John and Mary (Giles) Crook were English immigrants and among Heber Valley’s earliest pioneers. They built this humble log cabin as their first home in the valley. In 1859, other settlers constructed similar cabins, placing them close together to form what became known as Fort Heber.

For decades, the Crook Cabin stood near the entrance of the Homestead Resort, serving as a reminder of the determination, sacrifice, and resilience of our valley’s earliest settlers. When the cabin was removed, its original logs and materials were carefully preserved by the Hicken family, with the hope that one day it could be restored.

This past spring, students from Wasatch High School’s CAPS program played an important role in the project, identifying, inventorying, tagging, and helping develop plans for the cabin’s reassembly. Mike Johnston prepared the engineering plans, while skilled craftsmen Paul Lamphier and Allan Gehring, along with dedicated volunteers and Crook family descendants, helped bring the historic structure back to life.

Special recognition goes to the Alice (Crook) Hicken family, the extended descendants of John and Mary Crook, the Heber City Historic Preservation Commission, and Ron Carlile and his family for their contributions, commitment, and support throughout this remarkable restoration effort.

We love sharing the stories that connect our community to its past. The restoration of the Crook Cabin is more than the rebuilding of a historic structure. It represents generations of family history, the preservation of our pioneer heritage, and the power of a community coming together for a common purpose.

Congratulations to everyone who helped make this historic milestone possible!

The free, family-friendly event celebrates the season’s harvest while highlighting the importance of self-reliance, emergency preparedness, local food, service, and community connection.

Now in its fifth year, the Community Garden and Harvest Festival continues to grow, creating opportunities for residents to learn practical skills, connect with local resources, enjoy the harvest, and lend a helping hand to neighbors in need.

“This is about much more than gathering a harvest,” says event organizer and founder Russ Olsen. “It’s about bringing our community together and building the skills, relationships, and resources that help our valley become stronger and more self-reliant. Community Unity is what this event is all about.”

A Harvest Worth Celebrating

One of the biggest highlights of the weekend will be the annual potato harvest, where volunteers can get their hands in the dirt and help gather potatoes for local food banks and other community organizations serving people in need. Volunteers can also earn potatoes for their own families, making the harvest a little bit like an Easter egg hunt, only with potatoes!

Children will have the opportunity to participate in the fun as well, including contests and prizes for those who discover the largest potatoes.

Throughout the weekend, attendees can enjoy:

• Free admission
• Potato harvesting and volunteer opportunities
• Contests and prizes
• Children’s activities
• Entertainment
• Information about self-reliance and emergency preparedness
• Local farmers’ market vendors
• Locally grown produce
• Local honey for purchase
• Food vendors featuring pizza and hamburgers
• Opportunities to purchase locally raised meat
• Opportunities to connect with organizations and vendors focused on
  self-reliance and preparedness

Local Food and Self-Reliance

The festival will bring together vendors and community organizations whose work supports self-reliance and emergency preparedness, giving attendees an opportunity to discover resources and practical information they can use at home.

Local gardeners will also be invited to bring their own produce to sell at the festival’s farmers’ market, helping connect neighbors directly with locally grown food.

Honey will be available for purchase, along with meat raised on a regenerative ranch. The ranch has had its beef tested through Utah State University, with organizers highlighting its nutritional qualities compared with conventional grain-finished beef.

Food, Fun and Community

The festival kicks off Friday evening, October 23, from 5–8 p.m., with pizza and hamburgers for attendees to enjoy while taking part in the festivities.

On Saturday, October 24, the day begins at 9 a.m. with a free breakfast, followed by additional food offerings, including pizza and hamburgers, from noon to 2 p.m.

Whether you’re interested in growing your own food, preparing your family for an emergency, supporting local producers, volunteering, learning something new, or simply enjoying a fall day with your neighbors, the Annual Harvest Festival offers something for everyone.

After five years of growth, organizers hope the Community Garden and Harvest Festival will eventually expand to involve communities throughout the Heber Valley.

The goal is simple: bring people together, strengthen local connections, share resources, and build a more self-reliant community — together.

About Heber Valley Self-Reliance

The Heber Valley Self-Reliance Group is a grassroots nonprofit dedicated to strengthening community resilience and personal capability through practical education, training, and collaborative support.

