Heber Valley Life

Author: Ali Barr

  • Lee Music

    Lee Music

    Tucked away on 100 South, in the heart of Heber City, there’s a magical, little place that has been enriching the lives of children and adults for over 22 years.

    Lee Music provides a serious music education. It takes the general idea of private music lessons and instantly ratchets up the possibilities. Whether you love classical sonatas, or dream about riffing on the electric guitar, there is a teacher who will take your dream seriously and lead you along the way to mastery — or slaying on the guitar.

    As a young toddler, Winston Lee would lie underneath his mother’s grand piano while she played. He was also shaped by the complex sounds and storytelling of Prokofiev’s orchestral “Peter and the Wolf” which he listened to several times a day. When Winston was seven, his mother started his piano training. Winston recalls,“I would throw the music on the floor because I was able to memorize songs quickly. My mother took me to B.Y.U. at age eight to audition for Dr. Pollei. He took me on as a student and I began practicing four hours a day.” At the age of nine, Winston became the youngest instrumentalist to perform with the Utah Valley Symphony where he performed Mozart’s 19th Piano Concerto. That led to spending his youth practicing piano and participating in many competitions; Winston received many awards along the way.

    Winston shares that he eventually, “[…] burned out at around fourteen and stopped competing. When I was sixteen I worked at The Homestead dining room as a pianist. I enjoyed playing there, but still had no desire to compete. Finally, at age nineteen I had a desire to study music and received a full tuition scholarship at Utah State where I studied with Professor Amano. While at the University, I taught piano at the Conservatory on campus. I felt like I was effective in not only my ability to teach, but also in my ability to connect with students. It was very fulfilling. From that time to the present, teaching has been my passion.”

    In speaking with a parent of one of Winston’s students she mentioned specifically choosing him because of his competition-level training and artistry that was tempered by his priority to keep music joyful for the students. Another mom whose children were with Winston for over 10 years, she shared, “In addition to his mastery of the piano and ability to teach skills, I appreciate how much he taught the ‘Whole Student’. The music was never more important than my child, and I think that Winston’s experience with having burned out made him an inspired teacher who always nurtured their interests in music in such a quiet, kind, way by simply allowing the music to motivate them.”

    THE GENESIS

    After college, Winston set up private lessons in Heber. “For several years, I taught about sixty piano students at Winston Lee Piano Studio which was housed in a small room at my dad’s store: The House of Fine Arts where he sold gift items and original paintings, as well as provided custom framing for customers. Eventually, my dad allowed me to build two more teaching studios in the store to bring in three more teachers: Russ-guitar, Kirk-violin, and Heather-saxophone. The four of us taught there for a few months before my dad was diagnosed with cancer. He passed away two months after his diagnosis.”

    After his father’s passing, Winston saw a “For Rent” sign at the current location on 55 West 100 South. “I contacted the owners, Jim and Norma Fosgate. They were excited to have a music studio open up in their building and told me about the history of the building. Jim originally bought the building, and it became Audionics, where he developed sound equipment under the name of Rockford Fosgate. Notably, he won an Emmy in technology for designing what is now known as “Surround Sound,” which is used in homes and theaters all over the world. He sold the patent to Dolby.”

    Dedicated to developing a music school with a variety of instruction, the new location started humbly with two crates of sheet music to sell and four teachers.

    EXPANSION, SHAPING LIVES AND LIFTING HEARTS

    “I had seven studios built inside to expand instrument lessons. People supported us right from the start. They came in asking if I would carry guitar strings, reeds, instrument cables, etc. I installed some slat wall and bought hooks and filled it with musical accessories that had been requested. I also recruited teachers on various instruments. Today, we have sixteen teachers, a school of rock program, rental instruments, guitars, ukuleles, and musical accessories. We opened in August of 2000 with tremendous support from the community: without them, Lee Music would not exist.”

    Lee Music’s teachers provide lessons in the afternoons and evenings when students are out of school or work with a variety of private lessons and group instruction. Lee’s also has lessons in the form of rock bands through Lee Music School of Rock. The school also rents and sells guitars, ukuleles, violins, violas, and cellos, as well as providing minor repairs on instruments and changing strings.

    There are multiple University and private studies citing the benefits of music to the brain and general well-being for those who play music or simply listen. It’s not just for those seeking a career in music. Winston feels that music touches the heart and lifts the spirit of every human being and it’s never too late to start. He mentioned that his adult students are often his most dedicated since they have great discipline to practice.

    ALUMNI KEEPS GROWING

    By having a serious music school available in Heber, kids from all along the Wasatch Back have access to life-changing opportunities. Some of his former students, now professional musicians, composers, and songwriters shared their insights.

