Hello John ,

Something special happened on October 3rd. More than 175 people, from climbers to policymakers, to Tribal leaders, packed into Westminster University for the very first Land We Share Summit. It started early with coffee and big smiles and ended late with laughter and good conversation. In between, the day pulsed with curiosity and care as people shared stories, traded ideas, and found unexpected common ground.

Among those who showed up were union electricians from IBEW, ranchers and grazers from Utah’s rural counties, OHV advocates, climbers, conservationists, students, and policymakers. Each group depends on public lands in different ways—from electricians building renewable infrastructure, to ranchers whose livelihoods rely on healthy grazing allotments, to outdoor enthusiasts who seek open access and protection for the places they love. While there are tensions and tradeoffs between these uses, one truth united everyone in the room: selling off or shutting people out isn’t the answer. We all want access, accountability, and care for the lands that sustain us.

Check out our amazing highlight reel so you can feel the vibe of the day:

Together, we built new relationships and a shared resolve to defend Utah’s air, water, wildlife, and wild places. Because of the $13,000+ you helped raise this summer for public lands work, we entered the day with healthy momentum, but together we left having built a much stronger movement.

Throughout the day, attendees helped bring Lizzie Wenger’s community art installation to life, filling the foyer with a public-powered paint-by-number. The day crescendoed with a keynote from Tommy Caldwell, who had the crowd laughing one moment and teary-eyed the next. Tommy reminded us that nuance and heart are what move people to action. When the dust settled, one thing was clear:

This fight is ongoing, and we're better equipped to tackle it over the long haul together.  

Thank you to everyone who showed up, spoke up, painted, planned, volunteered, and dreamed with us. We’d appreciate it if you’d take a quick 3 minute survey to share your thoughts to help make our next gathering even better. 

Onward!

Alma Baste

Public Lands Policy Associate

[email protected] 

www.stewardshiputah.org