5th Annual Amazing Earthfest Summary Report

SUMMARY REPORT

5^TH ANNUAL AMAZING EARTHFEST MAY 15-21, KANAB, UTAH

Published 10/30/11, by Rich Csenge, Director & Events Coordinator

Events open to the public:

Total number in 2010 – 60 events (compared to 47 events in
2010, an increase of 28%)

Events unique to Amazing Earthfest – 48 events (compared to
33 in 2010, up 45%)

Categories:

Arts, Culture & Entertainment
Award Winning Documentary Films
Botany & Wildlife
Cycling, Horseback & ATV Riding
Dinosaurs, Rock Art & Hiking
Land Management & Community Sharing
Natural & Cultural Resource Talks & Demonstrations
Science, Ethics & Astronomy

Volunteer Organizers:

Total Number – 38 persons
Core Team of Organizers – 12 persons – new for 2011
Total Hours of Community Service Donated: ~ 2000 hours

Principal Participating and Supporting Organizations:

Bureau of Land Management – Kanab Field Office
Grand Staircase Escalante Partners
American Hiking Society
Best Friends Animal Society
Dixie State College
University of Utah
The Wilderness Society
Wildfire Foundation
Kanab Chamber of Commerce
Sierra Club, Arizona Chapter
Symphony of the Canyons
The Leonardo’s STEMWorks
KUED Channel 7 Public Television, SLC
KUER 90.1 FM Public Radio, SLC
High Desert Backcountry Horsemen
Juniper Fine Arts Gallery
Variety Arts Council – City of Kanab
Arvel Bird
Bullfrog Films
Utah Native Plant Society

Federal Agencies Participating:

Bureau of Land Management
Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument
Kanab Field Office
U. S. Forest Service
Kaibab National Forest, North Kaibab Ranger District
Dixie National Forest, Powell Ranger District (new for 2011)
National Park Service
Pipe Spring National Monument
Grand Canyon North Rim (new for 2011)
Grand Canyon Parashant (new for 2011)

Public Attendance:

Attending all events of the 5th Amazing Earthfest – 1200 adults
(Grand Canyon NP estimated)
Documentary Film Series attendance (11 films) – 188 adults (a 26% increase from 2010)
Total attendance at the 5th Annual Amazing Earthfest in 2011 was 1200, compared with 1100 at the 4th Annual Amazing Earthfest in 2010, an increase of 9%
Commentary: Factors that influenced overall attendance in 2011 included the ongoing economic recession, stormy weather for three days during the festival, the Equine Herpes outbreak resulting in cancellation of 3 events, gasoline prices 25% above 2010 levels, and two important civic meetings in Kanab during the week of Amazing Earthfest.
Attendees originated from thirteen states – Utah, Arizona, Colorado, California, Nevada, Idaho, Washington, Wyoming, Oregon, Iowa, Michigan, New York, Hawaii, Florida, and from five nations – Australia, Canada, Ireland, The Netherlands,and Trinidad & Tobago (information of origin collected voluntarily, hence list may be incomplete)

Advertising:

Posters – 250 distributed regionally (150 mile radius)
Rack Cards – 1000 distributed regionally and in Park City, UT.
Schedule of Events – 1400 distributed locally
Newspaper Ads
Southern Utah News
Kanab Area Vacation Guide
The Independent
Where It’s @ St George Spectrum
Magazine Ads & Calendar Listings – Print
Kane County Visitor Guide
RV Journal
Arizona Tourist News
Outdoor Utah Adventure Journal

Radio Ads

KUER 90.1 Salt Lake Public Radio
Kane County Emergency Services Radio

Web Presence

Paid Advertising:

Southern Utah News – Full-page ads in 2 editions
The Independent
RV Journal
Arizona Tourist News
St George Spectrum

Print, Visual & Online Marketing & Advertising

Amazing Earthfest Schedule of events – 1,400 distributed locally
Rack Cards – 1000 distributed regionally
Table Cards – 2000 distributed locally/regionally
Flyers – 250 distributed locally/regionally
Three Street Banners in Kanab City
Amazing Earthfest T-Shirts with 4-color logo – 50 available at events
“Dr. Clawed the Dino” Coloring Book
Information Booth at Kane County Visitor Center (staffed daily by AE volunteers)
Information Booth at Kanab Earth Day Celebration on April 20
Kanab Area Vacation Guide (feature article with photo)
Kane County Visitor Guide (feature article with photo)
Cycling Utah (magazine and online)
City of Kanab Calendar of Events
Crescent Moon Theater (pre-screen ads)
Utah Sierran (1/2 page ad)
Sports Guide Magazine (Keepers article and online promo)
High Country News (mentioned in an article about Kane County)
Announcements at Best Friends Animal Society (intranet and employee invitation)
Travelheadlines.utah/hike-with-experts
Southern Utah Recycling Coalition (SURC)

Radio Advertising

KUER 90.1 FM Public Radio Salt Lake City (no charge)
Kane County Emergency Services Radio (no charge)

Newspaper Articles:

