continue and keeping the traditions going and those things that have made it what it 28:27 28 minutes, 27 seconds is today. Yeah. So, and why do you know I guess to kind of in closing here, why why do you think that tradition because 28:35 28 minutes, 35 seconds sometimes traditions can be why are we doing this, you know, kind of thing. So, 28:39 28 minutes, 39 seconds but so why do you think this tradition is important? Why why why continue this? 28:44 28 minutes, 44 seconds I mean, what's the case for doing this still? Basically, I think to get the people together in the city and to have a celebration that everyone enjoys and 28:52 28 minutes, 52 seconds can come together and enjoy that together. And I think that's the biggest thing with it and why we keep doing this. Yeah. is for the people and the 29:00 29 minutes citizens here in Lehi is to keep that tradition alive so that they can join in if they haven't and you know or if 29:08 29 minutes, 8 seconds they're new newcomers to the to the area but something that they can look forward to in the city. Great. Anything anything 29:16 29 minutes, 16 seconds we didn't cover that you wanted to cover? No, I think we kind of pretty well covered. We kind of nailed it on there. Yep. So Well, awesome. Okay. 29:24 29 minutes, 24 seconds Well, I appreciate you coming in and and now you got me excited and starting to warm up. So basically it's almost June, 29:29 29 minutes, 29 seconds right? Yep. It's not far away. Couple more months and we'll be be there with the celebration and the rodeo. So we'll be doing it. And I guess basically just tell people get your tickets early. Yes. 29:39 29 minutes, 39 seconds You know they go on the first of the year, first of all. January. Yep. It is January. You can get them midnight on 29:46 29 minutes, 46 seconds you know. Sure. So New Year's Eve and do it. But Okay. And they are all sold out. 29:51 29 minutes, 51 seconds They are. Well, there will be a few more tickets that will come available probably the first or second week in 29:59 29 minutes, 59 seconds June. Okay. We keep some of those out for sponsors. Okay. And then when we find out, okay, we've got a few or we've 30:06 30 minutes, 6 seconds got some that we could put back, then they'll go back on. Okay. You know, it's not an excessive amount, but there is some that if people haven't got them, 30:14 30 minutes, 14 seconds okay, they could get them the first week or so in June. Okay? So, just keep watching when those go back out and as soon as we find out what sponsors we 30:22 30 minutes, 22 seconds have and and need to fulfill their sponsorships. Okay, great. So, great. 30:28 30 minutes, 28 seconds Well, thank you. I appreciate you coming on and and and talking about this and I think, like I said, you got me excited now for for the summer. Awesome. Well, 30:36 30 minutes, 36 seconds thank you for having me. Appreciate it. Chapter 17: Final thoughts on community connection 30:38 30 minutes, 38 seconds No problem. Thank you for joining us on Roots and Branches of Lehi. I hope today's story helped you feel a little more connected to the people who make up 30:46 30 minutes, 46 seconds our community. Remember, every person here has a unique story, and together, 30:50 30 minutes, 50 seconds we're what makes Lehi feel like home. If you know someone who would be a great fit for this podcast, please fill out the form in the show notes so we can reach out and schedule an interview. 31:00 31 minutes We'd love to hear from you. A big thank you to our sponsors, the Work Harding Home Mortgage team and Play Harding Nightly Vacation Rentals for supporting this show and helping us bring our 31:09 31 minutes, 9 seconds community closer together. Until next time, keep growing those roots and reaching out to your branches. Take care. 31:24 31 minutes, 24 seconds [Music] Sync to video time
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