The group provides workshops, events, and hands-on opportunities focused on emergency preparedness and self-sufficient living skills, including food production, water management, alternative energy, and financial resilience. Through these efforts, the organization works to empower individuals and families with the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to navigate life’s challenges with greater confidence and self-reliance.

The group also places a strong emphasis on community building, bringing residents together to share knowledge, develop practical skills, and create a more prepared, connected, and capable Heber Valley.

The Wasatch Community Foundation is proud to partner with the Heber Valley Self-Reliance Group by helping provide resources, sponsorship, and visibility for initiatives including self-reliance fairs, community events, and hands-on skill-building projects.

For more information about Heber Valley Self-Reliance, visit hebervalleyready.org.

Event Details

2026 Annual Harvest Festival
Presented by: Heber Valley Self-Reliance Group and Wasatch Community Foundation
Dates: Friday, October 23, 5–8 p.m. & Saturday, October 24, 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
Location: 1335 East Center Street, Heber City, Utah
Admission: Free

For more information, visit hebervalleyready.org.

Meet a majestic Bald Eagle with HawkWatch International and get an up-close look at a beautiful female Red-tailed Hawk!

In honor of America’s 250th anniversary, discover the fascinating story behind our nation’s iconic bald eagle, its significance as America’s national symbol, and the incredible raptors that call our region home.

Bring your family, invite your friends, and come celebrate wildlife, history, and the soaring spirit of America!

📅 October 3 | 1:30 PM
📍 130 West Main Street, Midway, Utah 84049

✨ Come for the birds, stay for the stories, and leave inspired!

Candidates for Utah House of Representatives District 59 and Wasatch County Council Seats A, C, and F have been invited to participate.

The forum will provide an opportunity for community members to hear directly from candidates and learn more about the issues facing our community.

📅 October 15, 2026
🕕 6–8 PM
📍 Wasatch Fire District Community Room 

The event is being held in partnership with KPCW, which will monitor the forum and provide a live stream through its radio feed.

Everyone is welcome.

Join the entire Heber Valley community as we honor the 25th anniversary of September 11th through a day of remembrance and service — and celebrate America’s 250th year in the most fitting way possible: by serving one another.

• Saturday, September 12, 2026
• Opening Ceremonies: 9:00–9:30 am, Service Projects: 10:00 am to Noon
• Heber Main Street Park | 200 S Main Street, Heber City, UT

Start the morning with a free light breakfast, a flag ceremony, and a heartfelt remembrance of 9/11. Then choose from a variety of service projects across Wasatch County — there’s something meaningful for everyone, every age, every ability.

• Bring your family and friends and help us come together as a community in the spirit that has always defined America — neighbor helping neighbor.
• Ready to serve? Sign in to your JustServe account at justserve.org to view and register for available projects. New to JustServe? Sign up free — it only takes a minute.

Fred Mertlich’s artwork captures the places, structures, landscapes, and subjects that help tell the story of Utah and Wasatch County. His detailed illustrations preserve the past while documenting the present for future generations.

Through his artwork, Mertlich has helped create a visual record of Wasatch County, capturing historic buildings and familiar scenes that connect generations. His work is not limited to the past; recent illustrations include the Wasatch County Library buildings and surrounding schools. His work reflects a lifelong appreciation for history, architecture, nature, and the communities that make Utah unique.

Art Reception: Friday, September 25, 5- 6 p.m., at Wasatch County Library. Community members are invited to attend the reception and recognize an artist whose work has contributed to the preservation of local Wasatch County history. This reception will also be in honor of Mertlich’s 90th birthday.

Contact: Juan Lee, Wasatch County Library Director,
435-654-1511, jlee@wasatchcounty.utah.gov

On September 19–20, 2026, some of the world’s best mountain bikers will descend on Soldier Hollow for the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series presented by Scott Sports. Athletes from around the globe will compete on the same mountains that have made this valley a destination for elite outdoor competition—and they’ll be doing it right here in our backyard.

And while the racers are the stars of the show, this is about more than bikes.

It’s an opportunity for Heber Valley to welcome the world.

From Olympic Legacy to Mountain Bike Mecca

Soldier Hollow has been welcoming world-class athletes for more than two decades. As one of the primary venues for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, it hosted cross-country skiing and biathlon and established itself as a place where extraordinary athletes come to compete.

