4-H Helps Kids Build Confidence through Showing Livestock

August 6, 2015 - posted by Rebecca Adams

Alicia Teuscher with USU Extension – Weber County 4-H

I had the pleasure of talking with Alicia Teuscher, an Extension Educator with the Utah State University 4-H Program. The Weber County 4-H program has many different departments, but the main program that people think of when working with 4-H programs is the livestock department.

Beginning with Clover Bud, at age 5 to 8 children can participate in some activities at a basic level. There are livestock showing opportunities for Clover Buds, which helps participants build confidence in themselves as they move to the 4-H club when they reach 8 years old.

From Clover Buds, youth work their way up to the state level as they become involved in 4-H programs in high school. 4-H members can become an officer at state level and even participate in national conferences as well.

As you build confidence in showing your livestock, you build confidence in yourself and become more responsible. Building a skill level always takes time and patience, but the reward of being able to show your hard work is what makes the livestock department so important.

How Your Kids Benefit from Showing Livestock

As you build your confidence in showing your livestock, you build confidence in yourself. Alicia told me, “4-H and doing the demonstrations that I did, and going to conferences and being a state officer, helped me to overcome my difficulty of public speaking and the ability to show my livestock with confidence.”

Kennedy Douglas with her hog. Kennedy won Reserve Senior Class Showmanship at the Weber County Fair – congrats Kennedy!

One of the big benefits of doing livestock is learning to take care of animals. There’s so much you can learn as far as grooming, feeding, fitting – and having the proper shelter as well.

There is a lot of responsibility with raising livestock, because you clean up after them and make sure that their habitat is taken care of & uncluttered so your animal stays safe. As you gain confidence, you learn how to train your animal.

Wells Thompson walking his hog. Wells raised the Grand Champion hog at the Cache County fair last year!

Training is important and taking the time to prepare and show your animal. Being able to lead the animal, set up the legs, and keep the animal between you and the judge at all times are key elements to showing your livestock. Tip: Keeping eye contact with the judge is very important to showmanship.

Getting Ready for the Show

Preparing your animals for the show takes a lot of time. A child works with their animal for months before the show: weighing and charting, walking, and grooming their animal as it grows. Luckily, there’s a lot of support and resources to guide 4-H members with their steer, lamb, or hog. Then in the summer, it’s time to get ready for the big event.

Fitting, as it is called, requires you to shear your livestock right before a show. You’ll also trim the hooves and wash them with specific soap that is safe for them. You learn how to scrub and wash your animal; for example, in between the hooves and under their belly and legs. You can also learn how to shear your animal: this is an important skill because shears are sharp, and the animal can be cut easily.

Pace Thompson with his hog

There are many different animals that are a part of livestock showing. Steers, lambs, and hogs are a few that are presented and auctioned off during these shows. “When looking for an animal for the fair you want to look at their health: that they have good feet and legs, the width and length of the animal, and their breed character.”

“The biggest thing is to practice, so it becomes second nature. With lambs you use a halter that helps them to be able to lead and set up for a show,” Alicia advised.

With hogs, you don’t use a halter – rather, a leading stick that helps them to follow your lead. With steers you use a halter as well as a leading stick to help them with posture and form. “It takes a lot of time and patience to train the livestock. They spend a lot of their summer training these animals for the shows.”

Gavin Douglas and his steer (and showmanship buckle!)

How your kids can get started

Getting into the program is simple! There are offices you can call to get involved in, and even as an adult you can sign up as a volunteer. If you have several children interested, you can sign up as a family group. There are so many different resources and clinics that help you become involved and learn more about your livestock and the proper ways to show and train your livestock.

If you are in Weber County, reach out to Alicia’s office at 801-399-8206 or WeberCounty4-H.org to get your son or daughter involved. You can also find Utah State University Extension on Facebook!

No comments

3 Ways to Shape a Palm Leaf Hat

August 5, 2015 - posted by Rose Marion

Need some shade at the rodeo or playing after work? Our Western guy Marty can show you how to shape a palm leaf hat today in a Gus, Brick Top, & Buckaroo style.

