Freedom Fest II Sept. 9 --Tickets and Raffle Items

This year's Freedom Fest will feature not only a great concert by Due West's Lead singer, Tim Gates, but a wide variety of local talent, vendors, concessions and drawings for great prizes.  Thank you for continuing to help protect both public and private lands, and for donating to the Bears Ears Cause.  Concert Tickets can be purchased for $10 on line or at Redds Ace Hardware and The San Juan Record.  

Donation tickets available at 112 S. 300 W. 
Starting Aug. 30 donations to support Freedom Fest can also be made at our booth at Clark's Market on Wednesdays and Fridays, and at the Freedom Fest 4:00-7 PM Sept. 9.  $3 donation for a ticket, or 5 for $10. Everyone has a chance to win one of 15 great prizes. 

Great Prizes for Fund Raiser Drawings at Freedom Fest
1. Console ~~ Donated by Furniture2U

215 E. Center Blanding, Utah

4 ft by 18" ~~ Value $300 ~~ Manager: Tifani Black

2. Gift basket with a variety of Nu Skin Products, valued at $200

Nu Skin Headquarters, Provo, Utah

3.  Aerial Photo of Bears Ears on Metal plate 12 x 18  by Kay Shumway    

Value $135, donated by Nature/ Bears Ears Photography.Gallery of photographs can be seen by appointment (678-2182) or Visit www.kayshumway.com

4.   Massage  -- By Lindsay Palmer Smith Value  $50

5.  Two Volumes:  Local histories by Dr. Robert S. McPherson

Each set valued at $35  (Two drawings awarded)

or

6. Cowboy Country Photograph:  by Colleen Tibbetts, Moab

Value $45

To Order Cowboy Calendars call: 435-260-0036 

The cowboy in the picture is Ricky Wilcox from La Sal UT, shown with Colleen's dog.


7.    Phone Skope great technology for hunters. Phone Skope adapters and $50 Gift Card for Samsung Galaxy and iPhone
Value $150

                                                 Visit Phoneskope for more information

8. Original Bears Ears Fabric Landscape Art 
by Devin Bayles Hancock ~~ Value $150  (20" X 30")

 9.  Seven issues of Blue Mountain Shadows  $77 Value 

     "Preserving history and culture of the Four Corners since 1986."
               Contact LaVerne Tate 435-678-2325 for more information

10. Overnight Stay - Canyonlands Lodging    

$130 Value

White Pine Cabin

Jerry Murdock manager

Visit site at Canyonlands Lodging

11. Antique Patriotic Quilt 

$300 Value

12. Browning A-Bolt 300 mag Winchester Rifle 

$700 Value

13. RC Willey~~2 Children's Cars; two drawings

Value $220 each

"United We Stand” Theme for San Juan County Freedom Fest September 9

Listen to Tim Gates Video 

“United We Stand:  Local Voices for Public Lands“ is the theme of this year’s San Juan County Freedom Fest being held Sept. 9 at the San Juan High School (Blanding, Utah) football practice field.  Chairwoman, Kim Henderson, emphasized, “No matter what side of land issues you are on, or what side of the mountain you are from, we want everyone to come and unitedly enjoy an evening of great entertainment and sociability.  We hope to have people from other counties, and even states, come and join us.  Invite your friends and family from other places.”  

 The event begins 4 PM and offers a full slate of entertainment, food and craft booths, concessions, and 10 great raffle prizes. Local performers include Native American dancers, The Magpies (Beverly Felstead, Terri Card, Kaleigh Gilson, Cheryl Bowers, Emma Holliday, and Gayle Shumway), and Magnetic Pull, "the best in Native Rock" from Blanding, Utah.  The group includes Dennis Kaniatobe Sr. on keyboard, lead guitar and vocals; Travis Moses -percussion and Native Flute, and Dennis Kaniatobe II, Lead and Bass guitar. Darren Parry of the NW Shoshone tribe, will be a guest speaker.

The main performance begins about 8 PM featuring Tim Gates, lead singer in a Nashville trio called Due West.  Gates is also a member of the Nashville Tribute Band, which has performed in San Juan County several times.  Attendees need to bring their own chairs or blankets.

Vendors Needed

Anyone interested in setting up artisan, food, or product booths should call Nicole Perkins before August 21. 435-485-0214. There is a $25 charge; however, two concert tickets will be provided to each booth. 

Freedom Fest Writing Contest

In preparation for Freedom Fest students in grades 3-8 are encouraged to enter the Unity writing contest.  There are two different brackets: grades 3-5, and grades 6-8.  The essays will be judged on development of the theme, “United We Stand.”  Winners will be announced the night of Freedom Fest, and first place winners will be invited to read their essays. Students do NOT have to live in San Juan County to participate.