    “Winston and Lee Music shaped my childhood, and eventually my adulthood, by giving me opportunities both with performance and collaboration. Winston was completely unique as a piano teacher in his approach to music theory, improvisation, song writing, accompaniment, and playing music with other people in ensembles. The way he taught made music feel deeply accessible and fun, like anything was possible and that I could do anything I wanted to do with music. I feel like Winston didn’t just teach me how to play the piano, he taught me how to speak the language of music.” Stefania Barr of Shrink the Giant

    “Winston did a good job at responding to my personal interests and needs. I wanted to learn all the Beethoven sonatas that I could and he supported me in that interest. Later, when I taught music, I found that it helps to keep kids interested when they get to choose the music that they want to learn so they can become the type of musician that they want to be. Winston encouraged a variety of approaches to learning music. Sometimes maybe a very strict classical teacher will focus on reading music and perfecting your execution and technique, and that is important. But if you don’t also teach improvisations, harmonies that exist outside of classical music, like in jazz for example, the process of creativity in composition, then you’re really lacking something in your musical education. I think I got a well-rounded music education in technique, learning discipline for practice, learning creativity, composition, improvisation, and how to dissect music to understand theory.” Jean-Christian Barr of Shrink the Giant

    MISSION

    The mission of Lee Music is to provide high quality musical instruction and inspire students to bring music into their lives. Winston shared, “What makes me most proud of our accomplishments are watching former students continue pursuing music after their time at Lee Music. It’s also rewarding when former students drop by and visit us. They let us know how grateful they are that we gave them such a positive experience with music when they were growing up. We’ve had an exciting 22 years and really appreciate the enthusiasm and support we’ve received along the way. As long as people still believe in music, we’ll just keep on moving forward.”

    “Practice Every Day” At least 20 minutes and it will still provide great benefit.

    • Piano is recommended for all students because it helps them to make sense out of any other instrument they pursue later.
    • You’re never too old to start learning an instrument. You should just jump into it. I’ve found that adult beginners are some of my best students.
    • Students should be encouraged to learn whatever instrument they are drawn to.

    If someone has been playing all their lives, they should continue to do so. I still practice, arrange and compose music for about two hours each day.

  • The High Star Ranch

    The High Star Ranch

    Before it was the beautiful destination that it is today, the High Star Ranch was a quiet obscure place off the beaten path.

    One might have asked, “Is the Kamas Valley too far to go for a luxury stay, a world class concert venue, or great dining?” In other words, “If we build it, will they come?” The founders and management of the property took a chance on that sentiment hoping that “If we build it, they will come!”

    From an office overlooking the Kamas Valley, Mr. Tom Grimmett, Trustee for High Star, and Tom Schiemer, Director of Multi-Media, shares their insights on the 17 years of work and development that has gone into creating this one-of-a-kind destination. They also spoke candidly about what they’d like the world to know about the property, as well as what they hope their community will understand about their genuine commitment to their neighbors.

    For a little back history, Tom Grimmett shares, “The High Star Ranch, with its World Class DeJoria Center, as it’s now constituted, was the brainchild of Jack and Louise Mahoney who came to the Kamas Valley after a successful career running restaurants in California.” When the Mahoney’s arrived in Kamas they found two beautiful, historic ranches that sat side by side on Hwy 32: The S Bar S Ranch, founded by John Simpson, and the High Star Ranch, owned by the Fitzgerald family. The Mahoney’s saw an opportunity and purchased the properties in 2005 which was annexed into Kamas City. Unfortunately, the real estate crash of 2008 disrupted all momentum and values plummeted. Jack Mahoney was also diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, which severely limited his ability to manage his investment. The banks got nervous and the property was in jeopardy.
    Mr. Mahoney’s good friend, Mr. John Paul DeJoria, a well-known business mogul and taste-maker for luxury brands, looked at the project to see what could be done and if the investment could weather the storm. In spite of the many risks, Mr. DeJoria acquired the property and appointed his long-time accountant, friend, and former federal banker, Mr. Tom Grimmett, as Trustee and Manager. The High Star Ranch, with all its amenities and housing, is what it is today because of Mr. Grimmett. As a resident of the Kamas Valley for over 15 years, Tom Grimmett is committed to not only overseeing and protecting
    Mr. DeJoria’s investment, but also to creating something the locals can be proud of. He has been, and continues to be, determined, “to do the very best for the community” even when the vision may not always be fully understood.

    An Ingenious Renovation

    The vision to create something truly unique in Eastern Summit County came to fruition with the renovation of an existing hay barn. With the understanding of how music and the arts open doors, the first order of business was to transform the old building into an incredible events center. The DeJoria Center was completed early in the process and was meant to provide an intimate entertainment and event venue. It was a success and the concert venue received the prestigious, ENR Mountain States 2016 Regional Best Projects Award of Merit: Renovation/Restoration; competing against multiple remodeled projects across the intermountain west. With its stage, full lighting mechanics, video camera system, and state of the art sound system, The DeJoria Center has become a favorite destination for weddings, corporate events, and especially the concerts that host about 15 to 20 major artists each year.

    Mr. Grimmett explains, “We knew that we had the distinctive challenge of building a venue in a cow pasture in Kamas, and somehow we’d have to attract people up here from Salt Lake, so it all had to be ‘above and beyond.’” Going above and beyond has paid off. In 2020 the DeJoria Center was honored with an Academy of Country Music Awards nomination for Theater of the Year. Mr. DeJoria’s name, reputation, and credibility have made it easy to entice great talent to the Kamas Valley. There are immediate advantages to performing in such an intimate space. The DeJoria Center can seat up to 1320 maximum guests, which means “even the back row is one of the best seats in the house compared to other venues.” Tom Schiemer shares, “People can come to great concerts for not a lot of money and really enjoy the close and personal performances.”

