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Spanish Fork mayor tells Utah County Commission livestock show supports youth and local agriculture
Summary
Spanish Fork Mayor thanked the commission for partnership and described the Utah State and county livestock shows as a longtime agricultural tradition that delivers measurable benefits to youth and local businesses: increased participation, direct payments to showing children, booster support from local companies and scholarship funds.
Mayor Mendenhall of Spanish Fork told the Utah County Commission on May 7 that the Utah State Livestock Show and the county livestock sale are enduring community assets that support youth development and local agriculture, and he urged continued partnership between the city and county.
Mendenhall said the livestock show—held in Spanish Fork for more than 100 years—brought 723 animals through the show in 2024 with 298 sold, and 838 animals in 2025 with 350 sold. He told commissioners those numbers demonstrate active agricultural participation and family involvement in the county.
"None of those kids got less than $550 for each one of their animals, and they walked away with that cash," Mendenhall said, describing the sale proceeds as immediate support for participating youth. He also told the commission that 33-plus local businesses boosted animals this year, contributing about $18,050 to support exhibitors.
Mendenhall described additional community benefits: the Spanish Fork organization raised roughly $20,000 this year for scholarships and $50,000 the prior year to help youth pursue agricultural education. He read several thank-you notes from young exhibitors to illustrate personal impact.
Commission members acknowledged the show’s role in county life. One commissioner suggested the county could consider participating in boosting animals as other counties reportedly do. Mendenhall also highlighted a special-needs youth story from the sale day to illustrate the show’s character-building role.
The mayor thanked the commission for long-standing partnership on the fairgrounds and encouraged residents to attend the county fair and livestock events in August. No formal action or vote followed the public comment.
Mendenhall concluded by offering to provide printed copies of a Daily Herald article and archival material to commissioners for their offices, saying he hoped they would keep the materials as a reminder of the region’s agricultural heritage.
