Claim OwnershipThe Rural Towns Project Podcast
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In the Rural Towns Project Podcast, Dax Jacobson combines his day job as a business professor with his love for the rural American West he grew up in. He talks to the people who are actually trying to make a living in - and to the researchers, artists, and others inspired by - the rural towns of the American West. He hopes to help himself and others understand the past, appreciate the present, and positively impact the future of rural towns and the American West.
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As promised, this is Part 2 of my conversation with HannaLore Hein (Idaho State Historian) on the history of Bear Lake. As usual, HannaLore takes us on a well-researched ride on the history of place as this time we talk about the actual Bear Lake and the Bear River - the largest river in the US that doesn’t empty into an ocean. It empties into the Great Salt Lake and we talk about how the Bear River watershed will play a key role in the future of the Great Salt Lake. HannaLore educates me on all things water in the Bear Lake Valley and the American West as we talk about cooperative development, irrigation and water diversion, prior appropriation (first in time, first in right) vs. riparian use, and the separation of water and land rights in the American West. We cover the Desert Land Act, the Carey Act, the Bureau of Reclamation and the Weston South Field Irrigation Company. HannaLore shares the history of the Bear Lake Monster (first sighting in 1868!) and we end with HannaLore’s recommendations for something to watch, read, and listen to. If you want to find out more about me or the Rural Towns Project, please go to https://www.ruraltownsproject.com/ or connect with me on LinkedIn.Podcast music: “A Happy Day” by codemusic, http://www.jamendo.com, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
In this episode, I chat with Natalie Randall, Executive Director of the Utah Tourism Industry Association (UTIA). Natalie and I talk about her interesting background in tourism and economic development and what brought her to her current position. We talk about life in Monticello and the thousands of miles she drives across Utah focusing on the the work of tourism advocacy and education for UTIA. Natalie explains the Transient Room Tax and the debates over how it should be used, the Tourism Marketing Performance Fund, Foreign Independent Travelers, and the Red Emerald Initiative (an extension of Utah’s Mighty 5 campaign). We talk about the growth in rural tourism in Utah, rural tourism challenges and opportunities, rural main streets, and the loss of rural youth to Utah’s cities. Natalie explains how her rancher father-in-law serves as sounding board and reality check for rural issues. We talk about Natalie’s favorite stretch of Utah highway and end, as always, with the Road Trip Music Question.If you want to find out more about me or the Rural Towns Project, please go to https://www.ruraltownsproject.com/Podcast music: “A Happy Day” by codemusic, http://www.jamendo.com, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
In this episode, I chat with Mark Smoot (Owner of Epic Recreation, Bear Lake Lodge, Sunrise Resort & Event Center and more!). Mark and I talk about what brought him to Bear Lake as a second career and what keeps him there (he’s become a serial entrepreneur). Mark highlights the importance of community, collaboration, and relationships with employees, customers, business owners, and elected officials and how he uses the Bear Lake Chamber of Commerce (he’s currently the Executive Director) to start conversations and build relationships. We talk about the tension that exists in moving from a primarily ranching and farming economy to a tourism economy and how growth in general (parking, housing, short-term vacation rentals, etc.) is both a challenge and an opportunity (for example, transient room tax has grown by 34% year-over-year since 2014; there are over 1,000 vacation home rentals and less than 400 people servicing all those visits). We talk about the healing power of being in the great outdoors and we end, as always, with the Road Trip Music Question. If you want to find out more about me or the Rural Towns Project, please go to https://www.ruraltownsproject.com/Podcast music: “A Happy Day” by codemusic, http://www.jamendo.com, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
