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What Stays the Same
Meridian doesn’t hold still for long.
Drive through town and it’s obvious. New buildings, new businesses, more people finding their way here. It’s easy to focus on what’s changing because there’s plenty of it.
But if you spend a little time here, you start to notice something else.
Some things don’t move much at all.
The Speedway is one of them. It’s been here long before most of what surrounds it, and it still draws people back week after week. Not just for the races, but for what it represents. Time spent together. Something passed down without needing to be explained.
That same steadiness shows up in people.
Across the Treasure Valley, and here in Meridian, you see it in the men featured in this issue. Some are leading organizations or running businesses. Others are working in trades, public service, or roles that don’t draw much attention. The work looks different, but the approach is often the same. Stay with it. Follow through. Handle what’s in front of you.
Sitting down with Mayor Simison, that was the impression that stuck. The role may have changed over time, but the approach hasn’t. It’s consistent, whether it’s in public or at home.
You’ll see that same thread show up in different ways throughout these pages. In careers built over time, in family traditions that keep going, and in the kind of work that doesn’t always stand out but holds things together.
Meridian will keep growing. That’s not slowing down anytime soon.
What matters is what carries through it.
This issue is a look at that.
Happy Father’s Day.
June 2026
PUBLISHER
Greg Gewalt | greg.gewalt@citylifestyle.com
EDITORIAL COORDINATOR
Tricia Busalacchi | tricia.busalacchi@citylifestyle.com
STAFF WRITER
Jordan Gray | editorial@boisecitylifestyle.com
SALES SUPPORT ASSISTANT
Maria Serondo | support@boisecitylifestyle.com
SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
Russell Detablan | editorial@boisecitylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Pamela Kleibrink Thompson, Tammy De Weerd, Jordan Gray, Ashley Loeb, Denise Llorente
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Ashley Loeb, Tammy de Weerd, Phil White, 8th Street Studio, Tyler’s Takes, Richard Ragsdale Photography, Brittany Dawn Short
Corporate Team
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
President Matthew Perry
COO David Stetler
CRO Jamie Pentz
CoS Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Evan Deuvall
LAYOUT DESIGNER Kirstan Lanier
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Marina Campbell
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Noteworthy in Idaho
THE LATEST OPENINGS, MILESTONES, AND MOMENTS SHAPING LIFE ACROSS IDAHO
Savor Idaho Returns
Savor Idaho returns June 7, transforming the Idaho Botanical Garden into an immersive tasting experience with local wineries, cideries, live music, and food, inviting guests to explore, sip, and discover Idaho wine in a dynamic way. IdahoWines.org
Touched by Art
Create Gallery hosts “Touched by Art,” a weeklong June collaboration with Sight Unseen and Idaho Dance Theatre, featuring movement classes, tactile art workshops, and performances exploring sensory experience, inviting both blind and sighted participants to engage. CreateGalleryandFrames.com
Step Into Boise’s Past
Preservation Idaho’s 2026 tour season invites participants to explore Boise’s history and architecture through guided walks, from downtown storytelling to themed ArchWalks, offering an engaging, on-the-ground look at the people, places, and stories shaping the city. PreservationIdaho.org
Farmstead Season Opens
Schick-Ostolasa Farmstead opened May 2 and continues welcoming visitors Saturdays through September, offering demonstrations, tours, and living history that bring Boise’s agricultural past to life in the Dry Creek Valley. DrycreekHistory.org
Habitat Celebrates 20 Years
Treasure Valley Habitat for Humanity hosts its 20th Annual Evening in the Garden on June 12, bringing the community together for an evening of food, auctions, and connection supporting affordable homeownership across the Treasure Valley. tvHabitat.org
Flower Child Heads to Meridian
Flower Child plans its first Idaho location in Meridian, bringing a health-forward, fast-casual dining concept with customizable bowls, salads, and wraps, adding a new option for fresh, lifestyle-driven dining in the growing Treasure Valley market. iamaflowerchild.com
SVCI Welcome Party Returns
Sun Valley Culinary Institute hosts its annual Welcome Party June 22, bringing together food, wine, and community to celebrate students and alumni while raising support for culinary education and future workforce development in Idaho. SunValleyCulinary.org
Shakespeare Season Opens
Idaho Shakespeare Festival’s 2026 season opens May 22 with Macbeth , followed by Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson beginning June 19, offering a mix of classic drama and modern storytelling in Boise’s outdoor theater setting. IdahoShakespeare.org
Firebird Raceway Heats Up
Firebird Raceway’s June lineup features weekly races, Midnight Grudge Drags, the Fox Hunt, and the Street Machine Shootout, offering a full month of high-speed competition and community-driven car culture just outside Boise. FirebirdOnline.com
Sun Valley Music Festival
Sun Valley Music Festival’s 2026 season runs July 27 through August 20, featuring world-class artists, major symphonic works, and free outdoor performances, continuing its tradition as one of the nation’s premier admission-free classical music experiences. SVMusicFestival.org
Float Season
Boise River float season typically opens in late June, depending on water conditions, marking the start of summer as thousands take to the river for one of the city’s most popular and defining outdoor traditions. CityofBoise.org
Fishing Season Peaks
June marks peak fishing season along the Salmon River, as river access improves, guided trips fill quickly, and anglers head out to experience one of Idaho’s most iconic and sought-after outdoor traditions . IDFG.Idaho.gov
THE LIFE BEHIND PUBLIC LEADERSHIP
WHAT GROUNDS ROBERT SIMISON, GUIDES HIM, AND SHAPES HIS PUBLIC SERVICE
I knew Robert Simison long before he became mayor.
