by Stella Iverson - Festival Manager

I have been asked many times about the history of the Dixie Escalante Electric Kite Festival. Questions include: "How did the Kite Festival begin?" and "Why does Dixie Escalante Electric continue to sponsor such an event?"

One goal of the management of Dixie Escalante Electric included getting more involved within the community. One of the best ways to support the community that you live in is to give back to the community. In 1999, Dixie Escalante Electric decided to do just that. Since Royce Jones, one of the greatest imagination minds in the country, worked for Dixie Escalante Electric, he was asked to put together suggestions for a new event. Royce came up with many different ideas, including a Jell-O fighting contest. Royce asked if I would help organize the event by first asking business leaders and citizens in the community to be on the committee. Once the committee was selected the first item on the agenda was to choose the best idea from Royce's list and then plan ways to bring it to realization. The committee agreed it needed to be a fun, affordable, family event, and even though the Jell-O fighting contest was an interesting idea, the Kite Festival idea received a unanimous vote.

The planning committee had many decisions to make such as: name, location, date, sponsors, volunteers, etc. The Festival was named the Dixie Escalante Electric Kite Festival, after the primary sponsor, Dixie Escalante Electric, and the location for the first event was at SunRiver Golf Course, May 13, 2000.

As the committee continued to meet, they knew that they needed to create public interest in the Festival. Brain storming produced the idea of promoting reading as a fundamental basis of education for every child. Students would be encouraged to read additional minutes at home. A reading chart was developed and at the end of a three month reading period, students could bring their charts to the Kite Festival to be rewarded with a kite. In 2009, books were added as an additional choice for students to select for their reward.

Through the years, students have had more incentives to read and attend the Kite Festival. Once reading charts are received at the Kite Festival, they are sectioned out into individual schools. One class in each Washington County Elementary School with the most students turning in their reading charts receives a pizza party. Additional prizes for each school, such as iPods and Laser Mania Family Fun Center passes, are awarded in random drawings to students attending the Kite Festival.

In 2010 an incentive was added for the teachers that work so hard to make the reading program a success. The teachers of thirteen classrooms with the highest percentage of reading charts turned in at the Kite Festival will earn prizes. Based on a random drawing one teacher will receive a voucher for a 7-day all-inclusive cruise for two to the Mexican Riviera. The remaining twelve teachers will be given gift certificates for a 2-night stay at Cedar Crest Inn near Palisades State Park.

We could not have the Festival without our many sponsors. Each year we have cash and in-kind donations that make the Festival possible. Special thanks to our sponsors that started with the Festival from day one: Dixie Escalante Electric, City of St. George, Jones Paint & Glass, The Spectrum, Canyon Media, Cherry Creek Media, and SunRiver St. George.

In 2009, our newest sponsor, RMS Services, sponsored the stage, sound and lighting. WOW . . . a professional stage, sound and lighting... the entertainers and audience were impressed. We appreciate those that donate their time and talents during the continuous entertainment throughout the day of the Festival. Beginning in 2009 the middle schools students were asked to perform jazz exhibitions, which was a great addition to the continuous entertainment. In the early years, the Festival held an outdoor movie when the sun went down and was followed with fireworks. Five years ago the outdoor movie was replaced with an outdoor free concert. In 2009, The Cadillacs performed and will return again for 2010.

One of the goals for the Kite Festival was to make it affordable, so many of the events at the Festival are free, including parking, shuttles, admission, some children games, entertainment, the concert, fireworks, and of course, kite flying.

When you plan an event, you always look at "what if's", and knowing that the Festival would be held outdoors, "what if" there is no wind? We wanted students and families to enjoy their experience at the Festival, so if they could not fly a kite, then what? The next big idea was to have a Festival with bounce houses, games, food and entertainment. We have had a few years without much wind, but even if the wind is blowing and kites are flying, these additional attractions have improved the Kite Festival.

The proceeds from the sponsor donations and vendor fees for the Kite Festival are donated to the Washington County School District Foundation for the literacy program. Over the past ten years the Dixie Escalante Electric Kite Festival has donated $162,400.

Each year kite competitions are held on a competition field. In the beginning years some of the competitions were open to the public, but the Largest Kite and Rokkaku Kite competitions were later offered to the secondary schools in the Washington County School District as a chance for them to earn money. Also on the competition field, kite demonstrations are held. Many will remember a committee member, Shawn Stringham, "The Kite Guy", who did kite demonstrations for several years at the Festival and at the local elementary schools.

