Out of the Corn
The Moss family started with a simple idea to give
their children a job for the summer by growing corn and today they struggle to keep up with demand

James L. Davis

In the Moss family field of dreams the corn sells itself. Unfortunately, it doesn’t pick itself, so the Moss children can still be found most days in the corn field harvesting their crop.
But in their seventh season of growing and selling corn, the Moss’ have discovered a thing or two about not only growing corn, but about the community they live in.
Today the Moss children sell corn at their stand in Castle Dale but their original stand in Orangeville has become a self service stand.
With no one to watch it, Lee and Staci Moss take the corn stand down in front of Huntington Tractor on Main Street in Orangeville on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoon loaded with corn. On the side of their stand they have a small box for people to pay for their corn and Lee Moss said that every night when they bring the stand home there is money in the box.
Letting your corn sell itself has the potential to create a problem with theft, but the Moss’ don’t let that possibility bother them.
“If they’re going to steal the corn they must need it more than we do,” Lee said.
When the Moss’ started growing corn their oldest child, Marqui, was only 6 years old. She ran the corn stand in Orangeville by herself many days, rehearsing and reciting a script her parents had taught her to tell customers.
“I was supposed to say ‘hi, how many would you like?’ ‘Can I get you a bag?’ ‘I can pick them out for you or do you want to pick them out for yourself?’ ‘There are 13 ears in a dozen,’” Marqui said with a smile, reciting from long years of practice.
Today, at 13 and with volleyball practice keeping her at school most afternoons, her dad said she is no longer in the marketing end of the business, but is still in the production end. Meaning she will be out picking corn with her little brothers, McKlayne, 11; Mason, 8; and Malone, 7.
“Two things that spurred all of this,” Lee said, sitting on a chair on their patio with his children and wife around him. “One, we were always out of corn in the garden. And two, we wanted jobs for our kids.”
With the money from the sale of the corn earmarked for the children’s college funds, the Moss’ started out growing a little over an acre of corn in the field behind their house in Orangeville and in that first year they sold exclusively on Orangeville Main Street.
It was there that they learned how to run their corn business.
“We had our first run-in with the government when we were told we needed a business license” Lee said. “So I wrote a script for Marqui to read to the Orangeville City Council and we got our business license. What seemed like a huge inconvenience gave us our start because word spread from that meeting that we were selling corn.”
In the seven years since they have added roughly one acre of corn each year and today they have trouble keeping up with demand.
In the span of an hour and 15 minutes the Moss boys sold 15 dozen ears of corn at their stand in Castle Dale. And now the Moss’ provide corn for the youth city council lamb fry at the Emery County Fair as well as sell roasted corn of their own. If they wanted to quit the corn business, the time to do so without public outcry has come and gone.
“We’ve made a market for ourselves,” Staci said.
Besides selling corn, the Moss’ also sell pumpkins and with two crops, the Moss children have learned the value of work.
“It would have been a lot easier to just go and get a job in the summer,” Marqui said. “We’ve learned to work hard and we know that we always will have to work hard.”
The Moss children have had to learn not only the production end of the business, but the customer service side as well. Lee and Staci have made them learn how to count out change without a calculator and to treat everyone respectfully.
“It’s taught them how to be a good employee,” Staci said.
For Lee, who grew up on a farm, the experiences to be found working the land were familiar to him even if growing corn wasn’t, but for Staci and the children, being farmers was a new experience and one that has given them a lot of experiences to laugh over now.
When they first started growing corn they tried, mostly in vain, to find a way to keep the skunks and raccoons out of the corn field. Back then they discovered that for the most part skunks don’t care for rock music, so they put a boom box in the corn field and played rock music all night long. Today, they don’t worry over the skunks and raccoons too much.
“Now we just plant enough for everybody, skunks, raccoons, bugs, everybody,” Lee said.
That could be because the last time they trapped a skunk not a whole lot of work was done that day.
“I told the kids that there was a skunk in the trap and to stay away, so where’d they go, down to look at the skunk,” Lee said. “Not much corn was picked that day because we couldn’t stand to smell each other. A couple of days later Staci came across a patch of corn that hadn’t been picked and she stumbled across the same skunk in the same trap.”
It seems that everyone loves the Moss family corn, even the family dogs enjoy a good ear of corn on the cob and Lee shakes his head smiling as he tells how Staci will feed a corn on the cob to the dogs.
“They’ll eat it just like people,” she says laughing.
“They like corn. They’re corn dogs,” Marqui agreed.
The response to the family corn business has been overwhelming to the Moss’ and they said they have always been touched with how the community has been so supportive of their children.
“There are people out there who look out for the kids,” Staci said. “The community has always been patient with the kids and we appreciate everything.”
Except, perhaps, a skunk in a trap.