First annual San Juan Freedom Fest affirms opposition to the Bears Ears National Monument

Published on San Juan Record Facebook site. Article by Devin Bayles Hancock

Local individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations, in partnership with Sportsmen’s for Fish & Wildlife, Utah Cattlemen’s Association, and San Juan Farm Bureau, held the first annual San Juan Freedom Fest on the evening of September 22nd. This festival included acts by country singer and songwriters, Darryl Worley and Charley Jenkins, and Navajo Comedian Pax Harvey. The goal of the concert was to bring more attention to the opposition of the Bears Ears National Monument and government overreach of western public lands.

The National Guard opened by presenting the Color Guard, and high school student, Eva Perkins, singing the national anthem.

The festival started off with Native American dancers and drummers performing a rain dance. These entertainers displayed customary Navajo clothing and beautifully danced the Fancy Shawl Dance that is a Northern style dance that originated from the Ponca Tribe back in the 1920’s. It’s also known as the Butterfly Dance, displaying poise and grace. Navajo native of San Juan County, Toni Dee and her daughter, Kerri Martin, participated in this dance. Other dancers include Xavier Martin and Edgar Haskin. Two other dances were performed called the Grass Dance and the Jingle Dress Dance, both healing styles of dance.

Emma Holliday, accompanied by Hayley Seiter and Annette Adams, with Mark Bake on the guitar, beautifully performed I See Fire by Ed Sheeran.

Ryan Benally, son of Commissioner Rebecca Benally, welcomed the performers and spectators, saying, “My mother wishes she were her, but has asked me to speak on her behalf. I thank each and every one for all they’re doing. I appreciate the unity of San Juan County residents. We are strong against a national monument with one mind, one voice. I will continue to fight for all San Juan County residents.”                   

Navajo comedian Pax Harvey amused and emceed the festival. His fun approaches and statements had everybody laughing hysterically.  On a more serious note he expressed, “Federal Government is trying to take over 1.9 million acres of land to build the Bears Ears National Monument. This impacts thousands of families within the area that are Native Americans and non-natives. “The Navajo, Hopi, Ute, Haulapai, Apaches, and the Pueblo’s along with ranchers that live in the area are gaining support and letting the people know this needs to stop! We need to protect our natural resources, animals, water, air, and sacred sites.

Kara Laws with Charley Jenkins.  Kara has been very active in the No Monument effort this summer, as creator of the web site and energy behind the concert. http://www.savebearsears.com/petition/

“The San Juan Freedom Fest is to gain awareness and build a stronger supportive effort to protect the Bears Ears from becoming a national monument.”The talented Charley Jenkins opened for Darryl Worley. Both famous country singers engaged the crowd with smiles, laughs, hoots, and haws. The day started of cloudy and promised rain, heavy winds, and cold temperatures. Surrounding areas of San Juan County were experiencing down pours, flooding and even a small tornado. By show time the air in Blanding was nearly perfectly still, and the skies cleared.

County Commissioner Phil Lyman said, “It was a perfect night for a very special concert. Pax Harvey was hilarious, and the Native American dancers were awe inspiring. I’ve seen Charley Jenkins in concert before, but never as powerful as tonight; and Darryl Worley did more to lift the spirits of this mall close-knot community than anyone could have imagined. The event exceeded expectations in every respect.”

Resident Mandy Warner added, “I was on my way home after the concert. The heavens opened up and it poured like crazy! It was such a great night and the weather was great!”

Marjorie Haun, Darryl Worley, Monte Wells, and Phil Lyman and Jody at City of Blanding.

[Marjorie Haun's column as ReaganGirl, has been a huge help to our local efforts, as she is on the forefront of breaking news and has helped to promote the truth in land issues throughout the US.]

Approximately 1,000 people attended the event.  Items that were auctioned include a one-day, two-person guided canyoneering trip with gear from North Wash Outfitters, a guitar signed by Darryl Worley & Charley Jenkins, three yards of cement from Holliday Construction, a Browning .300 Win Mag w/ Synthetic Stock from Sean & Lynn Giddings, and a painting of Sow and Two Cubs by Toni Lacy.

Items from the Silent Auction include a one-hour flight over Bears Ears from Jason and Kara Nay, a Younique Make-Up Gift Bag, an Illuminated Moments Photo Package, and patriotic artwork from San Juan Pharmacy.

Raffled items include a metal photo of Wooden Shoe &; Bears Ears and of the State Flower by Kay Shumway, a maroon wedding vase and blue eagle vase by Cedar Mesa, a Pendleton Native Design Bag from Merri Shumway, Heaven's Avenue Walnut Signs by Mandy Warner, a Bear Plaque and Twin Quilt from Enchanted Treasures, a Baby Tricot Quilt made by Rosalie Payne, a Bears Ears Photo Collage by Brooke Pehrson, a Firehouse Ruin Photo by MacNeal Crank, Bears Ears Quilted Wall Art by Debbie Christiansen, and overnight stay at Hat Rock Inn and Dinner for Two at Swingin' Steaks compliments Joy Howell, NuSkin Gift Bags, and carpet cleaning by Kevin Black.  Raffle was orchestrated by Wendy Black. 

You Can't go Wrong with these Three Great Performers