Roots and Branches of Lehi: The People and Stories of Our City

🌆 Navigating Growth: Insights from a Local Leader | Kay Christofferson Highlight ReelHow do you balance rapid growth with preserving community values? In this highlight reel from Roots and Branches of Lehi, Kay Christofferson—lifelong Lehi resident, civil engineer, and Utah legislator—shares his unique perspective on the evolution of Lehi and surrounding communities. From the statue of his great-...

🌳  Generations of Lehi  | Kay Christofferson on Civil Engineering, Politics & Community Service What does it mean to serve the community you’ve called home your entire life? In the very first episode of  Roots and Branches of Lehi , host Ryan Harding sits down with  Kay Christofferson —lifelong Lehi resident, civil engineer, and Utah legislator. Kay reflects on his  deep family roots in Lehi...

🥁 The Journey of a Studio Drummer | Jay Lawrence’s Musical Odyssey (Highlight Reel)What’s it like to live a life behind the drum kit? In this highlight reel from Roots and Branches of Lehi, Jay Lawrence shares his inspiring journey as a professional drummer, composer, and teacher. From his teenage years playing in Reno casinos to performing with Cher, Sammy Davis Jr., the Osmonds, and more, Jay r...

🥁 The Journey of a Studio Drummer | Jay Lawrence’s Musical Odyssey (Highlight Reel)What’s it like to live a life behind the drum kit? In this highlight reel from Roots and Branches of Lehi, Jay Lawrence shares his inspiring journey as a professional drummer, composer, and teacher. From his teenage years playing in Reno casinos to performing with Cher, Sammy Davis Jr., the Osmonds, and more, Jay r...

📰  Legacy of Honesty: The Story of the Lehi Free Press  | Highlight Reel What’s it like to carry forward a family newspaper that defined a community? In this highlight reel from  Roots and Branches of Lehi ,  Sally Fowler Francom  shares the legacy of the  Lehi Free Press —from her mother Betty’s decades-long leadership to her own journey in reviving and running the paper. Sally reflects on the h...

📰 The Legacy of Local Journalism | Sally Fowler Francom & the Lehi Free PressWhat happens when a small-town newspaper becomes the heartbeat of a community? In this episode of Roots and Branches of Lehi, host Ryan Harding sits down with Sally Fowler Francom, whose family has carried on the legacy of the Lehi Free Press for decades. Sally shares her story of growing up in Lehi, her mother’s 23-...

🌟  Building Community with ‘The Front Porch’ & the Miss Lehi Experience  | Highlight Reel How can a pageant crown become a tool for connection? In this highlight reel from  Roots and Branches of Lehi , we hear from  Miss Lehi 2025 Jennifer Connolly  about her platform,  “The Front Porch,”  and her mission to reduce loneliness through meaningful community interaction. From first pageant nerves...

👑  Meet Miss Lehi & First Runner-Up  | Jennifer Connolly & Aspen Kahoush on Service, Pageantry & Personal Growth What does it take to represent Lehi with heart and purpose? In this episode of  Roots and Branches of Lehi , host Ryan Harding sits down with  Miss Lehi 2025 Jennifer Connolly  and  First Runner-Up Aspen Kahoush  to talk about their journey, community projects, and the pers...

🏛️ Honoring Heritage & Shaping Lehi’s Future | Jared Peterson’s Journey of Service In this episode of  Roots and Branches of Lehi , host Ryan Harding sits down with seventh-generation Lehi resident  Jared Peterson —a community leader, banker, rodeo committee member, and city council candidate. Jared shares what it means to carry on a legacy of deep-rooted service in Lehi. From helping preserve...

🏛️  Balancing Growth & Preserving Heritage in Lehi  | Jared Peterson’s Vision for the Future How can a growing city like Lehi protect its heritage while planning for the future? Seventh-generation resident  Jared Peterson —community leader, banker, rodeo committee member, and city council candidate—joins host Ryan Harding on  Roots and Branches of Lehi  to share his perspective. From his work...

From Teacher to School Board Candidate: Jeanne-Marie Burrows’ Vision for Lehi Education In this highlight reel from  Roots and Branches of Lehi , host Ryan Harding sits down with Jeanne-Marie Burrows to explore her inspiring journey from educator and PTA leader to school board candidate. Jeanne-Marie shares how her background in special education, hands-on involvement in classrooms, and passion fo...

📚 Connecting with Jeanne-Marie Burrows: Passion for Community and Education | Roots and Branches of Lehi What happens when a community member turns her passion for education into action? In this episode of  Roots and Branches of Lehi , host Ryan Harding sits down with  Jeanne-Marie Burrows , a devoted advocate for Lehi’s schools and a candidate for the new school board. Jeanne-Marie shares her jo...