I’m taking a slightly different approach to podcast episodes as I work to align some of my professional and academic interests with my personal interest in the rural American West. Rather than focus on one particular town, I will be focusing on the entrepreneurial and small business ecosystems that exist in and around rural small towns. I’ll still be talking to historians, small business owners, entrepreneurs and artists but I’m trying to get a better understanding of the entrepreneurial ecosystem that connects each of them and their communities. First up, and as an example, I’m headed back to Bear Lake and rather than focus on one small town again (Garden City, UT), I’ll be using several more episodes to try and understand the forces and issues connecting the small businesses and communities in the larger valley (from Montpelier, ID to Laketown, UT).I start off this new approach with a conversation with regular guest and friend of the podcast HannaLore Hein (Idaho State Historian). HannaLore gives an update on some of the work she is doing on Idaho history, including the upcoming America 250 initiative. In this first of two Bear Lake-focused conversations with HannaLore, we focus on Montpelier and the Idaho section of the Bear Lake Valley. We talk about the role of the LDS church in the strategic settling of the valley (e.g. Franklin to Paris to Montpelier) and find parallels in the new, smaller, more rural locations for LDS Temples. We learn that Montpelier got its name from Montpelier, Vermont (because it was the home state of Brigham Young). HannaLore uses the story of Edward Burgoyne, successful Montpelier merchant - and his very successful candy making wife - to illustrate the process and tools (Zotero, Archives West, and more) for doing history, especially community, business, and businessperson history. We end, not with the Road Trip Music Question, but with HannaLore drawing parallels between the polio vaccine in the 1950s and vaccines today. Stay tuned for part 2, where we’ll focus on the actual Bear Lake and water in the Bear Lake Valley.If you want to find out more about me or the Rural Towns Project, please go to https://www.ruraltownsproject.com/Podcast music: “A Happy Day” by codemusic, http://www.jamendo.com, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
In this episode, I chat with Shawn Milne, Cache Valley Economic Development Director. Shawn is a friend and a graduate of Westminster College and one of the most interesting people I know. Shawn and I talk about his background as a small business owner and county commissioner and how those experiences inform his new role in Cache Valley. We also talk about the role of economic development directors, chambers of commerce, and higher ed. institutions in rural economic development. Shawn tells a story about election cycles and density and growth to illustrate the challenges of balancing urban and rural and young and old. Shawn shares what keeps him up at night and what gives him hope (hint: both have to do with the how successful Cache Valley has been). We end, as always, with the Road Trip Music Question.If you want to find out more about me or the Rural Towns Project, please go to https://www.ruraltownsproject.com/Podcast music: “A Happy Day” by codemusic, http://www.jamendo.com, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
Hi. It’s been a minute. There have been some life and work changes keeping me busy the last several months but the Rural Towns Project Podcast is back! I’ll be sharing this episode and one more focused on Richmond, Utah that were recorded earlier this year before moving on (and back) to Bear Lake (Idaho AND Utah sides) in the new year. So please stay tuned for even more episodes of the podcast and be on the lookout for updates on a slightly different approach I’m taking.In this episode, I chat with Paul Erickson, Mayor of Richmond, Utah and Chief Credit Officer of Cache Valley Bank. Paul comes from a family with a history of public service and we talk about the importance of getting involved in our local communities. Given Paul’s dual roles, he also has a unique and thoughtful perspective on growth, taxes, small businesses, the labor market, and shopping locally in rural communities. We talk about all those things and more and we end, as always, with the Road Trip Music Question.If you want to find out more about me or the Rural Towns Project, please go to https://www.ruraltownsproject.com/Podcast music: “A Happy Day” by codemusic, http://www.jamendo.com, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
In this episode, I chat with Cameron Blevins, a history professor at the University of Colorado Denver. Cameron recently wrote the fascinating and important book, Paper Trails: The US Post and the Making of the American West. I loved this book and was thrilled to have Cameron on the podcast to talk about the outsized but often overlooked role the US postal service played in the settling of the American West. We talk a lot about the history of rural post offices but we also talk about the Pony Express, the mythology of the American West, the role of government in rural America, how UPS and FedEx now rely on the rural postal network for last mile package delivery, and the return of the village post office idea in rural America. We end, as always, with the Road Trip Music Question - and I learn that Cameron asks a similar question to his students!The Rural Towns Project Newsletter is live! You can sign up here: http://ruraltownsproject.substack.com The newsletter includes thoughts on each week's podcast episode (including Road Trip Music) as well as highlights from what I’ve been reading, thinking, researching, and learning about rural towns, entrepreneurs and small businesses in the American West.If you want to find out more about me or the Rural Towns Project, please go to https://www.ruraltownsproject.com/Podcast music: “A Happy Day” by codemusic, http://www.jamendo.com, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
