Karl and Jolene Nielsen will serve as grand marshals of the 2024 Sanpete County Fair Grand Parade. The parade will begin at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 24, and travel along Main Street in Manti.

Both Karl and Jolene Nielsen grew up in Ephraim where they still live. They attended Manti High School where they were sweethearts, and they continue to be sweethearts after 41 years of marriage.

They both attended Snow College, and, after graduating, they raised turkeys for 17 years. They also raised roping steers that they sold to many rodeo companies. While raising these steers, they put on team roping jackpots where cowboys and cowgirls could come from all over the state to compete.

One of their fondest memories is one summer when they were able to give away three horse trailers and 13 saddles, and this was possible with the donations given by many of our wonderful county businesses. It has always been fun for them to be driving down the freeway and see one of these trailers with the sponsor’s business name on it.

They loved putting on youth ropings, and they also started putting on junior rodeos around the county. The youth won many nice prizes, and this also was possible because of the wonderful people who live in this valley. They, along with a few others, were instrumental in getting the Sanpete High School Rodeo Club organized, where it is still thriving and producing state and national champions.

They recently retired; they have been in the apartment rental business and owned the Malt Shop in Ephraim for more than 18 years. The best part of the Malt Shop was being able to visit with the good people who live in this wonderful community and those who would could home for a visit.

They have always loved the county fair from the time they were young. Jolene was the Sanpete Rodeo Queen in 1980 and continued to work with the rodeo queen committee for another 17 years. Karl has been on the committee for the Sanpete County Take the Oath Memorial Extreme Bull Riding event that has been held during the past three years on Memorial Day. He still continues to rope and loves being part of the horse world and the many friends he has made there.

They are the parents of four children and six grandchildren. They feel very blessed because all four of their children still live in Ephraim where they too are blessed to be able to raise their children with the small-town values and lifestyle we enjoy here.

They are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where they have been actively involved. They feel very blessed to live and associate with the many amazing people here.