Emergency personnel to be celebrated during Utah State Fair event

SALT LAKE CITY – Any time emergency personnel are called, they know they could put their lives on the line.  

First responders do it anyway.

“They’re heroes, and we need to honor them for their commitment,” said Jacee Lancaster, livestock director for the Utah State Fair and the production manager for Utah’s Own PRCA Rodeo. “In light of recent events, we really need to praise the men and women who take those calls, so we’re going to honor them on the first night of our rodeo.”

That will be the opening performance of the rodeo, which begins at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5, in the Days of ’47 Arena at the Utah State Fairpark in Salt Lake City. Tickets can be purchased at UtahStateFair.com/tickets. Other performances will take place at the same time Saturday, Sept. 6, and Monday, Sept. 8.

While this is an annual celebration of emergency personnel, fair officials are ramping up their efforts since two Tremonton-Garland police officers were killed and a third and his service dog were injured during a recent shooting in Tremonton, about 70 miles north of Salt Lake City. Sgt. Lee Sorensen and officer Eric Estrada lost their lives in the altercation.

“This has to be a tough time for first responders,” Lancaster said. “It’s scary. The officers were just doing their jobs, and then this tragedy happened. It blows my mind to even think about.”

Friends, loved ones and law enforcement officers were left devastated. Other first responders were, too. News like this makes everyone in the community emotional.

“I know at least three officers that were called out to the incident because of this, so it hits on a personal level with me, too,” Lancaster said. “I think it hits with so many people, because we all know a police officer or a firefighter – or any first responder – that will drop what they’re doing and be on the scene as fast as they can.”

Any first responder who wants to attend Friday’s rodeo will be admitted free with the appropriate identification. The invitation also extends to any person in the military with appropriate I.D. There will be an opening to the show dedicated to honoring the heroes who step into harm’s way, those who protect and serve, those who battle blazes, those who triage patients at the scene of something horrific.

“Most of us can’t even imagine what it’s like, but every first responder has a calling to do this,” Lancaster said. “We have to honor them. We have to celebrate them for stepping up when others can’t.”