For thirteen years, he served as Chief of Staff—steady, disciplined, and deeply trusted.
ARTICLE BY TAMMY DE WEERD PHOTOGRAPHY BY TAMMY DE WEERD & SUPPLIED
What struck me in sitting down with him now is that the qualities people see in public are not separate from who he is at home. They are expressed more subtly there—in the kitchen before everyone else is awake, in the care he gives his home, in the meals he prepares, and in the way he gathers people around a table.
When he talks about a good day off, there is no performance in it. In winter, it may begin on a ski slope with family. At home, it starts earlier and more simply: cleaning the kitchen before everyone else is awake, putting the house in order, tending the yard, organizing the garage, taking care of the details that make a home feel cared for. He enjoys accomplishing things with his hands. He likes seeing the result.
That thread runs throughout his life.
Raised outside Pocatello on five acres, he grew up doing things because they needed to be done. Mowing the lawn. Pulling an engine out of a Volkswagen. Learning, even through complaint, the satisfaction of finishing a job and seeing where it could have been done better. It is a quality I had seen long before the title—less in what he said than in how he worked, steadily and without needing to be seen doing it. That same mindset still shapes him now, whether he is repainting his house, building a wine cellar, or helping shape a city. “I like seeing the end result,” he told me. “You can still be proud of what you did.”
At home, that steadiness also shows up in hospitality.
Robert loves to cook, though not in the way some people collect recipes or chase novelty. His approach is simpler and more revealing. “I don’t need to be great at cooking 50 different meals,” he said. “I need to be able to create one or two meals and just do them well.” There is discipline in that, but also care. He wants the food to taste good, but he also cares about presentation, about creating what he called a “simple elegance” around quality food. And he cares deeply about what happens around that meal.
To Robert, having people in his home is about more than entertaining. It is about friendship, connection, and creating the kind of evening where people linger long enough to truly know each other. “A great meal can connect you that much through the food, through the conversation, through the wine,” he said. In his view, a rushed dinner is not quite the same thing. It is the longer evening—the three-hour experience—that creates room for real conversation and unexpected connection.
That sense of intention carries into family life as well.
When I asked him what being a dad taught him that leadership never could, his answer came quickly: sacrifice, patience, and perspective. “Being a father definitely taught me patience,” he said. More than that, fatherhood sharpened what matters most. “What does matter to me is the health of my family,” he said. “That is first and foremost of all decisions.”
He has lived that conviction. Each time he considered running for office, he sat down with his family and talked honestly about the impact his role would have on them. Their happiness and their
CONTINUED >
health mattered. It was not a symbolic conversation. It was part of how he decided whether to serve.
His faith and extended family have also anchored that life in meaningful ways. During Robert’s wife Jenny’s health challenges challenges and surgeries, he points first to God, but also to the steadfast support of her parents, who have long been woven into the daily life of their family. Their presence, he said, helped carry them through those years and shaped the lives of their children in lasting ways.
Though Robert’s life has taken him far beyond Idaho—from Whitman College in Walla Walla to time in Washington, D.C.—he and Jenny knew they wanted to return to Idaho to raise their family. Idaho offered more than geography. It offered a way of life. He described it as a kind of rugged independence rooted in being a good neighbor while still wanting the freedom to be left alone. It is a description many lifelong Idahoans will recognize immediately.
“I like seeing the end result.You can still be proud of what you did.”
