USU Botanical Center Director Jerry Goodspeed recently addressed the City Council to update them on happenings at the Botanical Center as well as the Agricultural Heritage Center. He said the indoor arena was opened the end of October/first of November; they have had 53 paid events. This means that someone has registered the facility for one day to two-three days, and there have been 4,150 registered participants (which does not include families and friends this brings to the community). He said open ride is available throughout the week when the facility is not booked for an event.

Types of events at the facility include: team roping, barrel racing, team pinning, mounted western shooters, adult horse shows, 4-H and Youth horse shows, dog shows, community Christmas events and livestock shows. Goodspeed said his main goal was to get the Equine Assistant Service Program up and running. They have hired someone to be on site, have two mini ponies, and are in the process of getting some horses. These horses and ponies can be taken to veterans or other types of individuals who have encountered traumatic experiences and are a proven method of victim advocacy.

Goodspeed said there are educational opportunities for children and adults at the Botanical Center, which also features a much-loved urban fishery, walking and biking trails, wetland areas that support birds and other wildlife, multiple volunteer-tended gardens, an arboretum and a full schedule of classes, workshops, educational field trips and other events. The gardens, ponds, and trails are open from sunrise to sunset with no entrance fee.

Other programs include yoga and tai chai in the garden, plant diagnostic clinics, as well as the Edible Demonstration Garden where the center has 100 varieties of fruits and vegetables. The garden was installed in 2015 with the purpose of showcasing different and unique varieties of edible crops that can be successfully grown in Northern Utah. Goodspeed said “this type of learning is specifically applicable when considering recent food security issues.” Every Wednesday evening from 6:30 – 8 p.m., the public is invited to a free event to sample different garden produce tastings or tour the gardens (Taste, Tour, Ta-Dah Event). Staff is onsite to discuss gardening, mite or grasshopper remediation, and any other topic related. Live performances from local musicians will also take place from 7-8 p.m. weekly at the event.

Goodspeed said the plan this fall is to offer the Scarecrow Walk again and his hope is for Youth City Council assistance. He said it is so fun to watch them and it brings their families and friends in to the event. New this year will be the Reindeer Express, with Santa Claus and a few other things on Saturdays in December.

Goodspeed said the center works in tandem with Colorado State University to trial different plant species. He said the goal is to develop better perennials for landscaping; to date they have introduced five new colors and plants into the nursery. The Rasmussen Teaching Garden has those plants and they are hoping to show plants that are native to the intermountain area as they work toward developing dryer landscape plants. He said the USU Research Farm does a lot of plant and botanical research; and the successful projects are brought down into the demonstration garden to show the public. He said there are interns that come from colleges and spend the summer to bring their ideas into the program.

Mayor Tamera Tran said “Jerry Goodspeed was recognized as the 2024 Unsung Hero for Kaysville City.” She said in addition to creating the wonderful facility at USU, he is also a long-time resident. The Council thanked Goodspeed for the update and for all that he does.