He shapes these cowboy hats here at the store with a steamer, and you can shape yours with just a bucket of water at home – watch how!

Cowboy Hat Styles

In the Buckaroo style, you’ll have a smooth bowl-shaped indent in the crown, round all the way around. Use a bowl or a ball to get this shape. Then you can raise the middle of the indent over another round shape, like a smaller ball, from the inside. You can also shape a nice lip in the top of the crown. The Buckaroo typically has a pretty flat brim, too.

This is the style of hat that Tom wore for his Trek outfit – he shaped it himself!

A Brick Top hat means you have four corners in the brim of the hat, and an even indent.

The most common styles of hat Marty sees is a Cattleman’s crown and a Gus. The Cattleman is like the hat Marty’s wearing: two dents running from front to back. The Gus is just like the Cattleman’s, but the dents are only in the front of the hat.

How to Shape Your Hat at Home

To do this at home, fill a bucket with water. You can use cold water and let it soak a while, or lukewarm will speed it up a bit.

Start with the crown and use your fingers and thumbs to start the shape.

Move to the brim and shape your brim.

Now let it dry. You’re all done!

Get a Hat of your Own

Get your own palm leaf hat from Smith & Edwards! We carry a HUGE selection of Sunbody hats, which is our favorite brand of palm leaf hat. These hats are Guatemalan-made and hold their shape nice after you shape them. They come in lots of adult sizes as well as kids’ sizes.

Come in to Smith & Edwards in Farr West and we’ll shape one up for you, too!

No comments

The Tradition of Ogden Pioneer Days

July 17, 2015 - posted by Regan Taylor

Utah’s founding is a story of 148 pioneers trekking over 1,000 miles across the country and finally arriving to the Salt Lake Valley on July 24th, 1847. By 1869, some 70,000 or so more pioneers made this long, strenuous trip to our beautiful state of Utah.

In the summer of 1934, Mayor Harmon W. Peery started what’s known as “Ogden Pioneer Days”. This was how he wanted to celebrate and remember Utah’s pioneer ancestors and heritage.

The Ogden Pioneer Days has definitely been a tradition that has stuck; every year, the Ogden Pioneer Stadium puts on a rodeo and other special events, such as a parade and western festival, that attracts many people. Today, it’s known to be among the top 5 best large outdoor rodeos by the Professional Rodeo Cowboy’s Association (PRCA).

Jim Smith And The Ogden Pioneer Days

Jim Smith, son of Smith and Edwards Bert Smith, was President of Smith and Edwards since the 60’s, and an ardent supporter of the rodeo lifestyle. To understand Jim and Paula Smith’s total involvement with the Ogden Pioneer Days tradition, I talked with Jim’s close friend and Executive Administrator of Ogden Pioneer Days, Jackie Belnap.

Jim Smith

Jackie recalled Jim becoming a part of the Ogden Pioneer Day’s Heritage Foundation Board some 10 or so years ago. But she says his active involvement really had been going on for somewhere between 35-45 years before. He was there to sponsor or support in ANY way he could.

Jackie said it was almost like every time the board thought to ask the Smith family for help, that they had already had it in their minds to help anyway. In other words, he didn’t have to be asked; Jim jumped in with both feet because of the passion he had for the Ogden Pioneer Days and community. And Paula was always right there with him, supporting in anyway she could too.

One moment that stood out to Jackie was when Ogden Pioneer Days had their volunteer appreciation party. Jackie had asked if Jim would be willing to give out a couple free gifts to some of these volunteers for their involvement and help with the Ogden Pioneer Days activities. Expecting just a couple free gifts, like they had agreed to, Jackie was stunned when she came to Smith and Edwards to pick them up. Jim had filled up an entire pick-up truck full of gifts for these volunteers who had taken time out of their day to help out. All 300 volunteers received a gift that night.

Of course, he did more than just support financially. Jim did all he could because he truly cared about all these people and what the Ogden Pioneer Days stands for. Jackie told me: “We would sometimes refer to him as our water boy. He was always making sure the cowboys had their cold water ready and that the coolers were always filled. There was literally no end to his support.”