    A Commitment to Kamas Valley

    After The DeJoria Center was established, development of High Star Ranch began. Once it started the demand for homes in both the Thorn Creek and Spring Hill neighborhoods was instant. “We’ve sold 40 homes [in Thorn Creek] over the last 18 months. We would sell more, but we don’t have any more until we get our next plat approved by the city,” Grimmett shares. Tom Schiemer adds, “There are 8 Spring Hill Lots sold with 10 more available, then we’ll be building The Ranch Center, then the Wasatch View neighborhood.” These new custom home sites lie to the north of the DeJoria Center. Tom Grimmett explains, “There will be an HOA and design committee” to oversee the custom homes. “I want people to come out here 30 years from now and say, ‘look at these beautiful homes.’” The aesthetics of the High Star Ranch will be protected and consistent.

    Mr. Grimmett grew up in a small town in Idaho and understands the challenges for locals. “When we first arrived, we understood the difficulty of seeing things change and grow […] but we continue to strive to be good neighbors as we add, not just restaurants, free summer concerts, activities, and sponsorship, but also a significant increase to the Kamas City coffers themselves through the tax base and development increase on every home built on High Star Ranch.” Tom Schiemer adds, “What I love personally, that I think is helpful for people to understand, is that out of the 1200 plus acres that we have available on High Star Ranch, only 30 percent is going to be used on building homes, and the other 70 percent of our land is in an agricultural, conservation, and greenbelt easement.” In other words, “what you see now, that we’ve already built, and those home sites presently in the works […] it’s never going to change after that. We’re not going to overtake the natural beauty of the land.” Tom Grimmett adds, “Yes, even though the original entitlements allowed us to build homes further up the mountain, we gave that away.”

    Hunting, Fishing, Horseback Riding

    What’s really impressive is the way that High Star Ranch has not only built a beautiful community for its residents, but it has also kept its gates OPEN. The public is welcome to come and enjoy the trails, the mountain access, the events, and activities provided by High Star Ranch and its affiliate, Rhodes Valley Outfitters. Bikers, Hikers, and Equestrians each enjoy their own set of trails, keeping the experience both customized and safe for all. “We have mountain bike trails with a brand-new parking lot just for the mountain bikers,” Grimmett continues, “They can now take the new road right to the trail head, park, and get on their bikes, going right up into the Mountain.” The canal trail will remain open to hikers and bicycles as a part of Kamas City; however, the canal company and conservation area regulations have restricted motorized vehicles. With that in mind, there are still many ways to enjoy the mountain all year long.

    Rhodes Valley Outfitters

    As the only licensed outfitter in northern Utah, Rhodes Valley Outfitters at High Star Ranch can lead activities and hunts in multiple areas for deer, elk, bobcat, and bear all over the state. They have a concession on a 7 mile stretch of the Duchesne River for the best fly fishing in Utah, and a concession for horseback riding on Antelope Island in addition to rides on the Kamas property. Grimmett shares, “You can do a 3-4 hour ride on a horse right at the High Star Ranch and experience amazing 360 degree views due to the altitude. You can see forever and it’ll never change. It climbs from a base of 6400 feet up to 8500 foot views in the old growth pine trees. It’s just beautiful.”

    Other amenities include a new club house, pool, and fishing ponds for the residents. A vintage and specialty automobile museum, curated by local collectors, is also in the works. In addition, some winters allow for packed and groomed cross country skiing right on the property. For meals and hospitality, visitors can enjoy the menu and beverages at the State Road Tavern upstairs and the newly added Country Store and Café with made-to-order breakfasts, lunch, snacks, hot coffee, or cold drinks.

    Concerts will resume again in January, and the property will continue to welcome the public through its gates for more friendly hospitality, entertainment, and experiences.

    Giving Back to the Community

    When asked how High Star has stayed involved in giving back to local residents of the Valley, Tom Schiemer explains, “During the summer we host a free Summer Concert Series provided by Mountain Town Music. There is also a Poker ride guided by Rhodes Valley Outfitters with a wonderful horseback tour through the property.” The High Star Ranch remains committed to creating opportunities for the public to continue to enjoy the shared space on the mountain in a variety of ways.

    Tom Grimmett shares that, “We want to give [everyone] that come’s through the gates the best possible experience for whatever they come here to do. If they come for dinner, we want them to have the best food and service; if they come for a concert, we want them to have a great time; or to find a house and community to call home.” Tom Schiemer adds, “Our goal is to invite all the neighboring communities to come and see what we’ve created here and enjoy the venue, the views, and the arts.”

    When asked about balancing his role as Trustee and resident of Kamas Valley, Mr. Grimmett states that, “I do feel a fiduciary responsibility to the whole valley. We’re one of the biggest businesses here. We are mindful of our community and the presence we have here.” Overall, both Grimmett and Schiemer agree that the stewardship and responsibility they have, from both a capitalistic and good neighbor view point, play a big part in every decision they make. They both share the desire to create something so spectacular that people will come from all over, but that locals will be proud of and excited about too. Perhaps, one of the most impressive things about High Star Ranch is their commitment to keeping their doors open for everyone to enjoy all they offer. Mr. Grimmett shares, “The more good we do, slowly people are being proud to have us here. The people in the valley are starting to say, ‘The High Star Ranch means something to us, and we can count on that’.

