Courtesy: gggfarm.com
SMITHFIELD — Utah Agricultural Land Trust, a Cache Valley-based organization that helps ag landowners protect their land for continued agricultural uses, will hold its first annual Fundraiser this Saturday night ,September 16th, from 5 to 8:30 p.m. at the Gibbons Green Gate Farm in Smithfield (4680 N 800 West).
Darren Parry, former chairman of the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation, will speak during the evening on the need to protect open spaces in Utah. Parry talked about the importance of doing that.
“You know, as an indigenous person, the environment, protecting our resources are just really important to me and has been throughout my whole life, even when I ran for Congress. I ran, talking about public lands and making sure that we conserve what land we have. And so, when a group like this calls and asks to come speak, it’s quite an honor to do so,” Parry explained.
He feels a connection to this area as Native Americans stewarded this land for thousands of year and called it a name which translates to Willow Valley.
He said he can imagine the valley being covered with lots of willows and green grass in those days.
“I’ve lived in Cache Valley probably for seven years now. And one of the things that concerns me just a little bit is the great amount of development. I’m not anti-development, but I certainly think we can do it smarter and we certainly have to start preserving some of these great open spaces. Especially the agricultural land that is going to play a part in our food sovereignty here down the road.”
In addition to Darren Parry’s remarks, the evening will include live country music performed by father-daughter duo David Anderson and Jenny Lynn and cowboy poetry compliments of Thatch Elmer.
Tickets are $75, a portion of which is tax deductible and can be purchased at https://utahaglandtrust.org. Donations from the event will support operations of Utah Agricultural Land Trust.