The Idaho Lifestyle: Community Events That Bring Idaho Together

From rodeos and farmers markets to youth sports and local festivals, Garrett and Shelby highlight the events and traditions that strengthen Idaho communities. They share how supporting local businesses, volunteering, and gathering together help create the welcoming culture that keeps families connected. 

Transcript

Speaker 1 0:00

And we're back with the Idaho Life Show Real Estate in Community. I'm Garrett Thill and we have Shelby Matson here, one of the top agents in the Treasure Valley here with us today. We're excited to talk more about what makes Idaho Idaho local events, things to do, why people stay here. So we'll dive right into this next segment here. So Shelby, I wanted to ask you the next question. Is that okay with you?

Speaker 0:23

Please bring it on.

Speaker 1 0:24

All right. So when you think of Idaho events, what's the first thing that kind of jumps out and stands out in your mind?

Speaker 0:31

Oh my gosh. Let me count the ways. Uh let's see. The rodeo circuit. Like number one. I mean, it is a big deal. And I myself never went to a rodeo until I lived in the state of Idaho. And wow, I was really missing out. They are so much fun, so entertaining. The athleticism, it's just incredible. I'd have to go with, I don't know what your favorite is at a rodeo, but I love the barrel racers.

Speaker 1 0:58

Barrel racers are great.

Speaker 0:59

They are. They're baddies, man. It is good stuff. I love it. So you've got your Snake River Stampede, Caldwell Night Rodeo. And then there's rodeos all over the all over the place. Um in Emmett, we have the Cherry Festival, which is a big deal. There's just so many different layers here. Concerts, can we talk about the concerts?

Speaker 1 1:17

I was gonna actually bring that up. Holy moly.

Speaker 1:20

Music is a big deal here. It's a big deal. It is like the heart and soul. And you know, one of one of the things that we love is the outside amphitheater. Yes. And it's so fun. The summer nights are some are hot, but some are just incredible. And the entertainment and the different acts that we get that actually come and perform here, good stuff.

Speaker 1 1:41

I'm impressed actually. For you know, when you think small town Idaho, when these artists almost have good managers and they realize, oh, we've got a big following in Idaho of all of all places. And I'm imagining that's probably grown over the years. I would think it's uh with with our population growth. You're getting some some big names in here.

Speaker 1:58

Really big names. Um, and then you know, there's always the fairs, which every community usually offers, but our fairs are big and we've got a big 4-H, the auctions. And one of my favorite things to do when afforded the opportunity is going to the farmers markets on Saturday. I mean, we've got our local farm-to-table farmers and people that are bringing, you know, their fresh vegetables and fruits, but also different just artisans that are baking and bringing all of these homemade jams. And it's so much fun. And you see so many people in the community coming together and helping to support local. It's an amazing sight to see.

Speaker 1 2:34

Is there any specific event that you and your family personally like to continue going to every year that you guys get excited for?

Speaker 2:42

Yeah, we love the the stampede. Yeah, yeah, the Snake River Stampede, so super fun. We enjoy it. Uh, like I mentioned. It's just uh it's pretty cool. Yeah. And um, the other thing that we really uh again like to do is go to our local farmers market.

Speaker 1 2:58

Love it.

Speaker 2:58

Yeah, it's a great time.

Speaker 1 2:59

So, why do you think that these events actually matter beyond just being fun for an afternoon?

Speaker 3:05

Yeah, well, you know, it forces people to show up in person instead of just a group text, right? Like there's actually interaction, which I think it's a strong push here in Idaho, people interacting with one another. It's easy to get caught up in, you know, being on our social media and interacting in those aspects. But when you actually show up and you see people that you haven't seen in a while, and you're literally talking over the fresh vegetables, it's it's kind of fun and you get to catch up. And more often than not, we find ourselves going to lunch or breakfast with those people because we haven't seen them. Yeah. And it's just a good time. And then, you know, there's a lifeline for small vendors and local performers. I think just being able to support them and continue the reason for generations to keep showing up together and interacting with another one another is it's important.

Speaker 1 3:55

I think it keeps the community out and about too, because we talked about this active lifestyle of physical things to do, um, which is great in conjunction with this. But but having actual events where people get together, uh, you know, just socializing together. It's a reason to to get out because sometimes we can, it's easy to lay low on the weekends, which no problem with that, you know. Once in a while, relaxing and not having anything on the agenda. But sometimes it can get uh a little bit, we can kind of get used to that. Um, but having a reason to to get out and and socialize and be with the people that that we love. Um so I know you know your kids did a lot of sports. They did, yeah. And they did sports here locally as well. So what are the youth sports and local teams? What do they add to the community? Because I know sports are a big deal here.

Speaker 4:44

They are, and there's a lot of incredible athletes that are in our programs here, younger athletes. Um and I think, you know, just the opportunity to volunteer and even coach if you wanted to as a parent, um, or become a sponsor and really being deliberate and intentional of supporting the youth. That is something that I feel everybody rallies up and wants to step into it some in some capacity. And um, you know, parents who don't agree on much work in the concession stand, they they do that together. Yeah. And it's kind of a forced hand, but at the same time, it's super fun. And you get to really get to know all the families that are on the team and then on the families that are from the other teams that your children are interacting with on the field or at dance or whatever that looks like.

Speaker 1 5:35

Right.

Speaker 5:35

Right. And then you've got the kids that are they're learning that a team only works if people show up without having to, right? So even though there's that forced hand, there's a sense of community and bonding because everybody's rallying up to support our youth. And even though you might have to be forced because it's your turn to go in the concession stand, once you're inside, it's so much fun.

Speaker 1 5:58

And sports are in full swing right now. I mean, they really start up outdoors in in spring, summer, and then go into the fall. Um, so again, I think it adds to that sense of community. Just it's another layer of things that gets people together, gets people outdoors. And, you know, you see these, you know, these unfortunate videos on YouTube where you've got parents that are really aggressive at at uh at games and other parts of the nation where they get a little bit too intense. But it's really, you see, there's a a really neat family dynamic here in the Treasure Valley. And and if I were to guess, probably a lot of Idaho where the teaching of sportsmanship to the kids is something that you you really, really see. And and for the most part, I think the parent involvement in the sports is something that's a lot healthier than you would see in other places. You hear all these stories and read stories about, you know, just these fights that parents get into, and they get it a little bit too too into the competitiveness and within the parents. But I think you see um, you know, the sports really helps develop the kids and it all starts up with the parents, right? It really does. And and um mimicking and seeing uh the support that the parents have for the kids and the sponsors, and you know, even down to the parents that are um volunteering at the concession stands together. Carpooling, you see teams get in of opposing teams getting in and carpooling together. It's just it's a it's a very unique dynamic that we have here in the Treasure Valley that that uh adds a lot to that again, that family dynamic. And that's another reason that we haven't touched on a lot, but why so many people are staying in Idaho. It's it's a very family-oriented area, and uh, and a lot of people are are moving here to raise a family.

Speaker 7:36

They absolutely are.

Speaker 1 7:37

You've had a number of people that have moved up here specifically to raise a family.

Speaker 7:41

To raise their to y to raise their young family for sure, for sure.

Speaker 1 7:44

Yeah. Okay, so when we get back, we will continue. We've got one more segment here on the hour before we hit one o'clock on this Saturday afternoon. You're listening to the Ad Ho Life Show with Shelby and Garrett, and we'll be right back.