Wine, too, fits naturally into that world. His appreciation for it deepened through Whitman and repeated visits back to Walla Walla, then grew through relationships with wineries and winemakers whose wines matched his palate. His philosophy is direct: “I don’t need to know a lot about wine. I just need to know what I like.” He values what is genuine, what is well made, and what deepens over time.
In the end, titles come and go. Roles change. Public service has seasons.
But the clearest picture of Robert Simison is not found only in the office he holds. It is found in the life he has built—through family, faith, friendship, hospitality, and the steady satisfaction of doing the work in front of him well. Long before the title, it looked much the same: work done early, before most would notice, the result left behind for others to step into.
GIVE BACK close TO HOME
ARTICLE ARTICLE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HEADWATERS WEALTH MANAGEMENT
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF HEADWATERS WEALTH MANAGEMENT
THE PEOPLE AND VALUES
BEHIND HEADWATERS’ COMMITMENT
TO SUPPORTING THE TREASURE VALLEY THROUGH ONGOING
PHILANTHROPIC ENGAGEMENT
At Headwaters Wealth Management, philanthropy isn’t treated as a separate initiative or a once-a-year effort. It’s woven into how the firm operates, how partners support one another, and how they engage with the community they serve.
As a five-partner team managing portfolios, Headwaters takes a collaborative approach not only to wealth management, but also to giving back. The firm’s partners recognize that meaningful community involvement looks different for everyone—and that supporting one another’s strengths creates greater impact.
For partner Bob Hayes, that perspective formed early. He grew up in a family where community involvement was simply part of daily life. His father’s career included strong local philanthropic engagement, while his mother organized and led fundraising efforts for civic and community causes. Those early examples helped define how Hayes views responsibility and leadership today.
After returning to Boise from Seattle, Hayes chose to focus his efforts locally, prioritizing direct involvement over distant national giving. That commitment has taken many forms: teaching practical financial education through community-based programs, mentoring through youth and career outreach with Rebuilding
Bob Ha Festival of Trees
Generations, and currently serving as a board member for the St. Alphonsus Medical Center Foundation. He was also an early advocate and supporter of Music for the Mission, now one of the region’s most successful fundraisers benefiting the Boise Rescue Mission.
Also central to Headwaters’ philanthropic efforts is partner Lisa Derig, whose community involvement is both extensive and hands-on. She dedicates significant time to volunteering and serving on boards for organizations focused on women and children. Her work often happens behind the scenes—organizing, supporting, and sustaining programs that serve vulnerable populations across the Treasure Valley. Together, Hayes and Derig often take on the most direct forms of engagement, but they are quick to credit the broader partnership. “Each of us specializes in different areas,” Hayes said. “The support the rest of the team provides creates the space for deeper community involvement.”
As a firm, Headwaters aligns its philanthropic efforts with the causes that matter most to its clients and community. The team supports local organizations through table sponsorships and active participation in events such as Music for the Mission, Festival of Trees benefiting St. Alphonsus, and the Idaho Women’s Charitable Organization.
“For the partners at Headwaters, philanthropy is ultimately about proximity.”
Beyond formal giving, Headwaters also organizes pro bono efforts, connecting legal and professional resources with individuals and families in need. It’s an extension of the firm’s belief that access, guidance, and presence can be just as impactful as financial support.
For the partners at Headwaters, philanthropy is ultimately about proximity—staying close to the people, organizations, and needs that define their community. It’s a shared effort, built on trust, collaboration, and a long-term commitment to the community they call home.
DAIRY DAYS RETURN
As Meridian grows, Dairy Days remains a steady connection to its farming roots, bringing together longtime residents, newcomers, and future generations through shared traditions and experiences
ARTICLE BY JORDAN GRAY PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAIRY DAYS, CITY OF MERIDIAN
Every June, Meridian gets a reminder of its bovine and hircine heritage in the form of Dairy Days.
The celebration, spanning June 25–27, continues to connect the rural parts of the city with the rapidly expanding urban areas. It also draws in more than 30,000 visitors, highlighting what Meridian offers.
ROOTED IN PLACE
The inkling of what would become Dairy Days began June 18, 1929. That’s when the first Dairy Show celebrated the opening of the Ada County Dairymen’s cooperative creamery.
The property at 33 Broadway Avenue processed milk, crafted butter, and eventually manufactured baby formula until 1970, when local operations shut down. If that address sounds familiar, it should— Meridian City Hall now sits on the same property where the creamery once stood.