Today, that Olympic legacy continues—on two wheels.

The Soldier Hollow mountain bike course will put elite athletes to the test with steep climbs, technical terrain and high-speed sections. The weekend will feature two disciplines: Cross-country Olympic (XCO), a mass-start, multi-lap race that typically lasts 80–90 minutes for elite competitors, and Cross-country Short Track (XCC), a shorter, faster race lasting roughly 20–25 minutes.

In other words: bring your cowbell. This is not your average Sunday bike ride.

The event also builds on Soldier Hollow’s successful hosting of the 2024 Pan American Mountain Bike Championships, further establishing the venue as a premier destination for international cycling competition.

A Big Weekend for a Small Valley

When an international sporting event comes to town, the impact reaches well beyond the course.

Athletes arrive with coaches and support teams. Fans travel to watch their favorite riders. Media members need places to stay, eat and work. Visitors fill gas tanks, grab coffee, shop, explore and experience everything the valley has to offer.

That makes an event like the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series an important local economic opportunity—and a chance to showcase the Heber Valley businesses that make our community special.

Our hotels, restaurants, coffee shops, retailers, outfitters, service businesses and attractions all become part of the welcome.

This is what it looks like when our community becomes the destination.

And for visitors arriving from around the country and around the world, a mountain bike race may be what brings them here—but the Heber Valley experience is what they’ll remember.

Cheer on the World

The best part? You don’t have to travel across the globe to experience world-class competition.

It’s coming to us.

Head to Soldier Hollow on September 19–20 and watch Olympic-caliber athletes battle their way around the course. Cheer for the Americans. Pick a favorite international rider. Bring the kids. Bring your friends. Bring plenty of enthusiasm.

Among the athletes with a special connection to our region is Haley Batten, the Park City native and Paris 2024 Olympic silver medalist who has trained at Soldier Hollow. Her presence is a reminder that some of the very best athletes in the world have deep roots in Utah’s mountains.

For young cyclists in Heber Valley, seeing that level of competition up close can be especially meaningful. Today’s spectators may be watching tomorrow’s Olympians.

A Heber Valley Welcome

There’s something pretty wonderful about watching the world arrive in a place we get to call home.

We know these mountains. We know the trails. We know the drive through the valley, the views from the Wasatch Back and the little places worth stopping along the way.

Now, for one September weekend, we get to share it.

So let’s give these athletes, teams and visitors the kind of welcome Heber Valley does best.

Welcome to Heber Valley.

Come for the racing. Stay for the mountains. Explore our businesses. Eat local. Shop local. And while you’re here, cheer on some of the most talented mountain bikers on the planet.

The world is coming to our backyard. Let’s show them what makes Heber Valley special.

WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series
September 19–20, 2026
Soldier Hollow Sport Discovery Center | Midway, Utah

For event and spectator information, visit the official WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series event page

Learn more about our local Team Soldier Hollow Mountain Bike Team https://hebervalleylife.com/dream-big/

The MVP director, Christine Russ, is also a veteran and one of the very few women to graduate from the US Army Ranger School and serve as an active-duty Army Ranger overseas. She is also an outstanding organizer and encourager, running the MVP with discipline and grace. Working with Christine, as Operations Coordinator, is Peter Parker (“Spidey”), a veteran East Coast ski patroller and current Sundance ski instructor. Together they consistently ensure a first-class experience for all MVP participants.

Challenging late-season conditions couldn’t dampen the fun. Even during one of Utah’s lowest snowpack winters on record, Sundance’s impressive new snowmaking equipment and dedicated mountain crew kept the slopes in great shape. We had an absolute blast on the mountain.

Several new skiers learned the sport while the few experienced skiers and snowboarders tackled the open blue runs. Next year, with the new Electric Horseman lift going into operation, we anticipate tackling the fantastic runs in and adjacent to Sundance’s epic Bishop’s Bowl.

