Isaac Hale, Daily Herald file photo

Hello, Citizens of Payson and Utah County,

I hope all of you have had a wonderful Christmas with friends and family. Enjoy a fun and safe New Year’s celebration. I wish all of you the very best during 2023.

During 2022 there have been many changes in Payson. I will mention just a few.

• Mountainland’s Technical College (MTECH) Payson campus was funded by the Utah State Legislature. MTECH received funding to build its first building on the 13.5-acre Payson campus. They will be breaking ground on an approximately 86,000 square ft building in April or May 2023.
• The Red Bridge development that will be built around the MTECH campus continues to make progress.
• New businesses have come to Payson: Big O, Sherwin-Williams, Dutch Brothers, ERA Brokers Consolidated, Better Bowls, Popeye’s, Eli’s has a new owner, Riley’s Taste of Sunshine, Sip N Spot has moved into a new building, America First Credit Union is building a new branch office, Jones Paint and Glass plans on building a retail store and a new manufacturing facility in Payson. This is just a sample of the retail growth we are experiencing. We are excited to welcome them, and we are looking forward to more retail growth.

Payson has a rich and extensive equestrian connection. During the last 5 years, I have been working to bring back that connection into focus. Utah Valley University (UVU) has purchased 38.9 acres to build a future satellite campus. They have a rodeo program that needs to find a home. I have let it be known to President Tuminez and her staff that we would love to be that home.

On November 5, 2022, at the Cowboy Re-ride Reunion during the Wilderness Circuit Finals, Governor Spencer Cox’s declared November 5th as “Rodeo Pioneer Day” honoring two past Payson City residents, Raymond Knight and Earl Bascom. They were Champion Rodeo Cowboys and were international contributors to the sport of rodeo.

Kelcie Hartley, Daily Herald file photo

Earl Bascom is known as the “Father of Modern Rodeo.” Raymond Knight coined the word “stampede” and is known as the “Father of Canadian Stampedes.” Both have too many rodeo accomplishments to detail here.

As the Payson City Mayor, I will ask our City Council to support a Proclamation honoring these men on January 4, 2023.

I believe this is the right time and Payson is the right place to establish an Equestrian Park that will allow high school, collegiate, and professional Cowboys, and Cowgirls a place to practice and compete. A place for rodeo, barrel racing, roping, etc.

I am excited about the possibilities to connect back to our roots.

I wish all of you a safe and Happy New Year. May we all prosper during the coming New Year!

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