Author photo

By Candie Fix
Managing Editor 

Salyards' to lead "Raisin' the Steaks" parade

 

(Herald photo by Candie Fix)

2021 PHILLIPS COUNTY Fair Grand Marshals Mike and Susan Salyards. Mike has worked for Phillips County for the past 34 years and currently serves as Road and Bridge Manager.

By Candie Fix

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The Phillips County Fairgrounds have seen many changes over the years; especially over the last decade. While the differences are notable, what some may not know is the work that went on behind the scenes making it all possible. While prep work for the buildings at the fairgrounds have been a collaborative effort of many hands - one common face behind the heavy equipment is Phillips County Road and Bridge Manager, Mike Salyards.

Mike and his wife, Susan, are very familiar with the Phillips County Fair as they raised their three children in 4-H and FFA; showing horses, sheep and hogs. The couple has spent a lot of time at local fairs over the past three decades but this year, they will take a different role; this time as the 2021 Phillips County Fair Grand Marshals.

Susan grew up on a farm south of Julesburg while showing horses at the Sedgwick County Fair throughout her childhood. After graduating from Julesburg High School in 1979 her sister introduced her to a friend from nearby Haxtun, it was Mike.

Mike, a 1970 graduate of Haxtun High School, grew up and lived in Haxtun and Phillips County his entire life. After high school, Mike and his father, Ken Salyards, partnered in a farming and custom hay business but by the mid-80s, business was slow and he knew he needed more steady income to help support his family.

Mike and Susan were married in 1983 at the Julesburg Methodist Church and the same year, they welcomed their first child, Lacey.

Mike started his career with Phillips County in 1985 when he took a job as roadman. Mike said he hauled gravel for the County for close to 10 years and when Clair Pillard retired, then County Commissioner Keith Sharpe asked him if he would take over as District Foreman; a job he accepted.

At that time, Phillips County was divided into three districts, including Haxtun, Holyoke and Amherst. Mike oversaw five employees at his shop who were all in charge of county roads in their respective district, covering a total of 450 miles from the Logan County line to just east of Paoli.

While Mike worked during the day with the County, Susan spent time at home raising the couple's three children. The Salyards family expanded in 1990 with the birth of second daughter, Shaylee, and again in 1994 with the birth of son, Weston.

Susan owned an in-home daycare business and at other times she worked at the Silverhorn in downtown Haxtun and a landscaping business in Sterling. She also spent 10 years at a Sterling bank before opening up her own business, one she owns now, called Tattered Finds. Susan repurposes and refinishes furniture and has pieces for sale at Antiques and Artisans in Julesburg.

While growing up, the Salyards kids all showed lambs while Lacey added in horses to her project list and son Weston showed pigs. While their children were growing up in 4-H, the Salyards' traveled to show in many State Fairs as well as the National Western Stock Show. Susan was a big help with daughter, Lacey, who competed in gymkhanas and other horse shows. Susan herself was once a part of a horse drill team in Sedgwick County and her parents, Ruth and Raymond Anderson, raised horses on their farm in Julesburg.

Their favorite part of it all, the couple said in agreeance, was the time spent with family and friends at the Phillips County Fair.

"It was a lot of work, but it was always fun to get together at fair with friends and watching the kids," Mike said.

In 2015, then county commissioners decided to change the way the Phillips County Road and Bridge department operated and combined the department into one with a Road and Bridge Manager. Mike got the job and now oversees all county road and bridge departments which includes 13 employees and hundreds of miles worth of county roads.

While working in the road and bridge department, Mike has had a hand in many, if not all, projects and upgrades at the Phillips County Fairgrounds over the years. From demolition and hauling off debris while tearing down old animals barns to bringing in dirt to build up and level the ground so crews could build the Event Center and the Bank of Colorado Pavilion.

"I wish we had pictures and a timeline with all the changes over the years," Mike said when he talks about the fairgrounds. He recalls the old sheep stalls and what small spaces that then 4-H youth and parents had to nearly crawl to get into.

County crews, including Mike, have spent numerous hours at the fairgrounds prepping for new construction and other behind the scenes work that maybe went unnoticed to some.

In addition to his work with the County, Mike also spent 12 years on the Phillips County Fair Board. During that time, Mike said the Fair Board organized and sponsored all the races at the Phillips County Raceway and they would spend time getting the track ready for stock car races. During that time, the Fair Board also sponsored and organized the demolition derby during the Haxtun Corn Festival.

That local event is one Mike has had a hand in, also. Along with others, Mike spent a number of years helping to organize the Haxtun Corn Festival parade; no small task for anyone who has assisted in lining floats up while attempting to get them downtown to the stage with their information sheet read at the correct time.

Additionally, Mike served on the Haxtun Board of Education for 12 years and is active in the Haxtun United Methodist Church, serving on several committees.

Throughout his 34 years with the County, Mike has seen a lot of changes, not just at the fairgrounds, but in other areas as well. One struggle, he said, is budgeting each year while trying to maintain county roads and keep up with large pieces of expensive equipment.

Mike said road and bridge funds mainly come from the mill levy and highway use tax, which varies all the time. Over the last year, due to COVID-19, travel through Colorado saw a significant decrease, therefore revenues from the highway use tax are down.

While the work at the fairgrounds is something Mike has enjoyed seeing and being a part of over the years, there are other highlights, too. One, Mike said, is the replacement of almost all bridges throughout the County.

He said that project took place several years ago with funds from the Federal government. Those funds, he said, made it possible to replace old rotted wood with concrete/steel, unlimited weight bearing bridges.

"We've also built up a lot of road," he added. Mike said road and bridge departments have been diligent about building up trail roads to make most of them passable throughout the County. "And new machines is always a highlight."

A perk to the job, Mike said, has been the ability to continue to farm on the side. "I always wanted to be a farmer but I just never had the opportunities to make a living at it," he said.

Mike still farms today and recently finished up wheat harvest, just in time to help the County prep for the Phillips County Fair, slated for July 20-25 in Holyoke.

Mike and Susan's family has now grown to include four grandsons. Daughter Lacey and husband Adam live in Brush where Lacey just recently purchased her own salon; the couple have two children, Gavin and Grady. Daughter Shaylee and significant other Rio live in Greeley and have two sons, Jude and Arlo. Weston, the couple's only son, lives in Haxtun and works for Red J Welding.

The Phillips County Fair kicks off on Tuesday, July 20 with 4-H interview judging, horse show and barrel racing in the evening. Other events throughout the week include 4-H shows, Ranch Rodeo, Circus performance, stock car races, Bulls Gone Wild and much more.

For more information, check out the Phillips County Fair on Facebook or pick up a yellow fair book at local businesses.

 

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