  • Hideout Knives

    Hideout Knives

    A Timeless Tool

    Knives have been used as weapons and tools for hunting, cooking, carpentry, and protecting one’s self and family, since prehistoric times. The earliest knives, which we know of, were made of sharp rocks and flint; the first metal knives were made from copper and were double edged daggers. According to most historians the single edged knife was made during the Bronze Age 4000 years ago. Today, in our modern world, we still use knives for the same things our ancestors did; however, our choice of material, design, style, and the way we use knives are countless.

    Robert Boice of Hideout Knives, a custom knife maker and a member of the American Bladesmith Society, grew up around knives. He used them for working, cutting things, hunting, providing a living, preparing a meal, and even opening stubborn mail-order packages. His maternal grandfather was a knife maker; it seems only natural that over time, Robert would become one too.

    Having been raised in South Central Oklahoma and living over 20 years in Wyoming; Robert was first introduced to Heber Valley by a woman he was dating. Robert shared, “[there was] something about the energy of the valley” that inspired a love at first sight for Heber. He told his date, “I’ll live here one day.”

    She thought he was crazy, but since his day job allowed him to work from anywhere, Robert made the move, alone. The girlfriend didn’t quite work out, but Robert has been calling Heber Valley home for about 15 years now.

    Not “Just A Knife”

    Knives have been a ‘rite of passage’ and a mainstay across cultures for countless men and women over the centuries. These tools often became a cherished piece of craftsmanship; some have been handed down from generation to generation. Robert shared, “I carried a knife for ten years that a friend of mine gave me, and I was messing around one day and I lost it, and my heart just sank. Number one, because it was from one of my best friends. And then it’s a tool that you carry every day.”

    He continued with, “You use it for a million things that you don’t even realize, until it’s not in your pocket. You’re reaching for your knife and it’s gone. A knife – it’s one of the basic things that you need for survival, whether it’s for protection or meal preparation. No matter what, since the beginning of time, men have had to have knives. They’ve had to have some sort of sharp instrument for survival.”

    From Knife Enthusiast To Bladesmith

    What is it that creates a desire to transition from enthusiast to Artisan? For Robert, it was one word:  Inspiration.

    “I had an employee that worked for me, and one day while working, he pulled a small bowie knife out from his backpack and [started] cutting something with it. It had an interesting colored handle on it and when he was done using it I asked to see it. He told me, ‘My dad made that for me,’ and I thought Oh, a custom knife! And I started really looking at it.”  Robert continued by sharing, “I often say, ‘It sparked something in me’ but in reality, I thought, Oh my gosh.  I can’t believe how bad this looks. I want to go home, and I want to see if I can make a better knife than that.”

    The employee’s knife continued to be a treasured heirloom to its owner, in addition to acting as an inspirational motivator to Robert. Robert was determined to test his skill creating a unique product.  He explained, “I made one, and it’s addictive. I wanted to make another.” That led to Robert reinvesting his profits into bigger and better equipment to take his new-found hobby to the next level.

    A Truly Custom Knife

    Now, Robert has a recognized business working out of his shop to make truly, one-of-a-kind knives for those seeking a custom tool. These knives are built for FORM, FIT, and FUNCTION – specific to the owner.

    “I have to take [many things] into consideration if it’s a true, custom knife for an individual. Are they older? Do they have arthritis? [If so, then] I need to make the handle a little bit bigger because of gripping concerns. I’ve made knives for older gentlemen and they want something where they’re not closing their fist as tight.” He continues, “I’ve had a female friend that’s worked with me… designing knives [specifically for women]…women think different from men as far as what they want, and their hands are smaller.” Robert also asks each person, “How do you want to carry it [the knife]? Is it going to be in a backpack or on your person, and if so, is it going to be sideways?” Once all the logistics are figured out it’s time to pick out the design and color.

    A Complete Custom Package

    Not only does Robert make incredible works of art that are durable, working, knives but he presents them in a complete package. He takes pride in creating custom, quality, secure, leather cases to go with each knife and appreciates that the knife he created will be kept in a case specifically designed for this purpose. The cases range from $175 to $600 depending on the cost of materials. Some cases are made with such exotic origins as Giraffe bone and fossilized Mammoth bone harvested in Russia, paired with repurposed, hardened, steel from the now-closed, Thompson’s Saw Mill in  Francis.

    Every knife comes with a Lifetime Guarantee, oiling, and sharpening. Because of the way Robert expresses a connection to his own knives, he has made it easy for owners to own, take pride in, and enjoy their knives for as long as they have them — definitely knives worth becoming a treasured family heirloom.

    The Benefit Knife

    Robert’s passion for building knives helped one family in particular with medical bills and treatment. Jaren Sharp, a local team roping competitor, father, and childhood cancer survivor, developed cancer, again, as an adult. Locals created a fundraiser to raise money for him through the selling of raffle tickets and a silent auction.

    Robert shared, “They wanted me to buy some raffle tickets and I said, ‘Yeah, I’ll buy some.’ Well, I was working in my knife shop, and I got to thinking, You know, I’ll buy $200 worth of raffle tickets and it’s a done deal, but what if I made a knife, donated it, and they raffled it off? I think we could raise more money. Instead of $200 dollars, my efforts could go further.”

    And so he made a spectacular knife engraved with team ropers on the blade, in honor of Jaren. A Team Roping Benefit was organized and crowds were invited to help. Robert shared that the knife garnered so much attention that “it ended up raising $7,010, so it was pretty cool and the people who ended up winning the knife actually ended up giving it back to me.” The gentleman who won the knife has since asked Robert if they could make a replica together so they will both have a special keepsake knife.

