We frequently hear complaints that government fails to keep up with changing times and new challenges. So, let’s give credit to the Davis County Commission for its timely response and new vision for the once-rural Legacy Center complex near Station Park in Farmington.

The commissioners are positioning the county as Utah’s leading site for youth recreation. Instead of under-utilized rodeo grounds, the location is being transformed into a special event complex. It could be used for a business conference or a high school graduation, but the emphasis will be on attracting the hundreds and thousands of children, pre-teens, and teens from all over the western states who participate in club and city-sponsored soccer, lacrosse, volleyball, etc.

It’s an expanding market, a niche tourism sector generating sales tax from restaurants and hotels. (Along with the two existing Farmington hotels, an additional one will probably be needed to house the parents and athletes wishing to be near the action.) In addition, hotels, eateries, gas stations, and other retail stores within miles of Farmington will see extra cash in their tills. 

Oh, and the County Fair…What has become a mishmash of insurance agent booths and second-hand clothing/jewelry stands is being replaced with August’s Heritage Festival, a concept which ironically appears to be more like an old-time fair than the over-commercialized replica the county sponsored in the recent past.

Of course, there has been some blowback from residents who despair to see the rural tradition receding.  But the new vision is a no-brainer. You can’t fix a leaking ship with a cotton ball and a strip of masking tape.

Davis County has a farming tradition, but not a farming future. Today’s taxpayers hop on Toyota SUVs, not horses.  The last time I’ve heard the word “saddle” uttered was during a Willie Nelson song at a karaoke bar. Mention stirrups and 99% of Davis County women will think of their OB/GYN. There are three times more day spas in Davis County than fruit orchards.  (It’s not just Davis County, of course. There were once some 500 dairy farms in Utah; KSL reported last week that there are now only 100.)

The county is not tossing the ponies out of the pasture. Equestrian events are being moved near the USU Botanical Gardens area. If people want to see a rodeo, they can take a 15-minute drive to the Weber County Fairgrounds. There are rural options both in the county and in nearby communities. But by and large, the closest a Woods Cross family wants to get to “real country” is paying $75 for a George Strait concert.

The county commissioners could have turned a blind eye to the future, much like Congress is doing to the coming Social Security debacle. Instead, they plotted a course benefitting merchants, taxpayers, and families. 

And if you’re still not convinced, just think of this: In the near future, the once-deserted Legacy Center dirt could be the site of a multi-state pickleball championship. If that’s announced, I’ll invest in a corndog food truck! 

Bryan Gray, a longtime Davis County resident, is a former school teacher and has been a columnist for more than 26 years in newspapers along the Wasatch Front.