Virgin Valley History Discovery Day

Virgin Valley History Discovery Day was held March 2, 2026, 1 at Heritage Park. Many local history displays were inside while outside there was food to taste and skills to practice, demonstrations and activities for children – Panning for gold, horseback rides, petting bunnies and baby goats or getting dunked in the water tank if the ball hit the target, hoop rolling as pioneer children, or watch branding irons heated and your initial burned into wood.

The VFW presented the flag ceremony with a flag raising and the Star-Spangled Banner. Pres. Hollingshead, West Stake Pres., and Tavis Wakefield, counselor in East Stake Presidency welcomed everyone and spoke of the Heritage we have received from our ancestors.

“We stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before and with the freedom and opportunity they made this valley a welcome place to live. We have come to remember their ways of life and learn from them,” Pres. Travis Wakefield said. “I remember meeting Nellie and Vida Hughes and telling us of the summer months when they slept outside. They would wet their sheets in Virgin River water and when they awoke in the night, they would wet them again - covering themselves with wet sheets they went back to sleep even in the heat of the summer nights. We thank them for their hard work, their blood, sweat and tears that it took to build this valley – we love them for their perseverance.”

Pres. Hollingshead grew up on a farm in Utah, and they used a brand to mark every cow with a brand or ear mark. “We knew it was out cow!” The pioneering spirit of ancestors teaches us to know who we are and to whom we belong. “With faith and hard work, they looked after one another. That pioneering spirit and same spiritual feeling exists today in this valley – There is a wonderful sense of community here.

We have come to honor our heritage and renew relationships and to gather in Christ with a spirit of love and unity.”

A lunch of Dutch Oven food, a pioneer legacy, was demonstrated and shared – Dutch Oven lunch of chicken, potatoes with plenty of onions and ham and bacon was cooked in 22 Dutch Oven over an open fire pit. Jon Meierhoff learned Dutch Oven cooking from his grandfather. He used his special family seasoning recipe for the 500 lbs. of chicken and potatoes. Jon and Josh Thompson started the coals at 6:00 am. to prepare to feed the large crowd.

Bluegrass music and some pop music entertained everyone thanks to Gary & Julie Butler and Teressa and Monte Mortenson, playing their instruments - fiddle, bass, banjo and guitar. Some of the favorite tunes were “Stop the World”, “Jerusalem Ridge”, “Foggy Mountain Special” and the exciting “Orange Blossom Special.”

Baby goats to feed, bunnies to hold and pet, a tiny pig digging with his snout in his fenced in pen, ducks to watch and many breeds of chickens on the grassy area were a favorite spot for the children and parents. Tidus, a grandson of the Abbotts, said, “The baby goats are about 3 weeks old, and they are named Scout and Cinder!” Laren Abbot said he has Easter eggers, White Polish, and Bresse from France that are prized for their flavorful meat. He extoled

the reasons duck is the ‘homesteader’s dream.’ Laren Abbott explained, “They lay delicious eggs, they are good mothers, meat and excellent parents. Death layers hen lay until they die and produce about 250 eggs a year living to be 12-15 years. The kids liked the Silkie small hens with fluffy feathers.”

Horseback rides were a new experience for kids to ride around the field on horses thanks to Derik Hafen and family. You could try panning for gold at another station which was demonstrated by Clint Sudweeks. Girls were learning to thread needles and sew on buttons.

McKay Magoon, local resident and a farrier, brought his truck with anvil and forge to demonstrate how he makes horseshoes. Starting with the long metal he heated it in the forge and placing it on the anvil, pounded and sharped it to fit his pattern. Repeating the steps of heating and pounding it eventually shaped to fit. Then it was - “Better step back!” he said as the sparks flew from the red-hot metal. When asked how he learned to be a farrier, “I went to school in Tucson and then I was an apprentice.”

Calligraphy was demonstrated by Bob Lystrup. “I always wanted to learn so when I retired, I practiced and taught myself,” he said. There was a long line waiting him to write their name with his elegant old English style calligraphy in a color of their choice.

Refreshments of homemade lemonade or raspberry lemonade was made by the Summer Crest Ward. Several varieties of homemade cookies and bars offered for sampling using family tested recipes were a favorite stop in the warm weather. Fresh baked tortillas with cheese were served hot off the griddle by Rosa and Isela Zarate.

“Where in the World” did your ancestors come from?” was the question above a large world map; you could take a tiny flag pin and put it on the country of your ancestors – at last look Europe had the most pins squeezed together. Thanks to Benell and Rozanne Christensen helping everyone find the county of their ancestors.

A patriotic T-shirt quilt was on display at a family history display. The red, white and blue shirts had been worn by David Abplanalp, Lt. Col, retired who served in the Navy and Army in Germany, Texas, Hawaii and Vietnam.

The family heirloom- and Edison Cir. 1905 phonograph – was demonstrated by Jeff Hoyt. “Once it is turned on it keeps going using centrifugal force that turns the cylinders. The large tube attached can amplify the sound. I have a large morning glory tube that amplifies it to fill a large area with music of the early 1900’s,” he said.

‘Herbs and Honey’ was the title of Kylie and Megan Teerlink’s display of quart jars of herbs and their uses. “Many of the plants can be harvested here or in the mountains nearby – blue Elderberry, mullein, Chaparral Creosote, sage, and Brigham tea. The Indigenous people used them for medicinal purposes and for tea and also the pioneers,” they said.

Bro. and Sr. Mace had a table with information about BYU Pathways to share with those who want to further their education.

History displays inside included the history of the culinary water system in Virgin Valley by Aaron Bunker, hydrologist at the Virgin Valley Water District. Pioneer Women in the valley displayed pictures of women who served the community by Geraldine Zarate. The history of the Picket line that lasted 36 months from 1993 to March 1996 when the pornography store was forced to close by the order of Judge Pro in Las Vegas District Court had original picket signs and information about the long hard-fought battle to protect our city. A timeline with pictures of events in the stake in last 30 years was displayed - 4 new buildings, 3 floods, trek, and youth activities. Boy Scouting memorabilia was also displayed.

The missionaries gave people an opportunity to answer either of two questions– Because of Christ what has happened to you? What brings you joy? The post it notes were put on a board to share with all.

Many thanks to Shem and Cheryl Teerlink, for organizing the event and Krissy and Richard Cook assisting them to make it a successful learning experience. Thank you to the many that volunteered and set up booths and shared their talents and expertise. A quilt was tied and was given away at the end to a lucky person whose name was drawn from those who got their card punched at every booth.

By Cheryl Jensen