    Aiming For World Class Standards

    When asked what was next Robert expressed, “My Ultimate goal is to become a Master Bladesmith. There’s [sic] only about 1,300 in the whole world.” Robert seems to be well on his way to meeting his goals. He is dedicated and focused with no interest in owning a TV or other distractions. Bladesmithing is his passion and his entertainment. Robert finds joy in crafting old world goods in his shop and sharing them with others. The business allows him to continue to do what he loves and level up every year. As he works with his own mentor learning to make Era Correct Knives from the early West, Robert continues to elevate his craft with hatchets and folding knives as goals on the horizon.

    Like a true artisan, he loves the sacred process of selecting materials, and shaping them into something unique and special, and passing it along to someone to own and cherish without taking any honors to himself. He’s as humble as he is talented.

    “I don’t care if people know about me, but if they purchase a knife and are proud to give it and receive it, and own it, that’s what I care about.”

  • Creamayre Brook Farms

    Creamayre Brook Farms

    To be successful in business, “Find a need that’s not being met and meet it better than anyone else.” This is the mantra of Wayne and Kathy Buell, co-founders of Creamayre Brook Farm, located on Highway 40. From a sunny dining room overlooking their beautiful gardens, and what one might call a Five Star Equestrian Center, Wayne and Kathy share humble, but profound, wisdom learned over three decades of running the facility from their family farm.

    For so many businesses, the past two years have been challenging. Many know the reality of needing to pivot, adapt, or change industries completely. While Creamayre Brook has seen nothing but growth and stability as a business, the response to COVID 19 across the world caused a ripple effect that is bringing change to the property.

    HISTORY OF CREAMAYRE BROOK FARMS

    Having grown up working the family farm in Heber City, Wayne brought Kathy back to Heber Valley in 1981 with their young family. Returning to a rural community was a way for Wayne to make good on a promise that they would one day have a place for her to enjoy horses again. Kathy had to sell her pride and joy, Sundance, a retired race horse she bailed out of the slaughter house years earlier as a horse-smitten teenager.

    Named for the Creamery that had once been located on the stream running through the farm, Wayne and Kathy invested in Morgan horses shortly after finishing their home in 1983. Kathy emphasized that the main reason for building the business was so their children would learn how to work and have a way to earn money working together as a family. It didn’t come without sacrifice. Sheridan, a beloved Morgan gelding was polished up in his training for the Utah State Fair. Along with his winnings, he won the attention of a buyer who paid $5,000 — just the amount needed to purchase the first ten, custom, stall fronts for the new barn. The barn filled immediately, and soon they expanded to 22 stalls; with more stalls added as their business continued to expand.

    Wayne’s dedication to impeccable stalls and a precise feeding schedule earned the trust of two local investors. They agreed to finance a deluxe indoor arena worthy of Grand Prix level horses — a must in Utah climates for competitors who want to ride year-round. Wayne’s commitment to top quality amenities like a cross country course, rubberized arena footing, and top trainer Hillary Howe on the property easily keeps the clientele full year-round.

    In Kathy’s words, “Wayne is the machine that makes it work. He harrows the arenas every day. Every. Day. And then he waters the arenas every day, spring, summer, and fall, so that the footing is nice and moist, and its soft and puffy. Not too deep. Just right. Then this past year, we added on 20 new stalls and 8 welded pipe corrals for daily turnout pens. Wayne tries really hard to accommodate people’s needs in how to take care of their horses.”

    Wayne added, “In business, the number one thing is that the customer is always right. “With a 27 year dual career as a teacher, Wayne’s days have started early with 6 am feedings, a full day teaching 6th graders, and an evening of more chores. “That’s why we would eat at 9 or 10 o’clock at night,” adds Kathy, “and he was one of the teachers that didn’t want to bring his schoolwork home with him to grade papers. He wanted to get it all done there. So he’d come home at five, hurry and change his clothes, go out and do all his chores — that means the feeding, the graining, the watering, the dust control, the harrowing; it’s a lot! Seeing what we do, others have bought an arena or a barn, thinking it would be fun, but it doesn’t usually last very long because it is a lot of work. You are responsible for other people’s pets. This is not for everyone. Many don’t realize how much work it is.”

    The grounds are another story. While walking through the property, one admires the extensive landscape design created by Kathy over years of planting, to which she humbly replies, “Don’t look at something like this and think, oh it’s too much work. We built this one fence post at a time. One tree at a time.” The attention to detail and the pure love of land and animals make the property a true oasis from a technology-saturated world — a world that changed quickly in March of 2020, bringing with it new changes to the farm.

    A WHOLE NEW DEVELOPMENT

    Wayne and Kathy’s daughter, Lyndsey, and her husband, Diego Vazquez had been living in Brooklyn and working in Manhattan, New York City, for the past six years; with very successful careers in both fashion and restaurants. And then COVID hit.

    Diego explained, “I was opening restaurants for a company called Roberto’s and I was supposed to leave for Chicago to open a restaurant. The day before I was supposed to leave, the world shut down. They tried to transition me to warehouse supervisor, but when everyone kept getting sick, I said, ‘I’m sorry,’ and I decided to quit.” Lyndsey was across the river in New Jersey preparing to open an H&M store when the announcement came that the trains were shutting down. If she didn’t get back into New York, she’d be stuck. She left immediately, marking the beginning of the end.