In 1948, the Meridian Dairy Show was incorporated and held its first official event the following year.
Now, Dairy Days spans downtown Meridian, with events at Storey Park and the Meridian Speedway.
As for why the racetrack hosts cows and goats each June?
“We own the Meridian Speedway,” Meridian Dairy Days and Stock Shows President Hans Bruijn said. “And that’s kind of the other question we get a lot—‘Why did they build a speedway in downtown Meridian?’ But if you look at pictures from the ’60s, there’s nothing around it. Main Street actually ended where the Speedway is. So it’s just part of the history.”
AN EVOLVING CELEBRATION
Bruijn has been on the board since 1987 and has watched the number of dairies in the area dwindle.
“Now there’s basically none with a Meridian address,” he said. “Dairy Days used to be kind of like a fair where all the local dairymen brought their cows and competed against each other and had a good time. Now it’s changed more to trying to educate people about the dairy industry. I think it’s important to show the history of Meridian—and still bring people together for a good time.”
That good time includes the Saturday parade. With dairy industry support, you’ll see milk and cheese sticks rather than traditional parade throws.
Steve Wilder, who’s been with Dairy Days since 2022, once served as the parade’s Grand Marshal after board nomination and selection.
“It’s not often you think of a time in your life when you’ll be sitting in a Corvette with your wife, waving at people along your own parade,” he said, noting that more than 100 entries have been featured in peak years. “There’s a ton of support for it, and it’s well attended. We shifted it from an evening parade to a morning parade, which has been a win-win. It can be fairly warm sometimes, but moving it to the morning makes it more manageable—even if it’s 100 degrees.”
The ice cream social, pancake breakfast, carnival, and performances are also popular events in the packed weekend.
FUTURE DAIRY INDUSTRY LEADERS
As Bruijn mentioned, education has become one of Dairy Days’ cornerstones. It spans multiple generations, with members of the Meridian Crazy Critters 4-H club teaching younger children about animals through the Old MacDonald’s Farm area.
“They bring in as many types of animals as they can,” Bruijn said. “Calves, chickens, lambs, maybe some pigs—just for the kids to see.” Youth from 4-H and FFA are the stars of Friday’s dairy cattle and dairy goat shows.
“My favorite part is always the dairy cattle show because that’s my background,” Bruijn said. “To see those kids—they’ve worked hard with those animals. It’s basically the first show of the year, so we try to get a judge who explains what they can improve so they’re ready for their county fairs and the Western Idaho Fair.”
“It’s an opportunity to teach kids work ethic, patience, and respect for others and animals,” Wilder said, who served as a West Ada School District agricultural science instructor and FFA advisor in Meridian.
Some youth traditions, like the Dairy Princesses, stretch back to 1949.
Two are crowned each year—a senior and a junior princess. To earn the tiara, candidates must follow Dairy Days’ mission to build “strong leaders for our future by supporting 4-H and FFA in the Meridian area.” They must be either a dairy consumer, live or work on a dairy farm, or show livestock in FFA or 4-H. This year’s candidates will also address
The current Dairy Days Board features President Hans Bruijn, Vice President Gary Johnson, Secretary-Treasurer Gerry Mattison, and members Mike Murgoitio, Steve
Meridian Speedway, 1959—surrounded by farmland, with a dairy barn to the north. Photo: Idaho Historical Racing
Youth show their goats
questions about industry challenges such as rising feed costs and how to encourage young people to see farming as a viable career.
Helping future farmers and ranchers has been a highlight for the organization.
“We give away $20,000 in scholarships each year to local or Treasure Valley students going into agricultural fields,” Bruijn said. “That’s probably what we’re most proud of. We used to not be able to do as much, but strong sponsor support has allowed us to grow that.”
FESTIVAL FUTURE
While the dairies may have left Meridian, the Treasure Valley remains closely connected to the industry.
“The dairy industry is still the number one industry in the state,” Bruijn said. He cited the Sorrento Lactalis factory in Nampa and Meadow Gold Dairy and Darigold in Boise. “It still employs a lot of people in the Valley, even though it’s no longer inside Meridian city limits. You don’t have to go very far outside Meridian to see large dairies. The impact of the dairy industry in Idaho is still tremendous.”
And with that connection comes Dairy Days, year after year.
“You see that question a lot, especially from newcomers—‘Why do they still have Meridian Dairy Days?’” Bruijn said. “But it’s important. It shows what made Meridian.”
For more about the festival, including the parade route and events, visit dairydays.org.