For a few years there was a Kite Festival Comic Book that was illustrated by Rick Estrada and written by Eric Allsop. Characters from the comic book even attended the Festival. Kids could color a page in the book for the coloring contest sponsored by Blue Bunny Ice Cream. The comic book ended when Rick Estrada moved from the area.

It takes many great volunteers and helping hands to make the Kite Festival successful. The Planning Committee and Volunteers always step up to the challenge and provide the needed assistance with love and enthusiasm. There are people from every walk of life who share their time and talents to support the reading program. Thank you for your enormous contribution to this very worthy cause.

The first Kite Festival Planning Committee consisted of Dixie Escalante Electric employees, business leaders and citizens of the community. Over the past eleven years the planning committee has changed faces many times, with each one of the members leaving contributions toward the success of the Kite Festival.

2000 - First Kite Festival Planning Committee

Royce Jones Pam Bundy Kent Perkins Fred Kruger Shellee Clements Sydney McDonald

Stella Iverson Don Lyman Pitece Hopkinson Marlo Rawling Sherrie Reeder Hal Halford

Chery Hulet Jerry Foote Vardell Curtis Tawna Buckway Shawn Stringham Larry Stephenson

2000 - 2010 Planning Committee Members

Aaronee Cottam Abigail Porter AJ Hegedus Angie Hymas Annette Basso Bart Chatelain Betty Block Betty Willtrout Bill Boulter Bill Reid Blake Boulter Boyd Luke Brad Oliverson Carmen Snow Cathy Nielson Chris Healy Connie Zdunich Darci Hansen Darcy Stewart Dave Hiatt David Watson Debbie Dockster Diane Tyler Don Shelline Eric Allsop

Glenn Thomas Greg Basso Hal Hiburn Jarett Waite Jaron Hunt Jay Picture Jed Hafen Jeff Murdock Joe Caldwell Joe McKeehan John Olsen Jomae Tolman Juli Cronquist Justin Kailing Kai Anderson Karen Hixon Karen Mayn Kari Isaksen Kelly Stevens Kimberly Williams Kirk Smith Kolene Granger Krista Moss Lani Puriri

Larry Shane Lee Ann Burton Lenee Clark Lorri Kocinski-Puchlik Mark Crump Mark Levy Mark Wade Mary Ann Halford Matt Dame Michael O'Hollaren Michelle Nobis Mike Green Mike Henry Monty Thurber Murray Gubler Pam Graf Pam Klotz Patrick Fenton Paul Broadhead Paul Valenzuela Rashell Moyle Rhonda Johnson Rhys Weaver

Ric Estrada Rich Harris Rick Evans Roger Echols Rosie Gracia Sandy Mortenson Scott Smith Shantell Cummins Shawn Stringham Shelia Hanes Stephanie Blair Steve Ruesch Steve Sargent Teresa Allsop Teri Boulter Terri Rosenberg Terry Monson Terry Morgan Tina Jones Todd Lovell Tommy Case Toni Ciserella Vaughn Duffin Verl Anderson

The planning committee continues to meet several times throughout the year to plan the Kite Festival with a director at the head to conduct the meeting and help organize the Festival. There have been four directors over the past 11 years, Pam Bundy 2000-2001, Don Lyman, 2002-2004, Eric Allsop 2005-2006, and Joe McKeehan 2007-2010. When Mark Wade, the director elect for 2009, made a career change and moved from the area, Joe McKeehan stepped up to the plate to direct the Festival for another two years.

When you have an outdoor event, you are never sure about the weather. The Kite Festival has only been rained out twice, postponing the activities to the following Monday. SunRiver has been wonderful to work with, including closing their golf course driving range for the Festival. Each year the Kite Festival is the same, yet different. One thing is for certain, you will have a great time at the Festival.

This brings us to the second question, "Why does Dixie Escalante Electric continue to support the Kite Festival?" The answer is simple: For the same reason that it began, to give back to our great community. If you ever have the chance to watch the students turn in the reading charts at the Kite Festival, you will get a small glimpse of what it is all about. It is very gratifying to watch families and individuals come to the Festival to enjoy being together at a very affordable event and know that students are being rewarded for a goal as important as reading, it is awesome. Also, to donate proceeds to the Washington Country School Foundation for the literacy program is the perfect ending to a good book.

Thank you to the many sponsors, volunteers, and planning committees and to Dixie Escalante Electric, the company that I work for, for being a company that wants to give back to their community.

Stella Iverson - Kite Festival Manager