“Dad and Mom enjoy rodeo and the lifestyle. Dad competed in rodeo when he was younger and they raised all of us kids to love it too. Dad enjoyed his involvement with Ogden Pioneer Days. One of his main concerns was making sure the needs of the contestants were met. Mom has also helped out by volunteering in the contestant hospitality tent. She has always been everyone’s mom. This time of year the rodeo athletes spend a lot of time on the road. Its nice for them to feel like they have a place where they can refuel and recharge.

Dad always believed fully in giving back to the community and service. The Ogden Pioneer Heritage Foundation is one of the many boards he served on. He always felt like the store (Smith and Edwards) was blessed and that we are lucky to have the success that we do. It was his way of giving back. They are a great example of service before self.” -Misti Kosoff, daughter of Jim and Paula Smith

Jim Smith passed away in March, 2013. But his presence and support for our community is still deeply rooted. After he passed, the Jim Smith Memorial Scholarship was created. This is a $1,000 scholarship for high school seniors involved with rodeo, 4-H or FFA. All around Ogden at special rodeo events or fairs, you’re more than likely going to see a Smith and Edwards sponsor sign.

There was no limit to how much support Jim and Paula had for our community. This year, Jim and Paula Smith are being honored as Grand Marshalls for the Ogden Pioneer Days 2015 celebration. To learn more click here.

Grand Marshalls of 2015 Horse n Hitch Parade

Paula and the Smith family ride as Grand Marshalls in the Horse N Hitch parade on Washington

If you’ve thought about going but have never lived the crazy fun of the Ogden Pioneer Days, I highly recommend you try it this year. The events have been going on for about a week or so, but there’s still time to get in on all the action!

Events You Don’t Want To Miss

July 19th, at Ogden Pioneer Stadium at 8 a.m.:

Slack Breakfast and Timed Slack Event.

July 20th at Golden Spike Arena at 2 p.m.:

Miss Rodeo Utah Horsemanship Competition: Come out and support your favorite rodeo gal!

July 20th, at Ogden Pioneer Stadium at 6:30:

Pre-Rodeo and PRCA Rodeo: “Standard Examiner Family Night”.

July 21st, at Ogden Pioneer Stadium at 6:30:

Pre-Rodeo and PRCA Rodeo: “Patriot Night”.

July 22nd, at Ogden Pioneer Stadium at 6:30:

Pre-Rodeo and PRCA Rodeo: “National Day of American Cowboy” theme.

July 23rd, at Ogden Pioneer Stadium at 6:30:

Pre-Rodeo and PRCA Rodeo: “Tough enough to wear pink” night. Come at 6 p.m. to check out the Miss Rodeo Utah Freestyle Horsemanship Competition.

July 24th, THE BIG DAY!!

9 a.m. on Washington Boulevard: Kick off the 24th of July with a Parade down the streets of Ogden. 20th street to 30th street.
6 p.m.: Pre-Rodeo
7:30 p.m.: PRCA Rodeo
8:30 p.m.: Coronation of 2015 Miss Rodeo Utah
After the Miss Rodeo Utah is crowned, don’t forget to stay and watch the display of fireworks.

Pre-Rodeo Events Include:

Mutton Bustin’
Junior Posse Jamboree
Wild Cow Milking
Musical Chairs
Hide Racing

To get more details on registration and each event, visit the Ogden Pioneer Days website by clicking here.

We’re a stop on the Charm Trail, get your Smith & Edwards star charm at our Western department counter!

No comments

How to Make a Bandana Dress for your Little Girl

July 16, 2015 - posted by Amy Griffiths

Isn’t she cute? It’s so simple: a t-shirt and two bandanas, and you’ve got a brand-new outfit for your little girl! This is a fun sewing tutorial and you’ll be hooked on making these for your toddler. There’s a lot of room for her to grow in a dress like this!

For Smith & Edwards, I HAD to make my little girl a Realtree camo dress!