This June, I was invited back to attend a four-night, five-day MVP summer adventure session. Together with a new group of veterans, we poured ourselves into the amazing activities that Christine and Peter lined up and Sundance hosted for us: White Water Rafting on the Provo River; Horseback Riding at Sundance Stables up to Stewart Falls; Morning Stretching in the Sundance Yoga hut; Ziplining down Sundance’s famous mountain zipline course; Swimming and soaking in the Sundance Springs’ warm pool; Leather book-binding at the Sundance art academy; Guided journal-writing in the pines surrounding the Sundance Amphitheater and once again, dining at some of Utah’s finest culinary establishments right at Sundance – the Deli, the Lodge Living Room, the Foundry Grill and the prestigious Tree Room. The latter is a breathtaking setting, featuring a library and art collection donated by the late Robert Redford and his family, along with an exceptional menu of appetizers, entrées, and desserts that rivals any fine dining experience.

Our group shared stories, experiences, struggles, and joys. As a former U.S. Air Force fighter aviator, I had the privilege of connecting with an extraordinary group of veterans, including a former U.S. Navy SEAL, an Army Ranger, an Army logistics officer, a U.S. Air Force crew chief and armaments specialist, another Air Force veteran, and their spouses. From exhilarating adventures to deeply moving moments, the Sundance Mountain Veterans Program offers an experience that is as inspiring as it is unforgettable.

To facilitate future growth and healing and to help spread the word, the MVP has set up alumni meetings at Sundance where past participants can catch up with each other’s lives. Truly a Come, Grow, Go program, MVP has helped change and improve my life and those of every participant I have met.

mountainveteranprogram.org

Going out into nature was a family tradition in Janet’s early life in Idaho. She would canoe on Jenny Lake and visit Jackson Hole back before the streets were paved. Her father was a geologist working in remote locations across the country, where she learned to love the land.

She also loved art. “It was my sanctuary when I was a little kid. My grandmother had an amazing collection of illustrated books, including [Robert Louis Stevenson’s] Treasure Island illustrated by
N. C. Wyeth. I was fascinated by his artwork, and so as early as I can remember I would just draw.”

From the age of 14 until she graduated from college, she worked in a nature center in Connecticut where they would raise baby raccoons and foxes–and she would draw them. The naturalists at the preserve were a huge influence on her. She continued to build a life that would meld her art with her love for the outdoors and passion for protecting the environment.

With a degree in outdoor recreation, Janet landed a job with the US Forest Service managing the Ski and Snow Ranger program. She was part of the environmental and cultural education program in Big and Little Cottonwood canyons’ ski areas, where she also directed about 20 volunteers who led skiing groups from the four ski resorts on tours to learn about the outdoors and environment. The program still exists today, now in partnership with Cottonwood Canyons Foundation. In her free time, she painted.

In the quiet hours of early morning or dusk, Janet would venture into nature, hiking until she found a scene that sparked inspiration. Carrying a small canvas and paints, she created her plein air works—a French term for painting outdoors, where artists capture the ever-changing light, atmosphere, and character of the landscape in real time. “You can’t mess around too long,” Janet says when searching for a spot, “because you want to catch the light at just the right time.” Her paintings were done in one sitting for about twenty minutes to an hour in each location, both for the light and because “you have oil paint and it’s messy, and you get it on you, and I’m picking flies out of it,” Janet says with a laugh.

But her goal was never perfection. “My goal was to really capture the natural colors out there rather than get a finished piece because you can’t, from a photograph, really get accurate color. The camera only has [about] 254 colors, so you lose so much. It’ll take the colors in a shadow and just make them flat, when there are so many beautiful colors in a shadow.”

During her time with the US Forest Service, Janet connected with amazing individuals who allowed her to create art for signs and resources at the National Parks, National Forests, and State and local natural recreation areas. Tourists who visit noteworthy sites like the Hoover Dam, Pawnee National Grassland, and multiple National Forests across the western United States will see Janet’s work on the informational signs that teach them about the area.

As years passed, though, her inspiration for landscape art waned. “I had some work in a local gallery, and a super cool older woman came in, and she goes, ‘These are just pretty paintings. This is not art.’ And I knew exactly what she meant. . . and said, ‘You know, you’re right.’”

She took a step to stretch her skills: figure drawing. “I’ve always wanted to do figures, but they’re intimidating. They’re very hard. If you can draw and paint the figure, you can paint and draw anything, because if something’s off on the figure, anybody can pick it out. You can just tell, and so I said, ‘It’s time.’”

Beginning with open studios like DRAW Inc. and Visual Arts Institute in Salt Lake City, she would show up and sketch multiple models in 20-minute chunks, building up her skills. She discovered a supportive community in these groups and, a year ago, she was invited to join a group of artists, hosted by well-known artist Booker Tueller, who gather once a week for two and a half hours and use the same model in the same pose for a month. These figures are a part of her newest collection of paintings in her studio.