In this episode, I chat once again with HannaLore Hein (Idaho State Historian). The focus this time is Arimo, Idaho and as usual HannaLore has done some amazing research. She shares stories about Marsh Valley, the Hudspeth Cutoff, Chief Arimo, the Fort Fall Indian Reservation, the General Land Office, Arimo Ranches, sheep and turkey grazing, trains, cold storage and more! We also talk about how HannaLore approaches doing research for our conversations and public history in general and she shares some amazing resources like the David Rumsey Map Collection. We end, as always, with the Road Trip Music Question. The Rural Towns Project Newsletter is live! You can sign up here: http://ruraltownsproject.substack.com The newsletter includes thoughts on each week's podcast episode (including Road Trip Music) as well as highlights from what I’ve been reading, thinking, researching, and learning about rural towns, entrepreneurs and small businesses in the American West. If you want to find out more about me or the Rural Towns Project, please go to https://www.ruraltownsproject.com/Podcast music: “A Happy Day” by codemusic, http://www.jamendo.com, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
In this episode, I chat with Rosie Williams, Manager of the Lewiston Theatre, in Lewiston, UT. Rosie and I chat about her long history with the Lewiston Theatre and why she’s still there showing movies and still loving it. We talk about how the Lewiston Theatre is run, how it is uniquely owned by the city of Lewiston, and the importance of cheap tickets, cheap concessions, and community. We end, as always, with the Road Trip Music Question.Podcast music: “A Happy Day” by codemusic, http://www.jamendo.com, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/Remember that newsletter I mentioned? It really is going to happen starting this month (March 2022) as a companion to the podcast episodes. The newsletter will include some thoughts on that week's podcast episode as well as highlights from what I’ve been reading, thinking, researching, and learning about rural towns, entrepreneurs and small businesses in the American West. You can subscribe to the newsletter here: http://ruraltownsproject.substack.com
In this episode, I chat with Dale Buxton of AltaBank (formerly Lewiston State Bank) in Lewiston, UT. Dale has been with the bank for over 30 years and in that time has spent time in pretty much every role, including President. Dale and I talk about his background and the history of Lewiston State Bank. We talk about the changes he’s seen in the banking industry generally and in rural banking specifically. We talk about the opportunities and challenges facing rural banks and small businesses and we end, as always, with the Road Trip Music Question.Podcast music: “A Happy Day” by codemusic, http://www.jamendo.com, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/Remember that newsletter I mentioned? It really is going to happen starting this month (March 2022) as a companion to the podcast episodes. The newsletter will include some thoughts on that week's podcast episode as well as highlights from what I’ve been reading, thinking, researching, and learning about rural towns, entrepreneurs and small businesses in the American West. You can subscribe to the newsletter here: http://ruraltownsproject.substack.com
In this episode, I chat with Jamie Andrus, President & CEO of the Cache Chamber of Commerce. Jamie and I talk about her background and rural roots and how she came to lead the Cache Chamber of Commerce. We talk about the important roles chambers play in rural communities and the relationship between her chamber and the state legislature. We talk about the issues facing rural and urban Cache Valley - things like roads, traffic, water, the growth of Bear Lake and the coming of In-N-Out(!). We end, as always, with the Road Trip Music Question.Podcast music: “A Happy Day” by codemusic, http://www.jamendo.com, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/Remember that newsletter I mentioned? It really is going to happen starting this month (March 2022) as a companion to the podcast episodes. The newsletter will include some thoughts on that week's podcast episode as well as highlights from what I’ve been reading, thinking, researching, and learning about rural towns, entrepreneurs and small businesses in the American West. You can subscribe to the newsletter here: http://ruraltownsproject.substack.com
And we're back! Sorry for the delay. In this episode, I talk to Patrick Mullen, Vice President of Arctaris Impact Investors. Patrick has a fascinating background in finance and impact investing with a recent focus on rural communities and Opportunity Zones. Patrick and I talk about Opportunity Zones - what they are, how they work, and what he would like to see them do better. We talk about the importance of regional planning, public/private partnerships, why he was in Malad recently, and how you have to show up and listen, time and again, in rural communities if you want to build trust and help. We end, as always, with the Road Trip Music Question.