You’ll need:

1 storebought tee
2 bandannas (same or different!)
Sewing machine, scissors, ruler, and chalk pencil or sewing marker

How to make a Bandana Dress

Measure the width of the bottom of the tee.

Now, use this formula: Multiply the width by 2 and add 1.5".
For my tee, I took 12.75 x 2 = 25.5. Add 1.5 = 27".
Now, fold your bandana in half to make a triangle, and fold in half again.
Take your number from step 1 and divide by 6.28 (this is pi times 2, for those playing along at home.)
For me this means 27 / 6.28 = 4.29" (I used 4.25")
Place one end of your ruler on the corner of the bandana, and mark along the bandanas at the mark you found in step 3 – for me, that’s 4.25". Make sure and make several marks, then join a line with a chalk pencil.
Cut along the line you made. Unfold, and you’ll have a perfect circle cut in the middle of your bandana.
Repeat step 4 & 5 on your second bandanas.
Now, lay one bandana on top of the other, and offset so you can see all eight points. Pin together.
On your sewing machine, use a large stitch to baste your bandanas together (about 1/4") .
Slip your tee in the opening you’ve made.
This part may seem a little tricky! You don’t want to join the edge of the bandanas with the very bottom of the tee: bring it up an inch, so you don’t see the hemmed seam of the tee.

Make sure right sides are together, and pin tee to bandanas.

I do this by folding the bandana in half, as well as the tee, and pin. Fold that half in half and pin together. Keep doing this until you’ve got about 8-12 pins in.
Now, sew it together. Tip: Your tee is smaller than your bandana cutout, so just make sure you stretch your tee as you sew.
Unfold your dress, and you’re done!

Add an embellishment made from the circles you cut!

With the leftover fabric from the bandana holes, you can embellish your dress: Cut out a heart and use iron on fusing like Stick ‘N Hold or Wonder-Under – or, make a handmade flower! It’s all up to you!

Get your bandanas online at Smith & Edwards online: Get a Realtre AP Camo Bandana or traditional bandanas to make your own bandana dress!

Love this Sewing Project? Pin it!

No comments

Have Herbs? Dry & Preserve in Mason Jar Herb Shakers!

July 15, 2015 - posted by Rebecca Adams

The best part of having your own garden is harvesting your own vegetables, fruits, and herbs. Drying herbs is simple, and with your own herb garden you can have the comfort of fresh and organic herbs and spices at your fingertips.

When to get ready

The early summer months of May and June is the best time to head over to your local nursery, and you can find an abundant supply of different herbs and spices to choose from. Some popular choices that do really well in the ground as well as in raised beds, are cilantro, thyme, basil, and chives.

How to Pick and Dry Herbs

The process is easy: harvest the herbs before they flower and the best time is early morning before the sun hits them. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to finish the process, because it’s best if you start to prep your herbs for drying when you first pick them.

Make sure you wash gently and drain excess water, then tie a rubber band around the bottom with the herbs leaves facing down. Then hang in a moisture free area. It’s that simple!

If you prefer, place the herbs on a mesh screen in a food dehydrator and let it run. This is a great method for parsley and chives: Cut the herbs with kitchen scissors, then let dry on a screen tray.

My favorite part is crushing the herbs with a mortar and pestle!

Store your Herbs in Mason Jar Shakers

I love these Ball Mason jar herb shaker caps – so useful and super-affordable!

I love these shaker lids for regular Mason jars that you can personalize and put your homegrown spices and herbs in! They work great for pretty jam & jelly jars as well as the pint & a half size Mason jars. You can even work on your biggest regular-mouth Mason jars.

They have nice big holes so you can shake out sprinkles and sugar spots as well as your favorite herbs and spices. Even mini chocolate chips! Mmm!

Add a label and you’re set!

See more Mason Jar lids & drinking mugs here. Click here to see Canning jars, too.

Put a label on your herb shaker and you’re set!

Help Us Grow! Share this tip on Pinterest!