Meridian City Hall and Former Creamery Property The lowest days of the Great Depression brightened for area dairymen when the Ada County Dairymen’s cooperative
2025 Senior Princess Court: Brooke Purdy, Bailey Fowler, Brooklyn Thacker, Aubree Workman
Dairy cattle line up for youth judging at the show
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STORY IDAHO
IN THE STORY OF IDAHO
Plan your next history adventure and dive into Idaho’s rich past!
The Idaho State Museum features exhibitions, artifacts, and programming that uncover the story of Idaho!
Visit the Old Idaho Penitentiary and step inside the walls of one of four U.S. territorial prisons still open to the public.
EVERYDAY, IT GETS DONE
A look at the men doing the work that keeps the Treasure Valley running
Spend enough time in the Treasure Valley and you start to see the people who keep things moving.
Not always in obvious ways. Sometimes it’s in how a business is run day to day. Sometimes it’s in the work that happens early, or late, or behind the scenes. It’s the kind of consistency you don’t always notice until you step back and realize how much depends on it.
This issue brings together men who are part of that.
They work in different fields and come from different paths. Some lead teams or run businesses. Others are in roles where the work is more hands-on, or less visible, but no less important.
What connects them is a sense of responsibility for what they do and who it affects.
That doesn’t always show up in big ways.
More often, it’s steady. It’s following through, being reliable, and staying with something long enough to see it through. Over time, that adds up.
There isn’t a single story here.
But taken together, these men reflect a part of the Treasure Valley that is practical, grounded, and essential to how this place works every day.
Editor’s Note: Know someone making an impact? Editorial@MeridianCityLifestyle.com
PHOTOGRAPHY BY PHIL WHITE, 8TH STREET STUDIO
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Generations of Racing at Meridian Speedway
Cody Garrett was 2 months old when he first visited Meridian Speedway. He watched his dad, Robert (Bob) Garrett, race there, and his grandpa, Paul Garrett, raced in California.
“I’m the third generation racing in my family,” says Cody, who started racing at Meridian Speedway in 2010. A Boise native, Cody says the racing culture and environment make it feel like his second home. Cody races mini stocks, and his car is a ’91 Honda CRX named Snowflake. “I’m most comfortable behind the wheel of a car,” Cody says. “It’s the adrenaline rush of passing closely, making moves within a split second.”
Cody won the 50-lap Mini Stock Series #1 feature race at Meridian Speedway on June 22, 2024, during the YMC Mechanical Idaho 208 & Fireworks event. But his biggest win is his 3-year-old daughter, Mya, who “loves going to the racetrack and seeing the racecars.” Maybe she will be the fourth generation of racer in the Garrett family.
That sense of generational connection runs throughout Meridian Speedway.
Built in 1951, the track initially operated as a dirt oval for local racing. Constructed by the Meridian Athletic Association to create a recreational center and help fund local youth sports and community projects, it quickly became popular and was paved in 1962. Located on Main Street in Meridian, the facility was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2024 for its role in local agriculture and recreation.
The motorsport race track hosts modified racing, late model racing, and other local-level events throughout the year. The track holds weekly races under NASCAR sanction. Hailie Deegan won her first NASCAR race at Meridian Speedway, becoming only the second female to win a NASCAR race.
For others, that connection to the Speedway began decades earlier.
“Meridian Speedway is a place that I hold close to my heart,” shares Brent Arte, a Meridian native who serves as an announcer and handles marketing for the track. “The Speedway is more than a five-acre piece of property in downtown Meridian.”
In the early ’80s, when Brent was about 5 or 6 years old, his father, Richard, introduced him to racing. “The Speedway became a spot for my father and me on a Saturday night after a long week of working on the farm, getting animals ready for fairs and shows,” Brent says. “My dad and I had the same seat every Saturday night.”
Generations of families return each week, carrying forward a tradition shaped by racing, memory, and community
ARTICLE BY PAMELA KLEIBRINK THOMPSON PHOTOGRAPHY
BY TYLER’S TAKES
RICHARD RAGSDALE
After a short racing career, Brent got the opportunity of a lifetime—to announce at the track. For nearly three decades, he has been announcing and bringing his five children to the racetrack. “My grandkids are now coming out to watch.”
“It truly is a part of your life, and everyone says racing is in your blood—well, that is 1 million percent true,” Brent says. “For one night a week, 28 weeks a year, we are all chasing the same dreams and following our passion.”