Some are still just figures, but in others she has begun adding in backgrounds that hail back to her love for landscapes, animals, and the natural world. Shadowy foliage and creatures take shape behind her female figures.

“I’m trying to get the figure to morph in and out of the space and blend with the landscape. . . . What I’d like to do is get this concept of duality and non-duality and how we morph in and out of our memories and our space.” The creatures represent the parts of you that you feel you can’t talk about–imagination, experience, and spirituality. Though still works in progress, the paintings radiate a depth of emotion that is impossible to miss.

Several of these paintings will soon be on display in a December art show featuring the talented artists from Booker Tueller’s group.

janetjohnsonartist.com

Without her husband’s encouragement—and his help navigating “the techy side of photography”—she may never have pursued her passion for photography. That newlywed gamble turned out to be a gift that paid off in ways they never imagined. Being a photographer has given Tressa the freedom to be there for her family, her community, and herself in the ways she values the most.

Tressa has captured photos many of us in Utah (and outside our lovely state) have seen. Images we see regularly, if not daily, in our homes. She has photographed for hundreds of families, couples, and businesses, including Lizzy Heaps (The Food Nanny) and Hannah Neeleman (Ballerina Farms).

I am lucky to be counted amongst those surrounded by her work. She took mine and my husband’s engagement photos almost 11 years ago. I cherish those photos! They bring a rush of what being 21 and gushing about getting married felt like. Our engagement photo shoot also happened to be one of her first official shoots. I paid her in Mexican food. In hindsight, I had no clue what a bargain and gift I was getting!

Tressa said she first developed an interest in photography because, “[I] was picky, and just wanted it done right!” She laughs as she recalls her mother’s exhaustion from her relentless critiques of the photos she took of Tressa. That same attention to detail is unmistakable in her work today, where no element is overlooked, and every image is thoughtfully crafted.

She took my engagement photos in the fall of 2015, and once they were posted, people started calling. It happened just that organically. That was the moment that set her journey in motion. Since then, her business has grown step by step, propelled by her tenacious spirit, curiosity, and unwavering dedication to reaching her goals. Her first year, she set a goal to save enough to buy a new laptop. She hit that goal in less than a month. Same with buying a new camera. The real key to her success, though? Tressa put it best, saying, “I take myself seriously. Choose to take yourself seriously, and other people will.”

As a person outside of the world of photography, I had the impression that it’s a somewhat saturated field— I know several people who have dabbled here and there. I’m willing to bet you do as well. I asked Tressa about this and how it affects her ability to break through and stand out in the field. To be honest, her response surprised me! She suggests it’s saturated at the lower level, but not overall.

There are a lot of photographers out there, but many never move out of the amateur arena, not for lack of effort or skill. From her perspective, a key part of moving beyond the amateur phase is calling yourself a photographer instead of merely saying you “take photos” sometimes. This is something she sees a lot. It took her two years to call herself a photographer, which, from her perspective, was relatively quick. She knows people who have been taking photos longer than she has, who still don’t say “I’m a photographer.” Sadly, she observes this hesitation more often among her female peers. She attributes this to a lack of confidence, not necessarily commitment or skill.

For Tressa, the greatest challenge isn’t a lack of confidence or opportunity, but balancing a career she loves with family. She found the solution in pricing her work appropriately. “Charging more means better clients and respect for my product. When I finally upped my prices and set boundaries, I became more successful.” By valuing herself and her work, she didn’t push others away, but instead attracted “intentional, curated clients,” making work-life balance attainable.

Beyond doing photo shoots, she also developed an online course, Enlightened Lense Academy, geared towards helping women build their own photography business. For the time being, she’s taking a break from the course, allowing her more time to focus on other goals. In her next phase as a photographer, she would like to spend more time as a one-on-one mentor.

My takeaway from a friend, professional, and local female business owner I respect is this—call yourself what you are. Don’t be embarrassed or timid. You don’t need to wait for someone else to validate what you want for yourself. Take yourself seriously, and others will follow that lead. Tressa said it best, “Value yourself, time, and craft…Put in the work to chase what you want, and you will best serve yourself, family, and community.”