Southern Utah News – 7 feature articles, (some with photos) in 7 editions (plus 1 LTE)
Saint George Spectrum – 1
The Independent – 2

Online & Social Media

New & Enhanced interactive website www.AmazingEarthfest.com
New Facebook page

Special Presentations

Kanab Chamber of Commerce monthly meeting April 19, 2011
Kane County Commission meeting May 9, 2011

Special Designations

Proclamation of the Kane County Commission designating Amazing Earthfest week

Major Financial Supporters and In-Kind Donors:

Joy In Wood Furnituremakers
Utah Division of Arts and Museums
Crescent Moon Theater
Rocking V Café
Dixie State College
Southern Utah News
Quality Printing
Kane County, Utah
Grand Staircase Escalante Partners
The Wilderness Society
Grand Canyon Expeditions
Glazier’s Family Market
40 additional businesses, organizations and individuals also contributed funds.

Financials for 2011:

Cash revenue of $10,268.00, up 49% from 2010
All In-Kind donations including volunteer service – $36,458.00, up 110% from 2010
Ticket sales – $1623.00, up 100% from 2010
Amazing Earthfest was awarded its first grant in 2011, in the amount of $2,000.00.

All Local, Regional, & National Businesses and Supporting Entities:

Total Number of Supporting Entities – 57 – an increase of 170% over 2010.

Utah Environmental Congress
Best Friends Animal Society
Dixie State College
Grand Staircase Escalante Partners
Utah Division of Arts and Museums
The Wilderness Society
Sierra Club, Utah Chapter
Sierra Club, Arizona Chapter
Southern Utah News
Zion Pharmacy
Crescent Moon Theater
Wingate Wilderness Therapy
Willow Canyon Outdoor
Knuckleheads Bikes, Boards, & More
Quality Printing
Holiday Inn Express
Joy In Wood Furnituremakers
Rocking V Cafe
Glaziers Family Market
Kanab Chamber of Commerce
Denny’s Wigwam
Xpressweb Internet
Yates Insurance
Spurs Grill
Road’s End Tours
Grand Canyon Expeditions
The Independent
Lumber Plus
Houston’s Trails End
Desert Mesa Construction
Mountain America Credit Union
The Junction Drive-In
Steve Stacey
Seth Levy
Marty Feeley
Laurel Anderson
Jennifer Hilger
Bobbi & Sky Chaney
Bob & Karen Lecour
Maida Rust Withers
Mary Lou Cronin
Mike Schollian
Nick McCausland & Deborah Swanson
Joan Thatcher
Ron Henderson
Tana & Mike McTeer
Chuck Combs & Elisa Rios
Don & Sue Fox
Marie Giacobone
Misti Haines
Noel & Mary Poe
Rich & Debra Csenge

Individual Presenters Directly Involved In Providing Events:

Total Number – 77 persons.

These included subject matter specialists from public agencies including the National Park Service, Bureau Of Land Management, the U.S . Forest Service, as well as local business owners and individuals, performing artists, and specialists from regional Non-Profits with interests on the Colorado Plateau.

Proclamation approved by the Kane County Commission

KANE COUNTY, UTAH, May 09, 2011 – A PROCLAMATION to designate the third week of May as “AMAZING EARTHFEST WEEK IN KANE COUNTY”

WHEREAS, Eighteen National and State Parks, National Forests, National Monuments, and districts of Public Land administered by the Bureau of Land Management, are located within one-half day’s drive from Kane County; and

WHEREAS, Kane County residents live in communities surrounded by extraordinary, world-class natural splendor and scenic wonders; and

WHEREAS, living landscapes in natural condition have the unique capability to powerfully inspire human creativity, introspection, and personal healing, while providing for continuing scientific discovery; and

WHEREAS, Kane County derives substantial economic benefits that assure the sustainability of its regional tourism economy from visitors around the world who treasure the Parks, Forests, Monuments and Public Lands in and around the County; and

WHEREAS, managers and staff in the National Park Service, US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Utah Department of Parks who make their homes in Kane County, share their expertise and experience in a wide range of physical and life science disciplines through their interactive programs benefiting all age groups including Kane County’s school children; and

WHEREAS, within the constraints of carefully designed management plans and consistent with local economic heritage, Kane County continues to realize direct economic benefit through mining, grazing, timber harvesting and other opportunities available on public lands; and

WHEREAS, the annual Amazing Earthfest, a public festival organized by volunteers in Kanab to celebrate land and life on the Colorado Plateau, provides enjoyment, learning opportunities, and artistic values to residents and visitors throughout the County; and

WHEREAS, residents of Kane County who originate from diverse backgrounds, and bring a richness of artistic talents and expertise to service projects within the County such as the annual Amazing Earthfest, freely share their interests, skills and passion for their community with residents and visitors;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that Kane County hereby designates the third week of May each year as Amazing Earthfest Week in Kane County, and encourages families, local residents and visitors to be enriched by attending the events of Amazing Earthfest, and to develop a deeper understanding of how individual actions within human society influence and affect regional and global ecology.

Signed by Commissioner Doug Heaton,
Chair, Kane County Commission