Along with being the announcer and television commentator for Meridian Speedway, and part-time at Magic Valley Speedway, Brent also hosts the Pitstop Podcast on Wednesdays on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram to help build interest and support for the sport he loves—the sport that helped him grow as a man, a father, and a person.
“My dad passed away at 94 years old on February 11, and this will be the first time that I will be at the racetrack without my dad either
being with me or asking how the races went when I went to see him on a Sunday,” Brent says. “Forty-plus years ago, my hero—my father—and I walked in that gate together. It is probably one of the most amazing things he did for me. For the first time, he’s got a front-row seat in heaven, and I just hope we all make him proud, the racers stay safe, and we have a great 2026.”
Third generation racer Cody Garrett
Brent Arte at the mic
Richard, Brent and his 8th of 9 grandchildren, Leon
ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY
BY ASHLEY LOEB
ROOTED in TREEFORT
The Boise community comes together organically to shape an inclusive and creative music fest for all
Each year, the Treefort Music Fest transforms downtown Boise into a living reflection of the city’s creative community. While the musical talent on the multitude of stages draws crowds, the deeper culture of Treefort is shaped by the people who have come together with organic origins rooted in local station, Radio Boise. Since its inception in 2013, Eric Gilbert, festival co-founder and director, has collaborated with others in the community to transform Treefort into a collective act of creativity—guitars echoing down alleyways, conversations rising above the steady hum of the crowd. Those involved in sub forts including Alefort, Foodfort, and Yogafort reveal how locals bring their passions, labor, and love together to create an authentic, inclusive experience.
For Alefort, that culture begins with hospitality. Jackie Elo of Amphora Wine Company describes Treefort as a rare convergence of people and passions, saying, “It’s beautiful to see people from so many walks of life and so many different passions all coming together at a festival that has a little something for everyone.” Her long career in the beverage industry led her to notice an early gap—wine had no dedicated champion. When she joined the team as wine coordinator seven years ago, she helped create programming from the ground up, shaping wine experiences with the same care already given to beer and cider.
Jackie’s work—curating wine selections from Idaho and beyond, organizing pop-up tastings, and training volunteers— adds warmth to Treefort’s atmosphere, where the scent of poured reds and crisp whites mingles with nearby food stalls. Reflecting
on her role, she emphasizes both joy and teamwork, stating, “The Alefort team is the hardest working and most passionate group of amazing humans… it’s amazing to see everyone having so much fun and all of us loving and helping each other create this awesome tasting experience.” Alefort becomes not just a place to enjoy a refreshment, but a space where care, expertise, and community intersect.
Foodfort carries that same sense of intention through food. Under the leadership of Dave Yasuda, Foodfort is grounded in long-standing relationships with local chefs, producers, and organizers. One of its most influential collaborators, Idaho’s first James Beard award-winning chef, Kris Kamori of KIN, articulates the deeper purpose behind his involvement. “We’re more than a restaurant,” he explains. “The way we structure our entire model is to support the people that work here.” For Kris, Foodfort is about connection—between people, ingredients, and place, set against the sizzle of grills and the layered aromas of street food drifting through the venue.
That philosophy is echoed by Katy Osuna, assistant director of Foodfort and co-founder of Copper & Heat, who sees the sub fort as an evolving gathering point for Boise’s food community. “We want the restaurant community to continue to connect and grow,” she says. Her journey—from Boise kitchens to Michelinstarred restaurants and award-winning food media—feeds directly into Foodfort’s mission. Behind the scenes, she and Dave coordinate with Kris and others to bring chefs, food producers,
Chef Kris Kamori of KIN, Mayor Mclean, Chef Salvador Alamilla of Amano
Foodfort Showdown Sous-chefs from local restaurants
Jackie Elo & co-owner of Sleight of Hand Cellars, Trey Busch
First time
14 year Treefort Veterans
Mother/daughter
Ferg's Fabulous Fungi Mushroom
Foodfort Showdown
Dave Yasuda , Foodfort Director
Colossal Collective Sharlie the Payette Lake Monster
Yogafort Meditation and Music Class
13-year Volunteer, Cindy
Holly Flemming & SuZanne DeSoleil with Yogafort toriginator, Marisa Radha Weepier
Kitchen Demo at KIN
and community members together through events like the Foodfort Showdown, KIN Kitchen Demo, and Street Eats.