In this episode, I talk to Chris Jensen, florist and owner of Daisy Hollow Floral in Malad, Idaho. Chris and his shop are beloved in Malad and throughout rural Southeast Idaho. We talk about how Chris came to be a florist and rural small business owner (he bought and took over the shop at age 21!) and the importance of family and community. Chris also provides some interesting insights on the behind-the-scenes of how flowers get from wholesalers to an arrangement on a rural kitchen table. We talk about the most popular flowers and flower holidays in Malad and we end, as always, with the Road Trop Music Question. Podcast music: “A Happy Day” by codemusic, http://www.jamendo.com, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/I will soon (starting January 2022) be emailing out a short newsletter each Friday as a companion to the podcast episodes. The newsletter will include some thoughts on that week's podcast as well as highlights from what I’ve been reading, thinking, researching, and learning about rural towns, entrepreneurs and small businesses in the American West. You can subscribe to the newsletter here: http://ruraltownsproject.substack.com
Welcome to Season 3 of the Rural Towns Project Podcast! Season 3 will have even more Idaho and Utah towns, even more episodes, and soon a companion newsletter and a few other things I’m working on so stay tuned. I’m starting Season 3 with Malad, Idaho and kick things off by welcoming back to the podcast Idaho State Historian HannaLore Hein. HannaLore and I talk about the history of Malad generally but quickly get into the fascinating role Malad played in the political history of both Idaho and Utah. HannaLore shares stories from the history of Malad that range from the meaning of the name Malad to the right to vote for women to railroads and electricity. We end the episode not with the Road Trip Music Question but with a book recommendation from HannaLore.Podcast music: “A Happy Day” by codemusic, http://www.jamendo.com, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/I will soon (starting January 2022) be emailing out a short newsletter each Friday as a companion to the podcast episodes. The newsletter will include some thoughts on that week's podcast as well as highlights from what I’ve been reading, thinking, researching, and learning about rural towns, entrepreneurs and small businesses in the American West. You can subscribe to the newsletter here: http://ruraltownsproject.substack.com
In this episode, I talk to Jake Powell, a professor at Utah State University in Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning, and a leader of the newly formed GNAR (Gateway & Natural Amenity Region) Initiative. Jake and I talk about his background in the rural West and what led him to the GNAR Initiative. We talk about what the GNAR Initiative is all about and the work Jake and his colleagues are doing to help gateway communities “prepare for and respond to planning, development, natural resource management, and public policy challenges”. (Spoiler alert: 60% of rural Intermountain West communities are gateway communities). We end, as always, with the Road Trip Music Question.Podcast music: “A Happy Day” by codemusic, http://www.jamendo.com, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
In this episode, I talk to TJ Davis of the Pickleville Playhouse in Garden City, Utah. TJ and his family founded and run the Pickleville Playhouse and TJ writes for, and acts in, the plays and deals with the business side of the Playhouse and the Pickleville brand. We talk about how TJ came to be involved in the family business (hint: it wasn’t in his first or second plan), the growth of Pickleville, Garden City, and Bear Lake, and the joys and challenges of live theater in a rural community. We end, as always, with the Road Trip Music Question.
In this episode, I welcome HannaLore Hein back to the podcast. Regular podcast listeners will recall that HannaLore is the Idaho State Historian and great friend of the podcast. HannaLore and I start by checking in on recent Idaho State History Department events. We then jump right in and have another wide ranging and fascinating conversation, this time about the history of Soda Springs Idaho. We talk about how Soda Springs got its name and the role of trapping, religion, agriculture, mining, Simplot, and more in the history of the development of the area. We also talk about the history of movie theaters and entertainment in the American West. We end, this time, not with the Road Trip Music Question, but with what movie HannaLore would watch at one of the movie theaters in Soda Springs.Podcast music: “A Happy Day” by codemusic, http://www.jamendo.com, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
In this episode, I talk to Jared Davis, owner and operator of the Idan-Ha Drive-In Theatre (yes, a rural drive-in!) in Soda Springs, Idaho. Jared and I talk about the unique challenges of running a drive-in theater in general (there are only a few hundred left in the U.S.) and in a rural community in particular - especially now that he lives 1.5 hours away from Soda but is at the drive-in every weekend in the summer. We talk about other opportunities and challenges that come with providing rural entertainment and discuss the importance of community. We end, as always, with the Road Trip Music Question. Podcast music: “A Happy Day” by codemusic, http://www.jamendo.com, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
In this episode, I talk to Shane and Camille Petersen, owners, operators, and do everything-ers for the Idan-Ha Theatre in Soda Springs, Idaho. Shane and Camille talk about how they came to own the movie theater in Soda Springs (and now another one in Montpelier!), the unique challenges facing rural movie theaters, and what it takes to run a business essentially as a hobby and community service. We end, as always, with the Road Trip Music Question.Podcast music: “A Happy Day” by codemusic, http://www.jamendo.com, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
In this episode, I talk to Brandon Schrand, author and Director of Communications for the College of Agriculture, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences at Washington State University. Brandon grew up in Soda Springs, Idaho and wrote a wonderful memoir about it - The Enders Hotel - that I highly recommend. Brandon and I use that book to frame our discussion about life in a rural town and the opportunities and challenges facing rural businesses and communities. We talk about our concerns and hopes for communities like Soda Springs and we end, as always, with the Road Trip Music Question.Podcast music: “A Happy Day” by codemusic, http://www.jamendo.com, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
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