No comments

Not Just A Country Store – Smith and Edwards Manufacturing

July 11, 2015 - posted by Regan Taylor

Today, I had the privilege of talking with our very own Smith and Edwards brand team. Some may not know this, but Smith and Edwards is a brand name for horse tack, bridles, pack saddles and pack saddle equipment, saddle bags, and leather-working goods.

It doesn’t matter if you’re an outfitter, hunter, trail rider, rancher, or rodeo cowboy; this brand is for all Western style riders. That’s right, we don’t just sell top quality Western tack and Western trail riding equipment, we make it too!

The Smith and Edwards company tried out the idea of making their own brand and products back in 1979. What started out as a simple yet solid idea, has soared to a well-respected brand name used by many cowboys in the Western region of the U.S. and is sold to many country/feed stores.

Why? Well it could be that it’s a brand made in USA, for USA. Or maybe it’s because the company is always looking for ways to improve their products and make them fit customer’s needs.

Trying new patterns and different sewing strategies, as well as changing lengths and cutting techniques help the team get a feel for what works and what doesn’t based on what our customer is looking for. Because, after all, your support and feedback is what keeps us going!

“Come on. What have you guys really changed to make your products better?”

Well, the Lasal Box Style Pannier is a perfect example. Before, the weight of what you were carrying would weigh down the middle of your bag. The Lasal Pannier now comes with a diamond pocket that the staps go through. This helps it to secure your load and compresses it together to help relieve pressure on the seams.

Lasal Box Style Pannier

Criss Cross Strap Set for Lasal Pannier

“I buy our pack equipment, headstalls, back cinchas, reins, lasal box style panniers, Utah pack panniers, and mantees. I choose the Smith and Edwards brand because of quality and price. And also because I know if there’s a problem I can bring it back and the Smith and Edwards team with get it taken care of for me” -Kris Betts, Western sales

Tapered Utah-Style Pack Bag

Behind the Scenes of the Smith and Edwards Brand Workshop

“I enjoy working with the people in the Western department. We are almost like a family. Well, I guess we are a family seeming how we spend most of our time together.” -Steve Lewis, leatherworker

The Smith and Edwards Western Department Team. From left to right: Tom, Dave, Sam, Marty, Jess, Dani, Steve, Kyle, Shaun, Kris, Sherm.

Believe it or not, but it is a rather small team that works together to bring you all these one-of-a-kind products. And they aren’t made in some huge factory; instead they are beautifully hand-crafted right here at Smith and Edwards in the back corner of the Western department. The space is also relatively open, meaning our team can be seen, in the store, making these awesome products for you.

Smith and Edwards uses the best materials needed for each product they make. This includes:

Hermann Oak Leather: Mainly used on reins and headstalls.
Skirting: For cinches and breast collars.
Bear cloth: Tough, heavy nylon that doesn’t mildew. This is used on all of our pack bags.
Latigo: Used in almost everything we make.
Canvas: Mantee’s, slings, and pack bags are all made with canvas.

The team uses a few machines, of course, to help them make these products just right. There’s an:

Edger: This helps to soften and round the edges of the leather.
Creaser: To put in the “creases” or lines that give the product a clean and defined finished look.
Puncher: For when the team needs to punch multiple holes into the leather at once.
Splitter: Used for thinning the leather out.
Riveter: Made to squeeze rivets to join two materials together.
Sewing machine: The sewing machines Smith and Edwards use are mainly for pack saddle bags, breast collars, and slobber straps.

The Smith and Edwards team designs and makes everything entirely from scratch, from carefully cutting the leather and punching holes to the final sewing touches and branding of our Smith and Edwards name. Each item takes a different amount of time to make and uses a different type of process. This means that our team has to be very knowledgeable and precise about how they work, especially when quality is such a big factor.

Square Utah-Style Pack Bag

“Saddle panniers are probably one of the most time consuming products to make. It can be a challenge cutting the pieces for it out of the leather. I’ve spent almost a whole day on one lasal bag before.” -Tom Donovan, leatherworker

Thanks to Troy Higgs for the amazing photos of his packing trip!

Do you have a photo of your Smith & Edwards gear in action? Send us your photo to info@smithandedwards.com, we’d love to see it!