Yogafort offers another layer to Treefort’s culture: restoration. Starting with Marisa Radha Weppner, a longtime member of the Boise community, Yogafort grew organically from her connection with Boise’s community radio roots and her belief that festivals should also offer space to reset. Reflecting on Boise itself, Radha notes, “If you show up, you’re passionate and get things done, the community welcomes you in.” That openness shaped Yogafort’s beginnings—starting with small, DIY classes and becoming one of Treefort’s first official sub forts.
Treefort’s support allowed Yogafort to evolve, shift locations, and adapt through challenges like COVID-19, always with community needs at the center. For Radha, Treefort is inseparable from her life’s work: “It’s everything. It’s everything coming together.” Directed by her best friend Celeste Bolin, Yogafort blends music, movement, wellness, and service into spaces where people feel safe and welcomed—quiet moments punctuated by breath, soft instruction, and the distant rhythm
“Treefort matters because of community and being able to get together in a place where you’re not judged and can express yourself.”
— Girl in Purple
of festival music. A longtime volunteer, reflecting during a Yogafort meditation, shared that “we can just get together and forget what’s going on around us for awhile.”
Together, forts like Alefort, Foodfort, and Yogafort show how Treefort is built from the ground up by locals who invest their time, skills, and hearts year after year. Volunteers, longtime attendees, first-time visitors, and creative partners all contribute to a shared sense of belonging.
As evening settles over downtown, music carries between stages while a line forms at a food stand and someone pauses, glass in hand, to take it all in. Nearby, a yoga session closes in quiet stillness before the crowd folds back into the streets. In that moment—between sound and silence, movement and rest—the shape of Treefort comes into focus: a community gathering, built year after year by the people who return to it.
Nicole and Michelle - artists and creators in the Colossal Collective
Girl in Purple
Kitchen Demo at KIN
AN EXCERPT FROM EPISODE 6 OF SHARE THE LIFESTYLE, A CITY LIFESTYLE PODCAST
Photographer: Brittany Dawn Short
Creative Director: Jen Birn
Stylist: Stephanie Coultress O’Neill
Location: Hotel Saint Cecilia, Austin, TX
MIKE JOHNSON HAS BUILT HIS LIFE AROUND ONE QUIETLY RADICAL IDEA: THE STANDARD YOU SET PRIVATELY IS THE ONLY ONE THAT MATTERS.
After eight years in the Air Force, a celebrated run on national television, and a health crisis abroad that sent him deep into supply chains and ingredient certifications most founders never touch, the result is Oshun — a luxury ritual brand built on provenance you can trace and integrity you can verify. In an exclusive conversation for the Share the Lifestyle podcast, Mike shares what it actually takes to build something worth putting your name on. Read the highlights below, then scan the QR code for the full episode.
Q: YOU BECAME A FAN FAVORITE ON THE BACHELORETTE AND THEN LEFT THE SPOTLIGHT. YOU MOVED TO MEXICO, LEARNED SPANISH, THEN COSTA RICA, AND BUILT A COMPANY. WHAT DID THAT EXPERIENCE TEACH YOU ABOUT HUMAN BEHAVIOR?
A: “If you’re a good person going in, that shows. If you’re not, that shows too. I also learned that people form this parasocial relationship with you — they assume things about you. When all actuality, different circumstances bring out different parts of who you are. I was on TV trying to find love. The kindness people were showing after felt a bit fake, because they wanted to be a part of something that isn’t who I am individually, but a part of what they saw on TV. And so I had to get away from everybody and everything and the noise.”
THE QUIET STANDARD:
MIKE JOHNSON
“Too many people have prayed for me. So I’ve got to get up and do the walking.”
— Mike Johnson
Q: YOU JOINED THE AIR FORCE RIGHT OUT OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE. WHAT WERE YOU ACTUALLY RUNNING TOWARD?
A: “There was something in me that was saying: I’m not living up to my full potential. I was being a follower. My uncle said, ‘What’s going to make you become an adult the fastest?’ I said, obviously, the military. The Air Force broadened my thought process more than anything. We’re so caught up in our own perception — when you learn to understand different people’s perspectives, it adds to you in so many ways.”
Q: WITH OSHUN, YOU OWN YOUR MANUFACTURING, YOU EMPLOY A CHEMIST, EVERY PRODUCT HAS A BATCH NUMBER TRACEABLE TO ITS ORIGIN DATE. WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO GO THAT DEEP WITH THE BRAND?
A: “The EU bans 1,100 ingredients in personal care products. The U.S. bans nine. That’s my starting point. Oftentimes, it might be the same ingredient, but it comes from a place where it doesn’t have the highest purity. And 60% of what we put on our skin is absorbed. Every product Oshun makes carries a batch number that goes back to the exact day it was created — I can show you every single supplier, the date, the origin. I own more than one part of the supply chain because that’s the only way I can stand behind what’s in the bottle.”