    “So, we ended up in our little tiny apartment in Brooklyn for three months with no jobs — and then we came back to Utah to stay with Wayne and Kathy.” While Diego and Lyndsey explored their options for work, Kathy and Wayne had observed that every time they needed to board or groom their dog, there was a waiting list and simply not enough providers filling the need. Always ready to spot a gap, Kathy saw an opportunity, and the idea for Creamayre Brook Kennel was born.

    CREAMAYRE BROOK KENNEL AND GROOMING

    When asked what they each bring from their prior experience, Diego explained, “We’re excited to join the dog community. I feel like Lyndsey’s the creative one with vision and knowing the actual layout of the plan. Then I’m way more like the business manager. I can open things and run it.” Fully embracing the change as a newly-certified dog groomer, Lyndsey laughs easily with a quick smile, “Life changes quickly and you have to roll with the punches.” Lyndsey is already open for grooming with a long list of clients happy to have her sense of design and artful grooming as they await the remodeling of the full facility which will include: a check-in lobby, indoor dog kennel, pet grooming, doggie daycare, an indoor play area with canine grass, indoor/outdoor dog runs, sub-divided field with dog turnout areas, and a clothing boutique curated by Lyndsey.

    Change is inevitable, but no matter what happens, the business will stay in the family. Kathy stated, “We started the business so that our kids would learn how to work. Somebody from our family will always run it.” Wayne added, “When they work here, on this place, they understand the work. They have a vision of the work. They’re not vacant landlords. Our son Sean, [who passed away when he was 10] started working here when he was 5 or 6. He could barely push the wheel barrel, and he was cleaning stalls. And it wasn’t because we asked him. He asked us. He wanted to get money and be a part of it.” Wayne continued with pride, “He wanted to be part of the whole operation and if you handle it the right way, there’s a sense of camaraderie, pride, and community in your family when you’re working together for the same goal. There’s a work ethic that our kids developed, and that is just an example of why we built our barn. It’s not about money.”

    Both Kathy and Wayne agree that running a family business is a lot like a marriage. “You need to have good communication; you need to know how to compromise. You can’t say ‘it has to be this way.’ You need to be able to work things out with some compromising. Then you can make it work — the hard work is worth it.”

  • Close To Home

    Close To Home

    How often do you think about where your food comes from? We’ve become a civilization of packaged foods, freeze-dried, vacuum-packed, hands-off food options everywhere. With just a few clicks on a keyboard, and doorstep delivery, it’s possible to get spices straight from India in the same box as small farm-made jerky from Tennessee. I contrast this with having grown up with beautiful home-cooked meals from my Italian grandmother; using fresh-picked tomatoes, herbs, and zucchini from the garden, I learned to appreciate high-quality foods at an early age. Nothing compares to homegrown and farm-raised.

    The Heber Valley is home to several local farms where families and small businesses enjoy the freedom and lifestyle of working with the land and nature to create wonderful foods for locals — without sending their food on a long trip through trucks and warehouses. When we buy local it benefits our economy by keeping money in the community, employing local families, reducing the cost of transporting goods, and the enjoyment of fresher products straight from farm to table in a shorter time. Family farms operate as small businesses where accountability and quality are vital to their success.

     

    Heber Valley Milk and Artisan Cheese

    With shorter growing seasons in the higher elevations, Heber Valley is well suited to dairy and beef farming over vegetables and produce. As such, Heber Valley is home to many individual cattle ranchers and a few dairies such as Heber Valley Milk and Artisan Cheese. Farms like this allow the community to interact with and experience this direct source of milk and cheese products. Their website declares their values and interest in sharing the farm lifestyle with others. Providing others with a memorable experience is at the heart of Heber Valley Artisan Cheese. For nearly 100 years, the Kohler family has been producing premium milk. In 2011, the family built a new creamery and began using their farm’s milk to handcraft and age artisan cheese.

    This is a great example of what many modern farmers are doing to bring consumers into the joy of farming by providing tours, classes, cheese tasting, and activities that promote quality farming while showing the direct benefits to the community.

     

    Blue Canyon Farms

    With a sea of fragrant, purple flowers, Blue Canyon Farms has brought the gift of peace in the form of flowers; lavender being well known traditionally for its ability to relieve stress and anxiety the moment the fragrance meets the limbic part of the brain for both humans and animals. Not only do they sell bunch lavender and buds but also lavender-based products such as bath bombs, essential oils, soaps, and more.

     

    Redmond Heritage Farms

    This organic dairy farm is dedicated to supplying high-quality raw milk to those who are seeking the most simple and optimal foods. Redmond tests and tracks the nutritional value of their milk over time, updating data each quarter. “This allows us to make decisions that produce the highest quality milk while balancing sustainability and animal health. Our passion is clean nutrient-rich milk from healthy and happy cows.”

    Phil Hinson from the farm stated “We create farm to table consumer goods and have done it for 15 years.” He said he was led to organic dairy farming in order to create sustainable, locally sourced products. “We use only sustainable farming practices that are eco-friendly and try to elevate the human experience. We wish more people knew about our restaurants.”

