Rural Utah has always been more than a place on a map.  It’s a way of life.  It’s the sound of early‑morning work on the farm, the pride of communities that look out for one another, and the belief that our word still means something.  It’s where families stay rooted for generations because the land, the people, and the values are worth fighting for.

I’m running because rural Utah needs a champion for rural issues and values.  I will be a strong voice unwavering in my commitment to you and the struggles your family faces.  This is not a steppingstone for me, but instead it is my commitment to you, to be your strong voice for our values.

I was raised on a working farm right here in rural Utah.  Dad was a forest ranger, Mom was the local county extension agent, and we all worked on the farm.  My brother always teased me saying he was the fastest at hauling hay, but it was really because I was so good at rolling bales.  I’ve lived the realities of rural Utah – land stewardship, water responsibility, and hard work aren’t talking points for me, they’re who I am. 

Water – I wish it were as easy as passing a bill to make it rain, but unlike some politicians I don’t make promises I can’t keep.  We must continue to fight for our share of Colorado River water, use water more efficiently, plan now to store more when water is plentiful, and research innovative water reuse options. 

Solving our water challenges will take innovation and long‑term planning.  I am committed to responsible stewardship of our resources, but I WILL NOT let out of touch environmental activists demonize agriculture in the fight for water solutions.  We cannot cede all farming and ranching to large corporations in the name of water preservation.  Our farmers and ranchers matter.  Our ability to grow our own food matters.  Our way of life matters, and I’ll fight to preserve what we love and what we have a right to, whether other parts of the state understand it or not. 

Housing Affordability – Like many families, some of our kids had to move to other parts of the state to find work.  We need to fix that.  Housing affordability is a critical issue across our communities.  We can learn from the mistakes made in other parts of the state. Someone once said, “the solution is not a silver bullet, it’s more like silver buckshot.”  We need to proceed with caution to use every tool that works.  We don’t want to build homes for investors, where our kids and grandkids end up renting forever.  We want homes for the people who work here and are invested in our communities.  That means focusing on entry-level, owner‑occupied homes, with smaller lots and houses.  I will also ensure our local leaders have the flexibility and the opportunities to address our unique needs.

Education – I’m a strong supporter of educational choice and keeping political agendas and inappropriate materials out of our schools. And while it won’t happen overnight, we must build more diverse and resilient economies and provide the education and training needed to provide good jobs and the skilled workers that our foundation industries and new businesses need to grow.  Partnering with businesses who need workers is one way we can grow our own workforce and open opportunities at home for our kids who want to stay here.  The State recently required our higher education system to realign their programs with workforce needs rather than degrees that may provide little value to the student or our workforce. I applaud this approach and as a legislator I will hold higher education accountable and ensure they remember the needs of rural Utah in everything they do.

Land Use, SITLA, and Agriculture – I am committed to private property rights, and that includes recognizing how land‑use decisions affect the entire community.  Solar companies must be required to have a plan to remediate land when panels are damaged or reach the end of their life. That means money set aside upfront in case a company walks away. We cannot allow farmers, ranchers, or public lands to be left holding the bag.

I know how critical SITLA revenue is to our students’ education.  The SITLA Board works hard to maximize that revenue, and that’s their job.  But we must work with SITLA to create better processes, longer timelines when new land use decisions are made, and greater commitment to making these projects more workable with traditional uses of the land.  We must also steer so called “clean energy” projects toward areas not suitable for grazing.  I have the relationships, experience, and respect to build that bridge and make a meaningful difference.

My brother Jordan was deeply involved with the Farm Bureau and these issues.  It’s meant so much to me as people have shared how beloved he was.  We lost him about 14 years ago in a tragic accident.  As part of his legacy, I am committed to this fight to prioritize traditional uses of our land.

Economic Growth – Rural Utah has always powered this state, and we must ensure it has a strong future. That means supporting job-creating industries, investing in infrastructure, and removing barriers that limit growth in our communities. We should strengthen our existing energy sector while pursuing new opportunities—including nuclear technologies, geothermal, and responsibly developed data centers—that provide stable, long-term jobs. We must also support small businesses and tourism, and ensure our decisions are grounded in real data, with honest evaluation of water use, energy demands, and job creation so our communities can grow and thrive while keeping our rural heart.

Rural Healthcare – We must take advantage of new grant programs focused on improving rural healthcare.  Technology can help, but only if used wisely.  I will work with local healthcare providers to ensure we’re improving access and quality, not just giving some politician a number to brag about while they remain disengaged.