Mostly Emery County Cycling Association representatives told the Fair City Council on Jan. 8 that their annual mountain bike festival brings out-of-area participants and asked the city to participate as a sponsor.

The organizer said MECA — the group’s name stands for Mostly Emery County Cycling Association — holds the festival at Buckhorn RV Resort and that the event attracted 62 participants last year from states including Idaho, Colorado and Nevada. “We all come in and stay somewhere in Huntington,” the MECA representative said, noting the festival sends riders to local hotels, short-term rentals and restaurants.

The group asked the council to allow the city logo to appear on a festival banner and sponsor page, to promote the event on the city’s website and to consider attending or helping with volunteer activities. The presenter described new elements for 2025: a Friday morning community volunteer trail-build at a proposed Rose Creek Mountain Center trail in Dills Valley, a partnership with the U.S. Forest Service on trail construction, and a health/education component that would include programs for elementary schools.

MECA said the festival organizers will again coordinate with local businesses to provide meals and encouraged the city to “participate in this.” The organizer left printed materials with city staff for posting and indicated a sponsorship check would be sent to the same address used last year.

Council discussion on the request was limited to confirming receipt of materials and staff availability to post sponsor information; no motion or vote on city sponsorship appears in the transcript.

The organizers said they view the festival as lower-impact recreation that supports small businesses and tourism; they also asked that local officials signal participation where possible to help the event’s outreach. The council did not set a next action date in the public record captured by the transcript.