    Redmond has created the optimal model of both farming the product and then sending their goods into the market through their restaurants across the state. They also produce six varieties of raw cheese and hand-gather eggs from truly free-range chickens. In addition, they offer pasture-fed beef and pork products.1 These values are really important to those monitoring animal-based industries and local farms who seem to be responding to public interest. Farmers have the responsibility to provide a high quality of life and simple kindness to the animals that serve them and many have taken up the call to educate the public on just that.

     

    Why Family Farms are Better than Factory Farms

    One only has to spend a little time on social media to find many family farms using the medium to reeducate more people about the actual practices and quality of life they are providing for their animals. TikTok users @iowadairyfarmer and @ventureholsteins share daily videos and photos of their farm and challenge other farms to do the same using the #dairyfarmersunited to show their happy, healthy cows.

    In the past, farm families have stayed out of the discussion, too busy running the farm; which lead to them losing their voice. Today social media has changed that. Now that more farms are transparently sharing their practices, it is easier for consumers to distinguish between family farms and factory farms, where animal welfare is secondary to profits. Family farms tend to be more connected to their animals and each life matters more as those animals’ lives are directly tied to the livelihood of the family that cares for them.

    When asked about this challenge, Phil Hinson of Redmond Heritage Farm replied “Our milk comes from healthy, pastured cows who eat real food. Our cows have constant access to pasture and enjoy fresh green-grass and sprouted barley, dry hay, Redmond Real Salt, and Redmond Clay.” Kohler Creamery also supports this idea stating, “The secret to Heber Valley Artisan Cheese is premium milk – the perfect base for cheese making. These happy and healthy ‘gals’ provide the best-tasting milk because of their superior care. The cows are grass-fed and roam free. The Kohler family has also excluded corn and other GMO feeds from their cows’ diet as requested by their local raw milk customers.” None of the cows volunteered to leave the pasture for comment.

     

    What Businesses Can Do To Support Small Farms

    Grocery stores and restaurants can purchase straight from the farm to offer high-quality foods establishing a local trade that keeps more money in the community. Many farmers get involved by simply creating a cooperative relationship with other farms and vendors to help each other get in front of more consumers. Redmond Heritage Farm has purchased a milk truck to bring their farm-fresh raw milk, raw cheeses, pasture-raised eggs, beef, bone broth, raw kombucha, and other products to markets outside the valley as well as for local sales.

    As farmers reach out, a responsive community can invite them to bring booths or trucks to their events as well as offer shelf space to local farmers in grocery stores and smaller gift stores.

     

    How Can You Support our Local Farms?

    Look specifically for items marked “Locally Sourced” or “Farmed Locally” and make purchases that support both the merchant and the farms to encourage collaboration. Another modern method of supporting small farms is simply to connect and follow them on social media where they can hear about specials and offerings directly from the farmers to expedite sales and move products faster.

    Subscription-based farming has allowed many small family farms to create a sustainable and predictable income using the perks of modern Social Media and Content Marketing. One great example of farm-to-table is Ballerina Farm, in neighboring Kamas Valley. They raise Heritage Beef and Pork and provide subscriptions to beautiful Meat Boxes delivered right to your doorstep. In this case, consumers know exactly where the meat was sourced from and the wonderful family that works so hard for their animals and the consumer. Ballerina Farm is managed by its namesake, Hannah Neeleman (Mrs. Utah America 2021), her husband, Daniel Neeleman, and their six children. Hannah creates beautiful video montages of their daily life on the farm and has even won over many professed Vegans who approve of the happy home provided to their animals.

    All these farms and the dedicated families that run them are inspiring others to get back to the source and support local small businesses and rural livelihoods in a very direct way. Consider your plate at your next meal and ways that your family can explore more delicious options from right here in our community.

    Bon Appetit!

  • Wasatch Women Defending The Wasatch’s Back

    Wasatch Women Defending The Wasatch’s Back

    WITH THE SEEMINGLY ENDLESS COVERAGE OF PROTESTS, RIOTS, CIVIL UNREST AND VIOLENCE IN THE MEDIA, HAVE YOU STOPPED TO WONDER How Safe Are We?

    Having traveled through much of the United States and living in Italy for almost two years; I’ve always considered the Wasatch Back to be a comparatively safe area to live, but modern living means I can’t stay in the community 24/7. I also work in various cities all across America, so where exactly is “safe?”

    Each year the FBI issues a report of the Safest Cities and Towns in America. Utah wasn’t in the top ten states and I couldn’t find any of the cities I frequent on the list. Heber City didn’t make the cut for the Salt Lake Tribune’s list of Safest Cities either.

    While technology has expedited the speed and flow of information, individuals are still vulnerable to all the same violence and dangerous behaviors common to history. Your perception of safety can change in a fraction of a second when you become the victim and the effects can be devastating for years. It’s often simply the result of being in the wrong place at the wrong time or in the way of someone with ill intent.

    This last year, I’ve met several women who feel that protecting their families, businesses, and lives now requires a more proactive approach.

     

    8 Million Have Taken Action

    A simple Google search will reveal multiple articles and reports on Americans breaking records for Gun purchases in 2020/21. Firearms have always been popular with the 2A crowd, hunters, and sportsmen. However, 40% of firearm sales in 2020 were made by Americans purchasing a firearm for the first time — to the sum of 5 million new gun buyers. As of July 2021, that number has soared to 8 million. While numerous businesses went under due to economic shutdowns, the firearm industry is booming and multiplying with retailers struggling to keep products on their shelves.

