Virgin Valley History and Discovery Days was held at Heritage Park and at the Stake Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Saturday, March 25. There were many activities for families to enjoy, learn about the local history of Virgin Valley and experience pioneer crafts and foods. The program began with a flag ceremony led by Paul LeVan, Commander of Honor Guard, Navy veteran and Francis Rakow, American Legion, Army veteran. Following the prayer Pres. Jared Hollingshead of the Mesquite West Stake of the LDS church, welcomed everyone and said, “There is a sense of community and belonging in this valley. We can learn from the past and with that legacy we can be one heart and one mind.” While showing us the H5 branding iron used by his grandfather and father on their dairy farm he spoke about the legacy they left him. He told about his coach who asked the team to work together and remember the phrase, “We ride for the brand!” Hollingshead compared this phase to those in attendance and asked, “Are you all in? Can you ride for the Virgin Valley brand?” Throughout the event the local fiddlers entertained the crowd with country music: Monte Morganson on guitar and his wife Teresa vocalist and fiddler, Gary Butler on banjo and his wife, Julie on bass. There were various tasting opportunities from breads to homemade root beer, homemade fresh squeezed lemonade, raspberry mint drink or mango lemonade. A long line formed to get a hot buttered scone with jam or peanut butter. Rosa Zarate and her daughter Isela were kept busy making fresh tortillas on a griddle. She explained how to make the dough from torti mas and using her metal press she made perfectly round tortillas. She had a long waiting line for tasting the fresh off the griddle tortillas that were topped with cheese, salsa and sour cream. Pomegranate juice and homemade pomegranate jelly on fresh baked white or whole wheat bread was a popular spot. If your taste buds needed spicy there was pomegranate jalapeno jelly with cream cheese on Ritz. Richard and Denise Jensen explained the history of pomegranates, the many varieties of pomegranates and their nutritional value while passing out samples of the delicious juice they make. Virgin Valley used to have pomegranate orchards and it was a main crop they traded in Utah for produce grown there. Horseback rides were very popular with the kids and teenagers. Kraig Hafen and family brought their horses and leading the horses around the grassy field gave the “city kids” an opportunity for a new experience. The petting zoo with goats, miniature pigs, baby chicks, bunnies of various colors, and chickens of different breeds was an exciting place for the kids. The kids got to hold and actually get in the pen, hold the baby goats and pet the pigs. A huge turnkey that liked to spread his tail feather in a fan was a little intimidating but fun to watch. Other activities for kids included pulling handcarts, pushing a hoop with a stick, and the competition at the corn hole area was animated. Dressed in his western cowboy boots with spurs and his black hat, Clancy Cox heated his branding irons. The kids told him their initials and he burned it into pieces of wood that they could then take with them. Scott Sessions had a rubber band shooting area for the kids where they could shoot extra-large rubber bands at balloons. He said it was to somewhat replicate what boys did in a by-gone era - old tire tubes were cut into narrow bands and shot at targets in the desert. When the boys would hit a floating balloon, it was, “WOW, look at that!” they couldn’t seem to get enough target practice. Girls enjoyed making rag dolls and hand-carts to put their dolls in. The spinning buttons on a sting were fascinating and then the kids could take their wooden spinning toy with them. Many kids and grown-ups tried their skill at roping a “steer” including Keith Reber who lassoed the “steer” and said I didn’t think I could do that anymore after all these years not being on the farm!” The cow milking area was popular and the small children got a miniature cow while Kyle Reber related the history of the co-op dairy barn and the seven dairies in the valley that supplied milk to Las Vegas and in the winter to the Salt Lake area. The history of the Virgin Valley culinary water system was presented by Aaron Bunker, hydrologist at the water company, with a power point and pictures of the various springs on Bunkerville mountain. He talked about the current nine water wells the water district has now and will soon have eleven. Many unusual quilts from hexagon, appliqued, wedding ring, sunbonnet, fan, and Jacob’s ladder patterns were on display. Nova Mastrogiovanni told about her grandmother’s quilt made of small hexagons – “When we slept over at her house we always wrapped up in that quilt. She would tell us stories about each of the pieces and whose shirt or dress that fabric was from.” A French Star quilt made by Margaret Hardy, lifelong resident of Virgin Valley, was on display. The history of the Relief Society house was displayed and Geraldine Zarate dressed in pioneer outfit told of the restoration that is underway. She had pictures of the house before it was moved and of its ongoing refurbishing work. The next work day will be Saturday, April 15 and she invited anyone interested to come and help. A slide show was continuously shown of the picket line for the porno store from 1993-1996 when it was closed by order of the court. The original clip board and picket signs, letters from Utah’s governor Leavitt and many large pictures were displayed on the wall. Dena Hoff, HOME committee chairman, was on hand to answer questions about the longest running non-union picket line. Scrumptious Dutch oven and country food was served at lunch to large crowd. Pulled pork sandwiches, coleslaw, corn on the cob and Dutch oven potatoes with cheese were served along with Dutch oven cobbler and ice cream for dessert. Many families enjoyed sitting on the lawn for a picnic in the sunny warm afternoon. Derek Hafen entertained those present with cowboy poetry and had everyone laughing at his tale of “If you must take a drink in the stream, never remount your horse and ride up stream!” He had audience participation with his poem of the old prospector and the mule - at the end of every line the crowd joined in “just because he wanted too!” Pres. David Anderson expressed his gratitude to all those that spent time sharing and teaching about the history of this valley. He said, “The bell that is here in the park used to hang in the belfry of the old church that was on the boulevard. The serial # on it shows that it was cast during WWII and made from steel as brass was too valuable. It used ring every year on Christmas morning. There is a lot of love and kindness show by the people in this valley.” Continue to care for help one another. As you prepare for conference, drink at the head waters. Focus on the Savior Jesus Christ and trust in Him.” was his request. Thank you to Kraig and Aron Hafen and Larry and Jennifer Reber and their committee for organizing and making it a day of learning and renewing of friendships. Many thanks to John and Jennifer Woods for the Dutch oven potatoes and cobbler and Danny and LaVon Allen for the rest of the menu.
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