Michael Black was born and raised in Spring City, where he still resides with his wife of 37 years, Susan. They both attended North Sanpete High School and married after he returned from a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in England. They built a home in Spring City and raised their three girls. Mike was a teacher at Spring City Elementary School and raised turkeys for 20 years, all while working on the family sheep farm.

While teaching, Mike started the music program at the elementary school. The band and choir were invited to play at many different events and special venues, including the malls at Christmastime, the Ephraim City Christmas Parade, Spring City lighting ceremonies and at Abravanel Hall in Salt Lake City. Many of his band and choir students have gone on to get their teaching degrees and teach music at schools all over the state.

Sue started a preschool in Spring City and taught for 30 years. Helping kids learn and grow has always been a part of their lives.

Mike and Sue have always been involved with livestock and farming. Many of their fond memories of dating include horses. They were leaders of a local 4-H club for many years. They enjoy helping the local county kids understand and learn responsibility as well as a love of animals. Even though they have passed on the leadership of the Spring City Baa-Ram-Ewe sheep club to the next generation, they are still heavily involved with the Sanpete County Fair and the kids in the 4-H program here in Sanpete.

The love of farming, and especially sheep, runs deep in the Black family. Mike is a fifth-generation farmer on his Century Farm. He is proud of the fact that his grandkids, who will be seventh-generation farmers, have inherited his love for this way of life. It is quite the honor to be able to take his sheep herd to their mountain range behind the Horseshoe with his kids and grandchildren and share the same memories and roads that he shared with his dad and grandparents.

Life hasn’t always been easy for Mike and Sue. In March of 2022, Mike was in a farm accident that would change their lives forever. For two weeks, he was the most critical patient in the state of Utah. Against all odds and after losing his right arm, he came home from the hospital just two months after his accident, taking the sheep to their mountain range and riding his horse in July of that same year. While this accident was life-changing, Mike hasn’t let his life change too much.

Mike and Sue have always been involved with county and city responsibilities. Currently, Mike is the deputy treasurer for Spring City and chairman of one of Sanpete County’s Mineral Lease Districts. He served on the Sanpete County Fair Board for many years. He has also served as the livestock chairman and continues to help with these activities. He has been president of the Horseshoe Irrigation Company as well as served in other leadership positions and still serves on the board. Sue works at the 4-H office and is involved with the youth and different activities our county offers.

The Blacks are active members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and have served for many years in different church positions, mainly working with the youth.

Mike and Sue have three daughters and two son-in-laws: Brittany (Michael) Hooser, Chelsey, and Nichole (Kedrik) Grasteit. They are grandparents to five wonderful kids with another on the way. All of their children still live here in Sanpete and are involved in the family farm, even starting sheep herds of their own. Their love for Sanpete and the county fair run deep, with Mike showing his lambs at the same show he gets to watch his grandkids show in.