Celebration of Heroes

Collin Raye set to headline community event on Sept. 15

As the search for the six missing miners of Crandall Canyon Mine is halted and the Emery and Carbon County community struggles to come to terms with the loss of loved ones, a special event is being planned to celebrate what makes this community the inspiration it has become to people from all over the country.
A Celebration of Heroes is being planned for Sept. 15 at Canyon View Junior High School in Huntington to celebrate the mining communities in Emery and Carbon counties.
“It’s important for the families and the community to have a time to reflect on and give tribute to the heroic miners, the rescuers and the families affected by this terrible tragedy,” said Governor Jon Huntsman. “But we also must come together to rise above the challenges. In times like these we must celebrate the heroes.”
Country music artist Collin Raye will headline the event and former Utah Jazz player Karl Malone will be part of the program. According to Shannon Hiatt of the Emery County Recreation District, organizers of the event are trying to put together a concert with multiple bands that will play throughout the day, from as early as noon and lasting until midnight. Collin Raye is confirmed as the headlining act and more musical groups are being arranged for the event.
“The families of the missing miners and all of the mine rescuers have endured so much heartache and pain while the rest of Utah and the nation have grieved for the same losses from a distance,” Governor Huntsman said. “All of the people in Utah have felt drawn to the families during the past three weeks. I hope we can use this and other upcoming events as a time to reflect both on the heroes among us and those lost.”
“It’s an amazing thing how this has all come together,” said Huntington Mayor Hilary Gordon.
During the concert tickets will not be required, but donations to go toward the families will be welcome.

Commission to investigate Crandell Mine disaster

Governor Jon Huntsman announced the members of the newly organized Utah Mine Safety Commission which will investigate the Crandall Canyon Mine disaster and the State of Utah’s role leading up to the incident; in the rescue, recovery and community support processes, and in mine safety and accident prevention in the future. Governor Huntsman has asked Scott Matheson, former dean of the University of Utah Law School and former United State Attorney, to chair the Commission.
“When looking to appoint the best person in the nation to chair this important commission, I thought of no one better suited for this task than Scott,” said Governor Huntsman. “He has the right background, methodical approach to problem-solving, and leadership necessary to lead this important Commission.”
A significant part of this review will be an assessment of the role of state and local government relative to the federal government and private industry in ensuring mine safety. The Governor has asked the Commission to make policy recommendations on how the State should promote mine safety, including legislative changes at the state and/or federal levels. The Commission will also seek expert assistance through recruitment of a volunteer technical advisory committee.
Public hearings will be conducted in Huntington and Price, as well as other locations which may be deemed appropriate. The Commission will not be tasked with investigating the cause of the Crandall Canyon Mine disaster or determine any fault for its occurrence.
Other Commission members, serving in this voluntary capacity, will include the following:
Jake Garn, former United States Senator; Mayor Hilary Gordon, Huntington; Mayor Joe Piccolo, Price; Senator Mike Dmitrich; Representative Kay McIff; Dennis O’Dell, Safety and Health Director of the United Mine Workers of America; David Litvin, Utah Mining Association.
As for her part on the commission, Mayor Gordon said she hopes to be an avenue for miners to relay their concerns and suggestions on how to mine safer.
“I’m not there to criticize the mines or the mine mechanisms, but there’s simple ideas that could be implemented to make things better and who better to ask than the miners,” Gordon said. To that end she wants to create a subcommittee of local miners who could provide their input to the commission on how to keep miners safe.
The commission is expected to offer a preliminary report sometime this Fall.

Disaster designation paves way for emergency loans

As a result of agricultural losses due to drought, insects and wildfires President George Bush declared a major disaster in Utah on Aug. 21, making agricultural producers eligible for Farm Service Agency emergency loans.
The loans are available for physical and production losses. These losses were a result of multiple disasters, including sever drought, insect infestation, killing frosts, hot, dry winds, below normal runoffs, wildfires and flash floods that have occurred this year.
Farmers and ranchers in the Emery, Carbon and Gran County areas can apply for an emergency loan to cover part of their actual losses and must apply by April 21, 2008 to be eligible. The be eligible producers must have suffered a 30 percent loss of normal production, be able to repay the loan and other existing debt, be unable to get credit elsewhere, have adequate security and must have obtained multi-peril crop insurance or have signed an insurance waiver. Each application will be considered on its own merit.
Applications can be picked up at the Emery/Carbon County FSA Office, 1120 North Des-Bee Dove Road, Castle Dale, or call 381-2300, extension 114.