The Importance of Community Service and Non-Partisan Local Politics in Lehi | Roots and Branches of Lehi What does it take to build a strong, united community? In this episode of  Roots and Branches of Lehi , host Ryan Harding sits down with a seasoned IT manager with 28 years of experience who has also dedicated years to local governance. Together, they explore the balance between  infrastructure...

🌳 Connecting Lehi: A Conversation with Chris Condie | Roots and Branches of Lehi What makes a city truly feel like home? In this episode of  Roots and Branches of Lehi , host Ryan Harding sits down with  Chris Condie , Lehi City Council member and mayoral candidate, to explore his journey from Michigan to Lehi and his deep commitment to community service. Chris shares how his career in IT shaped...

From Planning Commission to City Council: A Journey in Community LeadershipDive into an insightful conversation about community leadership with a former planning commission member turned city council representative. Discover her connections to Lehi's historical roots, her rapid ascent within the planning commission, and her transformative impact on local development. She discusses the challeng...

Preserving Lehi’s Story: Heather Newall & the Historical Marker Pins In this episode of  Roots and Branches of Lehi , host Ryan Harding sits down with City Council member Heather Newall to explore how deep roots and small-town stories shape big community impact. From growing up in Utah to marrying a Scotsman she met on a cruise, Heather’s story is one of connection, service, and dedication to...

📖 Empowering Young Minds: Inside Lehi City’s Literacy Center | Education, Volunteers & Community Impact ⸻ Description: Step inside the Lehi Literacy Center in this highlight reel from  Roots and Branches of Lehi , where we showcase how free tutoring and dedicated educators are changing lives—one student at a time. Learn how the center was founded, how it has grown, and how it’s providing esse...

📚 Exploring the Lehi Literacy Center with Heather Tucker | Personalized Tutoring & Community Impact ⸻ Description: In this episode of  Roots and Branches of Lehi , host Ryan Harding sits down with Heather Tucker, director of the Lehi Literacy Center. Originally from Idaho, Heather shares her deep passion for education and the story behind one of Lehi’s most impactful community programs. Heath...

In this  Roots Roundup  highlight, we sit down with  Principal Tim Brantley  to explore the moments that shaped his decades-long career in education. From growing up in Denver with dreams of becoming a judge to finding his true calling in the classroom, Tim shares how personal values, family support, and a focus on individual students helped guide his path. 💬 He reflects on: The evolving landscap...

📚  After decades of service, Principal Tim Brantley is retiring—but his legacy at Lehi High School is just beginning. In this heartfelt episode of  Roots & Branches of Lehi , host Ryan Harding sits down with Tim Brantley to reflect on his long and impactful career in education. From his early years in Denver to his leadership in the Alpine School District, Tim shares stories, lessons, and the...

🎙️ Voices of Covington: Life Stories from Our Residents 💬❤️Step into a heartwarming circle of wisdom, laughter, and legacy as we sit down with five beloved residents of the Covington Assisted Living Center in Lehi, Utah. In this special episode, these incredible individuals share cherished memories from their childhoods, careers, marriages, and adventures across the country and the world.👵 From...

🌏 From New Zealand to Washington: Education, Empathy & Equity in Today’s Schools | Roots Roundup⸻Description:In this Roots Roundup episode from Roots and Branches of Lehi, we spotlight the inspiring journey of a dedicated educator whose path has taken him from Auckland, New Zealand to Samoa, Hawaii, and finally Washington State. With decades of experience across diverse communities, he shares...

🏫 Rooted in Learning: Skyridge’s John Wallwork on Schools, Students & Success | Roots & Branches of Lehi⸻In this episode of Roots and Branches of Lehi, Ryan Harding sits down with John Wallwork, principal of Skyridge High School, for an insightful conversation about leadership, learning, and community. From his roots in New Zealand to his role in shaping Lehi’s future, John brings decades...

Stories of Service: A Fire Chief's Journey in LehiIn this episode, we delve into the inspiring journey of a dedicated fire chief who has served the Lehi community since 1993. From his early experiences with emergency medical calls in Montana to becoming the Vice President of the Western Fire Chiefs Association, he shares his passion for serving the community and improving fire safety. We explo...

Meet Jeremy Craft: Lehi City Fire Chief's Journey and Community Impact | Roots and Branches of LehiIn this episode of Roots and Branches of Lehi, host Ryan Harding sits down with Jeremy Craft, the Fire Chief of Lehi City. Jeremy shares his inspiring journey from growing up in Montana to becoming a paramedic and eventually the fire chief. He discusses the crucial role of the fire department in...