Spanish Fork City
Nick Hanks stepping into rodeo leadership role Nick Hanks has landed his dream job - running the Spanish Fork’s Fiesta Days Rodeo, Utah’s most prestigious rodeo event. “I don’t know if there’s a job that I could think of that I could be better suited for,” Hanks said. Hanks began working as Spanish Fork City’s fairgrounds and rodeo division manager in November of 2016. He replaced Steve Money, who retired two months earlier in September. Money has become a rodeo legend, having spent 33 years helping guide the Fiesta Days Rodeo from a small, community rodeo to an event that draws nationally ranked rodeo talent. In 2016, the Fiesta Days Rodeo was chosen to be inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame, the first and only Utah rodeo selected to receive that honor. Money will still oversee the Fiesta Days Rodeo this year and help Hanks become familiar with all the many aspects that come together to make the rodeo successful before the new manager takes over on his own. “Without him, I would be lost,” Hanks said. When it comes to the sport of rodeo, however, Hanks is an expert. He grew up at a home in Salem with a barn and a pasture where his family kept horses. His parents met while participating in a rodeo competition at Brigham Young University. Hanks began competing in his youth as well and after graduating from Spanish Fork High School, he attended Weber State University on a rodeo scholarship. He qualified for the Wilderness Circuit Finals Rodeo when he was a junior and senior in college. After graduating from Weber with a bachelor’s degree in business, Hanks continued competing in professional rodeo for seven years. He has competed in the Fiesta Days Rodeo several times. While competing on weekends, Hanks worked full-time managing a retail horse and livestock trailer dealership in Springville. When the trailer dealership was shut down, he took a job at Geneva Nitrogen in Orem, which was shut down in September of 2016. It was then he saw Steve Money was retiring, and Hanks applied for the job. Hanks now oversees the day-to-day operations at the Spanish Fork Fairgrounds, making sure the facilities are prepared for the many events that utilize the facility. “Our fairgrounds get used very, very frequently. We have lots of different events come in that we have to prepare the facilities for,” he said. While growing up, Hanks attended horse shows at the
Nick Hanks, Spanish Fork City’s new fairgrounds and rodeo division manager, sits in his office near the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association’s 2016 Remuda Award, which was presented to the Spanish Fork Fiesta Days Rodeo last year. The prestigious award goes to the rodeo committee that goes above and beyond to provide the best livestock for rodeo contestants to compete on.
fairgrounds, and he sees the facility as having great value. This is particularly true for the youth as many youth organizations have events at the fairgrounds. “I think the fairgrounds is a vital part of our community,” he said. He has been surprised at the amount of work taking place in the middle of winter to prepare for July’s Fiesta Days Rodeo. “I wouldn’t have guessed when I took this job that they do as much as they do at this time of the year,” he said during an interview in January. That work includes lining up all of the contract personnel for the rodeo such as stock contractors, entertainers, timers, sound and lighting providers and sponsors. Organizing volunteer help has also been ongoing. “It’s been amazing to me the people that they have in place. There’s so many wonderful volunteers,” Hanks said. His goal for the future is to see the Fiesta Days Rodeo continue to be as strong and successful as it’s ever been. “It’s definitely worked, what Steve Money has done,” Hanks said. “He has taken this to be the premiere rodeo in the state of Utah. They’ve won award after award. To continue with his legacy would be great.” Tickets are now on sale for the 2017 Fiesta Days Rodeo planned for July 20, 21, 22 and 24. Tickets can also be purchased for the Wranglers Champions Challenge 2017 on June 3. The Champions Challenge features the PRCA's best contestants competing on the sport's best stock. It is a made-for-TV event that will be broadcast later on CBS Sports. To purchase tickets, visit www.spanishfork.org. Hanks currently lives in Benjamin with his wife Jill and sons Luke, 12, Landon, 7, and Trey, 4. The boys are following in their father’s footsteps: the oldest one is competing in junior high school rodeos and the middle son is already roping horses. “It was a great way for me to be raised and I think a great way to raise a family,” Hanks said. 36