    Pandemic-related lockdowns, riots, civil unrest, and media coverage of violence in America’s streets have caused many to re-evaluate self-defense.

     

    A Heber Valley Women’s Gun Club is Born

    Several months ago a casual post on Social Media asked if there were any women who would be interested in learning more about firearms, self-defense, and training together. In just a few hours over one-hundred-and-fifty women answered with a very affirmative —yes!

    The interest in not only learning better self-defense but also having a low-key, supportive group of women with various skill levels was an immediate hit. A casual, but committed group was formed and named Women with Weapons. I asked a few of them what their motivation was to join the group and work on personal defense skills. Some names have been changed to protect privacy.

    Donna explained, “Our group is a way for us to all get together, learn about gun safety, how to shoot, and look for ways to give back to our community. I think it is important for women to feel empowered to protect themselves and their family, safely, and confidently. I feel it is more important than ever with the current state of the world.”

    When asked why she is getting started in her fifties, Laurie answered, “I learned to shoot some rifles as a kid but didn’t have any real training and with my job being in large cities across the nation, I felt like I should be more prepared to defend myself and others in the event of an attack. I’ve deliberately studied online and with dummy ammunition in my firearm before ever loading it with live rounds. Once I had spent enough time on drills and practicing at home, I was ready to go to the range with my first-ever semi-automatic pistol. I now understand what a fun sport, discipline, and skill it [shooting] is to have — a sport that may also save a life, if necessary.”

    Another answered, “I wanted to meet up with other women and it is very important to me that I learn how to be safe with my firearm and have the confidence to do what I need to do if the time ever comes. I have met new friends and feel much more confident.”

     

    The Responsibility to Train Regularly

    I was pleasantly surprised to find that newbies can easily find a community of very helpful, systematic, and disciplined people in the 2A [Second Amendment] community nationwide. Many professional trainers have made this training very accessible by creating YouTube channels and social media dedicated to teaching safety and preparedness.

    I’ve studied hours of training online as well as taken classes from experts in the area including Don Fulton, a Range Safety Officer at the Big Hollow Shooting Range in Heber Valley. Although he grew up hunting and fishing with a lot of gun safety training he says, “I also realized the necessity of striving to be more self-reliant. And part of that was protecting myself, my family, and my neighbors. I then started attending professional training to better my skills and abilities.”

    Don encourages regular and high-quality training for everyone who owns a gun. Considering the lethal power of a firearm, it behooves all who consider buying one to keep up with ongoing education and habits; especially if that firearm will be kept around family. Don has applied his decades of experience in VIP protection services to helping new gun owners and those who want more tactical skills.

    Don, along with other instructors, have encouraged me in training for situational awareness, which includes many habits such as paying attention to people around me, knowing the available exits, watching people’s eyes and hands, understanding how to assess a rising threat, and making it a practice to not zone out on the phone while in public. The ability to relax; using your breath to continue to engage the thinking part of the brain rather than the reactive, irrational part of the brain, is just as important as being aware and prepared.

     

    Protecting Rights of Self Protection

    While not all will choose to own a firearm personally, this year saw many who’d previously been neutral to the discussion get more involved with those who’ve been lifelong Second Amendment Supporters. On May 20, 2021, Wasatch County Council members voted 5 to 2 in passing the 2nd Amendment Sanctuary County Ordinance.

    Passing the 2A Sanctuary Ordinance was paramount in protecting the Second Amendment rights of Wasatch County citizens. Having this protection is the end result that began with a group of women who were willing to do what it takes to protect Wasatch County. They created Defending Wasatch Back and inspired others to step forward, get involved, and voice their values in support of Sheriff Rigby’s 2A Sanctuary County movement, and individual rights to keep and bear arms.

    While many don’t grow up familiar with firearms; this year has seen the trend in both America and locally for people to get informed, involved, and take action politically, addressing the issues of state and local rights versus federal mandates.

    Meghan Bliss, a community member and 2A supporter, shared, I am “Pro 2A, pro-gun safety, and knowledge. I think a lot of people choose to not be aware as it’s scary or an unknown, or they didn’t grow up around firearms. That’s how I was at first. I’ve spent time with my husband learning the safety of guns, having a plan, and being prepared. Growing up, we didn’t hunt or have guns. It wasn’t until I was in my 30s that it became a thing for me.”

    Being new but willing to try was a common sentiment shared at the first Women with Weapons club meeting held in early 2021. While many women were entirely new to firearms and safety, many felt compelled to get more informed and involved because of open violence nationwide including some demonstrations that turned to riots in Utah.

     

    Support Groups and New Friendships

    Regardless of the level of interest in guns themselves, women in Heber Valley are joining with women in surrounding areas to discuss options, share tips, and training tools as well as teaming up to share booths at the local gun ranges. The consensus among women of all experience levels is that educating yourselves and becoming more proactive in the community is important. Listen and be open-minded as you talk with neighbors and others. Overall, I’ve found everyone to be very supportive and helpful all along the way as my skills progress.

    Together, it’s possible to protect the rights to self defend and bring more unity and understanding of those values when the conversation remains open. We have friendly and helpful trainers with world-class experience right here in our community. Come and join in!

    The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution reads:

    A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

     

    Read more about Wasatch County as a 2A Sanctuary.

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