Why You Should Give Us A Try

The products Smith and Edwards sell are made specifically to work AND to last. The brand isn’t a super flashy one, it is better suited for the “working cowboy”. Products are made the old-fashioned way, and not mass manufactured. I guess you could say it’s more personal that way!

“My favorite part about working back here is being able to take something, cut it up and then piece it back together to make a product one of our customer’s will use and love. It’s rewarding.” -Marty Thompson, Western manager

Heavy Duty Nylon Saddle Bag & Cantle Bag Combo

Smith and Edwards has been a store you’ve trusted to bring you quality products and exceptional customer service for some 50+ years now. So, of course it is expected that our brand name products uphold the same standards, if not higher.

If you love Smith and Edwards, you’ll love what we make! Next time you’re looking to buy headstalls, bridles, halters, straps, or breast collars for western style riding, think Smith and Edwards. You won’t be disappointed!

To get a full listing of our catalog and everything we sell, please click here. (PDF file).

Click here to find your favorite Western Tack items at Smith and Edwards

No comments

Kids’ Rodeo Outfits for Summer Rodeos

July 1, 2015 - posted by Misti Kosoff

At Smith and Edwards we like to think that we carry the best western clothing, rodeo gear and rodeo apparel in the area. Rather you are a youth rodeo participate or a PRCA top rodeo cowboy or cowgirl we have what you need to help you be competitive and look good doing it.

(Reminder: Are your kids ready for Mutton Bustin’? Bring them to Smith & Edwards and get registered for Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo’s Mutton Bustin’ competition!)

The Bull Rider

Like many young cowboys this handsome cowboy has big aspirations of being a competitive bull rider… much to his tie down roping Dad‘s dismay. He found just what he would need to climb on a bull and give it a try.

Gear:
Youth Phoenix Safety Vest – rodeo vests & gear available online here
Jr. steer riding rope $74.99 – Barstow ropes available online
Bull Riding Glove $47.99

You can explore Rodeo clothing for the whole family online! Click here to explore Wrangler, Cinch, and more Western brands online.
Clothing:
Roper solid snap front long sleeve shirt $24.95
Retro Wrangler jeans BRT20 (available online) in Night Sky, 12 oz. premium denim, comfortable mid rise, straight leg fits over cowboy boots. $26.95
Twister 10x hat $64.99
Smith and Edwards offers a full line of kids’ and adults’ Ariat Boots. You can even choose from Men’s, Ladies’, and Kids’ Spurs as well as Spur Straps.

The Roper

This blue-eyed heart breaker loves to rope anything that moves, or doesn’t move, in some cases. He is geared up and ready to compete and looking handsome as ever.

Gear:
Smith and Edwards offers a full line of Cactus Poly Ropes.
Rattler Boys Goat String $14.95

Clothing:
Roper plaid button front long sleeve shirt $27.99
Limited edition 20X Wrangler jeans, mid-weight 12.5-oz, relaxed seat, thigh, & knee, straight leg styling fits easily over boots. This jean, 33BLDNS, is available online! $26.95
American Hat Company $99.99

The Barrel Racer

Gotta have the matching gear!

And what rodeo wouldn’t be complete without the sweethearts of the rodeos, the barrel racers. You will have a hard time keeping up with this little cutie and her stick horse “Brownie”. She is all about style, bling, and the love of horses.

Gear:
The Troxel Legacy Helmet is a slim profile helmet. The narrow profile offers a classy look while providing the safety all moms desire. $54.99
Nylon Braided Quirt $11.99

Clothing:
Angel Ranch belt $36.99
Wrangler diamond snap, foil embossed, long sleeve shirt. $24.95
Rock ’47 girls Wrangler grey embroidered with rhinestone stud back pocket jeans. $31.95

Pair with her favorite boots, like Justins or Ariats.
Remember to get your tickets to Ogden Pioneer Days rodeo at Smith & Edwards! Smith & Edwards is a proud supporters of Miss Rodeo Utah and Ogden Pioneer Days, July 20-24. See you at the rodeo!

