Cowboys. Veterans. Kids on skateboards. Past and future Olympians. Proud parents of a rodeo champion riding on the back of a classic gondola car, driven by a team of horses. In most places, these different elements wouldn’t normally go together.
Yet, in Steamboat Springs, they just do. I hope you got a chance to experience these groups and more at our Fourth of July Parade. The Chamber has been producing the parade for many years. We’ve been proud to be a part of this century-old tradition that brings together the best of our community, honors our heritage and celebrates our future generations.
When you think of preserving cultural heritage, the local business community might not be the first place you look. But honoring and protecting our heritage is about more than preserving the past. It’s also about finding harmony between the past, present, and future.
The Chamber has been serving the community since 1907. For an organization to stay relevant that long, it needs to adapt and evolve, without losing its core character and values. Producing one of the longest-running events in our community is one way we do that. Supporting the businesses that steward that heritage is another way.
Take a stroll down Lincoln Avenue and consider the mix of businesses you see. You’ll see stores that reflect our love for outdoor recreation, appreciation of art, and our desire to stay stylish when we live three hours from the nearest mall. F.M. Light & Son’s has thrived for nearly 120 years by staying relevant to modern consumers without losing its soul. In fact, it appeals to modern consumers because of the way it showcases our Western heritage. Or look at Perry Mansfield and Howelsen Hill, places that encourage future generations to embrace nature and take risks in the nation’s oldest continuously operating venues of their kind.
The Chamber plays a vital role in supporting the businesses and organizations that help keep traditions alive. Whether a business is run by multiple generations or a new entrepreneur, our role is to support the people in our community that help preserve the past while shaping the future. Advocating for smart business policies, providing business and education support, networking, and promotion provide value and opportunities to our members. Honoring outstanding businesses and leaders also highlights the best of our community. That’s why for over 25 years, we’ve hosted the Navigator Awards. You can be a part of this tradition as we honor a new round of winners at Mythology Distillery on July 31.
In a recent story in 5280 Magazine, local rodeo legend John Shipley explains the unique character of Steamboat’s rodeo when compared to other ski towns. He cites our roots as an agricultural community as what sets us apart. Those roots are seen today in Main Street’s weekly Farmer’s Market, the Community Ag Alliance Market, Yampa Valley Kitchen and of course our world-class rodeo. They’re also seen in newer businesses like Haus of CuCu and The Westerly. And we’re fortunate to have places like the Steamboat Art Museum and Tread of Pioneers, which help us identify our culture and heritage and find our place within it.
Finding harmony in honoring our heritage while embracing the future is not an easy thing to do. It will never be a perfect balance. I believe it is something our community will continue to strive for though, because we understand its value to our sense of place and community vitality. Where else can you spend Independence Day watching barrel racers thrill an arena full of people, then witness a fleet of drones form the shape of a stagecoach over the slopes of one of the best ski areas in the country?
Change is inevitable. But as your local Chamber, we’ll continue to identify and honor what makes this place so special as we help shape the path to the future.