Families warned to keep young from pools

Health officials are also calling on the public to do its part by not taking children under the age of 5 or anybody in diapers, to swimming pools. Child care centers are also being asked to avoid recreational water activities and will be instructed in how to prevent child-to-child transmission of the parasite.
“The public must be a proactive partner in helping to stop this outbreak,” said Dr. David Sundwall, Utah Department of Health Director. “If the cases of cryptosporidium don’t slow down within the next two weeks, we may be forced to consider additional restrictions, such as closing public pools.”
Although cryptosporidium can infect anyone, some groups are more likely to develop more serious illness.
• Young children and pregnant women may be more susceptible to the dehydration resulting from diarrhea and should drink plenty of fluids while ill.
• Anyone with a severely weakened immune system is at risk for more serious disease and should refrain from swimming until the outbreak is over. The symptoms will be more severe and could lead to serious or life-threatening illness. Examples of persons with weakened immune systems include those with HIV/AIDS; cancer and transplant patients who are taking certain immunosuppressive drugs; and those with inherited diseases that affect the immune system.
“The aggressive actions are specific for the cryptosporidium outbreak”, said Cunningham.
Cunningham reports the following recommendations, along with good hand washing, are the best way to protect yourself and your family from most waterborne illnesses during a normal swimming season. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has six suggestions to help you stay safe.
• Don’t swim when you have diarrhea, and for two weeks after the disease has cleared.
• Don’t swallow the pool water.
• Take a shower before swimming and wash your hands after using the toilet or changing diapers.
• Take the kids on bathroom breaks and check diapers often.
• Change diapers in a bathroom and not at poolside.
• Wash your child thoroughly (especially the rear end) with soap and water before swimming.
For more information about cryptosporidium contact SEUDHD at 435-637-3671 or visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention Web site at: http://www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming/.

Youth summit opens doors for future leaders

Kathy P. Ockey

The Castle Valley Youth Leadership Summit will be held Sept. 22 at the Emery County High School. Each year the youth city councils in the area gather for a summit with speakers and other activities to involve youth and teach them leadership skills. The theme for the summit this year is “Your Attitude is Your Window to the World.”
The special guest speaker for the summit this year will be Nicole Norton. She is a member of Rachel’s Challenge, a group of people who survived the Columbine High School massacre. This group has organized and has become motivational speakers to youth to teach them how to set and achieve goals and life skills. Also attending the youth summit this year will be Miss Utah, Heather Anderson. She will also be speaking in workshops throughout the day.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be provided for those attending. There will be a rock wall, workshops and many other activities. The cost is $20 per person or $25 if you wish to purchase a T-shirt.
Each year the county youth city council members put together the lamb fry during the Emery County Fair and the proceeds from the lamb fry helps pay for the summit.
The youth city council members work with the city councils in their respective towns and they have their own mayors and city council members. There is no limit to how many can join these youth councils in each city and youth 14 to 18 are encouraged to get involved.
The youth city council members hold fund raisers throughout the year and have many ongoing service projects. One of the service projects is putting together Comfort Bags for the sheriff’s office. These are bags that contain a small blanket, coloring book, crayons and stuff animal. Whenever a child is involved in an accident or family trauma the law enforcement officer gives the child a bag for comfort and security. There were more than 150 of these bags given away during the past year.
Another service project completed last year was marking 160 graves in the Huntington City Cemetery that were previously unmarked.
For more information on the Castle Valley Youth Leadership Summit contact your local youth city council advisor. Cleveland – Jamie Jensen, 653-2219; Elmo – Christie Reed, 653-2571; Huntington – Lisa Bower, 687-5793 or Julie Jones, 687-9744; Castle Dale – Sheri Fausett, 381-2093 or Gay Lee Jeffs, 381-2108; Orangeville – Cindy Draper, 748-2235; Clawson/Ferron – Tracy Urie, 384-2994 or Kathy Singleton, 384-3379; Emery – Mistie Christiansen, 286-2411; Green River City Hall – 564-3448.