No comments

June Roundup: Summer Fun with Rodeos, Spices, and Local Finds

June 26, 2015 - posted by Rose Marion

As part of the web team at Smith & Edwards, I’m always learning about the gear we carry & cool tips for: rodeo, hiking, target shooting, & so much more. And did I mention I’m building Pinterest boards for all of these too? (follow us!)

Instead of keeping all my cool finds to myself, I’m starting a monthly series to feature these great tips & ideas we come across as my team & I build the online Smith & Edwards experience! Leave a comment and let me know what you love or want to share with our readers!

Rodeo & Country Living

Love rodeo apparel? Clothes for Does in Idaho features second-hand rodeo shirts and will also buy your shirts for consignment.
Speaking of Rodeo, here’s a sneak peek from Misti’s Lookbook next week, featuring outfits for your kids’ rodeo outfits… (click to see her recent Rodeo Fan outfit here)

Want to practice ropin’ even when it’s raining out? Watch our boss Craig Smith rope a coffee table roping dummy at 5:00 in the morning with ABC4. Could you rope a steer before sunrise?
We love making rodeo, trail riding, & pack gear for horse people here in our shop! Local Ogden paper the Standard-Examiner featured our Western tack workshop – Pack Saddles in demand across the country

Tom making pack bags here in our workshop (photo by Briana Scroggins, Standard-Examiner)

Plus, check out our latest post, Pioneer Outfit Ideas for Trek: Tom & Kelsey model great outfits and recommend some ways to stay comfortable if you’re going on Trek this year.

Shooting Sports

Thanks to EVERYONE who came out & shot our guns and ammo at our 2015 Range Day! Click here to see some big winners and relive the experience. We’re already excited for next year!

Mike also shared his Handgun Grip & Stance Essentials in this video. It’s great to feel confident about what you’re doing when you go to a gun range. I’m always remembering where to put my thumbs.

Cooking

What’s your favorite? I can’t wait for peaches!

Ogden’s Farmer’s Market starts July 11 so get ready! Some of the Highway 89 fruit stands are already open as well, and Canning season is just around the corner.
Watch for Smith & Edwards’ canning sales starting in July – we’re partnering with Pettingill’s Fruit Stand to bring you some great recipes this summer! I can’t wait. Watch Pettingill’s Facebook page for all their updates!
I can’t get over how adorable these spices are! You know you’ve made it BIG when you’ve got your own line of Herbs & Spices. Our spices come in BIG bottles in over 120 kinds. Rebecca took such cute pictures, I HAVE to get a garden going…

Yum!! – Ever since Marty got that Branding iron, he’s been putting the Smith & Edwards logo on anything that he can find….

An in-store FAVORITE, we just added the Libertyware line of forks, knives, cookie sheets & more to our online Kitchen department. This is great-priced outdoor & in-the-kitchen cutlery and servingware. Tell your friends that they can get it delivered now!

Fishing

Our fishing guy Chris says Willard Bay is a MUST-GO! “Walleye and Wiper don’t like the heat either. To get to the bottom where they are, use a bottom bouncer and a Kokanee Creek Tackle Walleye worm harness,” Chris says.
Remember you can get a Utah state parks pass so your family can hang out at Willard, Bear Lake, and many more of Utah’s beautiful parks for just a flat yearly rate – click here to get yours from the Utah DNR.
Special Willard Bay Tip: Remember your bug spray!

Ryli is one of our Sporting Goods cashiers and pulled this slug of fish out of Willard Bay this month. Nice going Ryli!

Are you catching fish? Send us a picture to put on our Brag Board!

Show your Smith & Edwards pride with fly boxes we just got in! These are magnetic so they hold your flies tight when you’ve got your hands full.

Choose from 12-compartment or 8-compartments. Magnetic compartment make fly fishing that much better!

