It's only spring, but Richfield officials are already gearing up for the Rocky Mountain ATV Jamboree in the fall, an event expected to become an annual affair.
The four-day jamboree is scheduled Sept. 22-25. It is being promoted and spearheaded by Roger Foisy, who gained the Richfield City Council's support and was authorized by the Sevier County Travel Council to spend up to $5,000 in national advertising.The council will support the jamboree by providing economic development funds for local and area advertising and shirts to promote it.
The September dates were chosen to take advantage of the beautiful fall colors that add to the spectacular mountain scenery, Foisy said. Among planned events will be a run from Richfield to Fillmore and back, guided rides along the 200-mile Paiute ATV Trail, photo contest, mud bog tractor pull contest, parade on Richfield's Main Street and a variety of evening activities.
The ATV run between Richfield and Fillmore will be tagged as a "poker" run. Participants will each receive a playing card at five different checkpoints. The rider with the best poker band when reaching Fillmore will get a prize, Foisy said.
Fillmore launched an all-terrain vehicle jamboree several years ago that is held earlier in the year. It has now drawn nationwide attention, attracting riders from throughout the country.
The Paiute ATV Trail is also attracting similar notoriety and has become an important factor in economic development in south-central Utah. It traverses Fishlake National Forest and Bureau of Land Management lands and has easy access from communities in Sevier, Millard and Piute counties.