Logan Greer, of Lehi, holds a yoga pose as a goat stands on him during a goat-yoga session Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, held by Goga near the Summerhill Event Center in Saratoga Springs. “There’s two main reasons why people do yoga: the exercise factor of it, and for therapeutic purposes," explained co-owner of Goga and full-time college student, Benson Richardson. "We find the goats enhance both of those reasonings.” Sessions last 60 minutes: 40 minutes of yoga and 20 minutes to interact with the baby goats.
Summertime is beginning to wind down, school's back in session and things are getting more busy around Utah County.
August was chock-full of things. A wildfire was sparked, burned 30,000 acres and is still active as of now, the Utah County Fair rolled back through town, football and other high school fall sports kicked off, and several stand-alone assignments kept me busy writing when I wasn't shooting pictures. More than recent months, the hectic schedule of the past month has made it more difficult to slow down and evaluate my pictures as I pump out assignments. However, these monthly blogs are always a good way of looking back and seeing what direction I've been heading lately, and trying to think of new approaches to take while on assignment.
Besides daily assignments, I am currently finishing up a short Monday Close-Up on a family effected by the Coal Hollow Fire (the fire mentioned above), getting things together for my next Monday Close-Up and finding time here and there to continue shooting my longer-term rodeo project that I began a few months ago. Now begins my favorite time of the year (both seasonally and work-wise). August is over, and there's only 22 more days until fall. However, I'm a sucker for fall. I'm already eagerly awaiting days spent driving around the mountains with the windows down enjoying the fall colors, crisp evenings, haunted houses and indulging in apple cider and pumpkin spice lattes. (Could my love for fall be more cookie-cutter? haha)
Skyridge tight end Ioholani Raass (31) shouts to pump up his teammates before a game between the Skyridge Falcons and the Lone Peak Knights held Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, at Skyridge High School in Lehi.
Orem running back Trevor Rockey (14) completes a catch and runs for several more yards before being downed during a game between the Orem Golden Tigers and the Bingham Miners held Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018, at Orem High School.
Orem defensive back Brody Monson (83) sports a state championship ring as he listens to coaches talk before a game between the Orem Golden Tigers and the Bingham Miners held Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018, at Orem High School. Orem won the 4A football state championship last year.
Pleasant Grove setter Abigail Miller (15) sets the ball during a game between the Skyridge Falcons and the Pleasant Grove Vikings held Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018, at Skyridge High School in Lehi.
Spectators enjoy suckers on the sidelines during a game between the Orem Golden Tigers and the Bingham Miners held Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018, at Orem High School.
Orem head coach Jeremy Hill walks along the sidelines shortly after Bingham scored the first touchdown during a game between the Orem Golden Tigers and the Bingham Miners held Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018, at Orem High School.
Provo middle linebacker Mason Cobb (8) celebrates after intercepting a Cedar City pass that was blocked by outside linebacker Drason Havea (33) during a game between the Provo Bulldogs and the Cedar City Redmen held Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, at Provo High School.
Skyridge running back Ma'a Notoa (32) jumps over Lone Peak defensive back Nate Ritchie (6) as he drives the ball upfield during a game between the Skyridge Falcons and the Lone Peak Knights held Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, at Skyridge High School in Lehi.
Skyridge middle hitter Alice Ellsworth (14) reacts after Pleasant Grove scored a point during a game between the Skyridge Falcons and the Pleasant Grove Vikings held Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018, at Skyridge High School in Lehi.
The shadow of Curtis Wolthuis is cast on his horse, named Cowboy, as Wolthuis talks with fellow volunteer Ron Brailsford before taking part in training for the Utah County Sheriff's Mounted Posse held Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Provo Canyon.
Brylee Horsley, 8, of Eagle Mountain, looks toward a goat as it too takes a bite of her award after a goat-yoga session Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, held by Goga near the Summerhill Event Center in Saratoga Springs. Attendees are dubbed Gogis, and one or more receive a special award after each session.
Hailey Bollar, of Santaquin, spits a cherry pit during the annual Orchard Days Cherry Pit Spit held Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018, at Rowley’s Red Barn in Santaquin.
U.S. Army Sgt. Ben Bills kisses his four-month-old son, James, in front of his home after a welcome-home celebration Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2018, in American Fork. Bills was most recently deployed for ten months and one week, serving in the United Arab Emirates and Afghanistan.
Madi Graham, 13, left, and Katie Maag, 12, carry their boat, named El Gato, out of the water after sinking before finishing the race during Salem Days' Cardboard Duct Tape Regatta held Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018, at Knoll Park in Salem.
Jack Hetzel, 3, of Spanish Fork, walks through a shark-encounter cage after the Shark Encounters show during the Utah County Fair held Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018, at the Spanish Fork Fairgrounds.
Fans watch Sam Smith perform as they sport shirts displaying various faces of the singer during his "The Thrill of It All Tour" held Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018, at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City.
Aubrie Christensen, 11, of Lindon, holds a chicken just after catching it as other children chase chickens during the Lindon Days Junior Rodeo held Friday, Aug. 10, 2018, at the Lindon Arena. “The chicken chase and this whole event has been a staple in Lindon since the beginning of Lindon Days," explained Shylee Sweeten, coordinator of the Lindon Days Junior Rodeo. “Once they catch the chicken, they get to keep the chicken. That’s their prize,” said Sweeten. Explaining that families aren't informed of the chase's prize, she said with a laugh, “It’s a surprise for everyone at the end." However, if the chicken-receiving family doesn't want the bird, the rodeo is happy to relocate the chicken to a suitable family.
Aaron Haveron, of Elk Ridge, finishes pitching during the men's division of the Orchard Days Home Run Derby held Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2018, at Callaway Field in Santaquin.
Dylan Idleman, of Madill, Oklahoma, evades a bull during the American Bullfighting competition as part of the Utah County Fair held Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018, at the Spanish Fork Fairgrounds.
Krew Woodland, 5, hugs his mother, Haylee Haveron, after she read him a book Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018, at their home in Payson. Woodland recently returned home from an extended stay at the hospital.
Vaughn Jaten, 9, of Alpine, left in glasses, and Sean Groll, 9, of Highland, right in glasses, react as they catch trout while other kids scramble to catch fish with their hands during the Alpine Days Fish Grab held Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018, at Creekside Park in Alpine.
Lynde Mott, a muralist, poses for a portrait in her living room of her home, which features a mural she painted that depicts the stages of settling Nauvoo by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, on Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, in Pleasant Grove.
Merlin Allen and his wife, Laree, both of Spanish Fork, watch from Sheep Creek Road as helicopters fill their buckets with water in an effort to contain and extinguish the Coal Hollow Fire as the wildfire burns south of U.S. Highway 6 on Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018, in Spanish Fork Canyon. Brandon Jensen, a spokesperson for the Manti-La Sal National Forest, stated that portions of the fire are within 100 yards of U.S. 6 as of Thursday.