Local Finds

Mikaela put together 50+ Family-Friendly things to do in Ogden this Summer… check it out!
Speaking of getting ready for fun in Ogden, July 20-24th is the Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo, where Miss Rodeo Utah will be crowned. The 2015 Whoopie Girls have been announced and we’re excited for July!
We’ll be honored to participate in the Miss Rodeo Utah fashion show again – click here to see photos of the beautiful contestants at last year’s fashion show.
And if your children want to get into Mutton Bustin’, bring them over to Smith & Edwards to get them registered for Pioneer Days! Children between 5-8 years old and under 55lb are eligible. You can also get your Ogden Pioneer Days general admission tickets (arena south side) here at Smith & Edwards.

Get in the Know!

Are you on our Email List? We’d love it if you subscribed to our YouTube channel & joined us on Facebook.

But, the way to get in-the-know on our Current & Upcoming Sales and giveaways, get all our tips & videos, and even some pranks is to get on our email list. We know you love Smith & Edwards… show us by joining our email list!

No comments

What You Need for Pioneer Trek

June 24, 2015 - posted by Rebecca Adams

The trek is an opportunity to travel back in time and let go of everyday comforts and modern technology. Cell phones, cars, and cable are left at home and are replaced with handcarts, face-to-face conversation, and the great outdoors.

When you start your trek you are placed into a family that consists of a ma, pa, and siblings. The group is about ten people to a handcart as they travel up to 13 miles a day. Looking for a packing list to replace your misplaced list? Check out our Trek Packing List!

No comments

Thanks for coming to Range Day 2015!

June 22, 2015 - posted by Mike Vause

To all our friends in Weber County, Box Elder County, & beyond who came to Range Day 2015…. THANK YOU! We are so glad to be here for you as you came and tried out a slew of guns. It was so great to see families here and we can’t wait for the next one!

Trying out the latest from Smith & Wesson

Crowd Favorites

Our vendors really pulled through, and brought some fun & hard-to-find guns. Some of the most popular guns:

Springfield handguns: 1911 and XD’s
Smith & Wesson handguns (and a 500!)
Savage rifles

This little automatic BB revolver that our Umarex rep brought was a big favorite!

Browning rifles
Both 338 Lapua rifles
Sig 9mm & 45 pistols
TacSol .22pistols & rifles
CZ Scorpion 9mm

He likes this one!

Last year, we had a gun at each of the 20 lanes. Thanks to vendors stepping it up this year, we had easily 50+ guns to try out!

Smith & Wesson Reps and a whole ton of ammo at the Smith & Wesson booth!

Checking out the Sig Sauer offerings

Heard at Range Day:

When is the next one?
Thanks for such a cool event
Do you do this every year?
This is a nice setup and a nice range
I didn’t know that this range was even here
There are lots of options here!
I wanted to try this gun out before I bought it.
Hey, I saw you on YouTube!
This is what we wanted for the city range – Perry City Police Chief Weese

“Range Day was an awesome experience. I loved having so many choices of firearms from so many different manufacturers. The cost was very affordable. The manufacturer reps explained all the benefits and features of each gun and optics. The Smith and Edwards staff made the event fun for all.” – Mike Taylor, Smith & Edwards fan and 338Lapua enthusiast

Perry City Mayor Karen Cronin and Connie Wolf from The Well Armed Woman (Northern Wasatch chapter)

Better than Last Year!

The Perry Range added a dueling tree this year, so the dueling tree was a fun challenge: 10 people won & received free ammo passes! Right on. This event definitely topped last year’s Range Day.

We’ve really got to thank our AWESOME sponsors! Many more vendors showed their products this year, which not only meant that you got to try out more guns: you got more attention. Vendors got to explain specs, gun operation, and give you feedback.

And, we the Smith & Edwards team were able to spend more time making sure the gun fit you, you had a good grip and stance, and that you felt confident operating the gun.

Spotting the long range targets

In addition to more vendors & many more options of guns to try out, this year we had more giveaways, and more parking!

Faye and Matt took home a FREE gun each! Thanks to H&K and Springfield Armory for sponsoring these awesome giveaways. We also gave away BUCKETS of 22 ammo.

Thanks again for coming and making Range Day 2015 a great event. Leave a comment & let me know if you think we should do it a 3rd year!