This conversation is just the beginning. Mike goes deeper into why he’s buying land up north, the family in the Philippines who prayed over his factory floor, and what he’d tell every person ready to stop performing and start building. Scan the QR code for the full, exclusive City Lifestyle interview on the Share the Lifestyle podcast.
MIKE JOHNSON
Nice? Is Whiskey On Ice
In speaking to Whiskey lovers (most happen to be men, but do accept me in their brethren as a fellow enthusiast, writer, and educator), I’ve learned a great many opinions on how to drink Whiskey. Specifically, preferences on adding water and ice vary greatly.
A brand ambassador that I had the privilege of listening to recently said the obvious: both dilution and temperature change when you add ice, so if you are going to add something, a little water is best. I personally prefer to use a water dropper, so I can add one drop at a time until I get to the desired taste.
THE BEST WAY TO ENJOY YOUR WHISKEY: ON THE ROCKS, ROCK, NEAT, OR WITH WATER
HERE ARE THE DIFFERENCES:
Rocks: Provides the highest rate of dilution as a lot of ice melts quickly. If you are drinking a barrel proof Whiskey, it kind of defeats the purpose as the distiller didn’t add water as they do in every other type of finished Whiskey.
On the Rock: The single rock, cube, or sphere is the slowest to melt and thought to be the most aesthetic. It’s nice if you want to stretch out your tasting. I often order on the rock if I want my drink to last longer.
Neat: This is the way single malt Scotch is served at a tasting event, in a branded Glencairn or Neat glass so that proper nosing for aromas can be achievedand a dram of Scotch, smaller than an ounce, fits in them perfectly.
Water: As I mentioned above, quoting the brand ambassador, a little water is better for a fine Whiskey over any kind of ice. Often, if ordered with water, the water is served in a separate vessel on the side so you can add in as much as you want.
Quoting another expert on the subject, Richard Paterson of The Dalmore famously and enthusiastically demonstrates in his Scotch classes how to drink single malt Scotch Whiskey: Paterson fills a lowball glass to the rim with ice, adds Scotch and then ceremoniously throws it over his shoulder onto the carpet of the classroom –because that much ice makes the drink worthless. One more quote, never “add green tea or milk to Whiskey. You can add a little water, but not a lot of ice.”
Ultimately, the reason we add ice can be for aesthetics, to stretch out the time spent on one glass, for cooling, and for dilution. However, the number one reason enthusiasts add water is … drumroll please … because adding a little water actually opens up a Whiskey to show more aromas and flavors.
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Meridian + Valley Events
1 — MERIDIAN POOL OPENING
Storey Park: meridiancity.org
2 — “PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS” OPENING
Initial Point Gallery 4:30 PM: Opening reception featuring new works. meridiancity.org
3 — ARCHWALKS
Luby Park, 10 AM: Explore Boise’s history and architecture. preservationidaho.org
4 — PUBLIC WORKS WEEK EXPO
City Hall Plaza, 4 PM: Interactive exhibits, city equipment, family activities. meridiancity.org
4-6 — WILLY WONKA
Nampa Civic Center, 7:30 PM: Music Theater of Idaho. nampaciviccenter.com
5, 19 — KLEINER PARK LIVE
Julius M. Kleiner Park, 7 PM: Free outdoor concerts with food and live music. meridiancity.org
5-6 — CINDERELLA
Morrison Center: Ballet set to Prokofiev’s score. morrisoncenter.com
6-27 — MAIN STREET MARKET
Meridian City Hall, Saturdays 9 AM: Local vendors, food, live music. meridianmainstreetmarket.com
6 — MONSTER TRUCKS LIVE
Albertson’s Stadium, 6 PM: For the first time in Boise! hotwheelsmonstertruckslive.com
6 — FIREBIRD LINE-UP
Firebird Raceway: A month of drag racing and high-speed cars! firebirdonline.com
7 — SAVOR IDAHO 2026
Idaho Botanical Garden, 1 PM: Wine and cider tasting event. idahowines.org
8–13 — TOUCHED BY ART WEEK
Create Gallery: Movement classes, tactile workshops, open studio exploring sensory experience. CreateGalleryandframes.com
9-14 — MAMMA MIA!
Morrison Center: A wedding, three dads, and ABBA hits. morrisoncenter.com
10 — CREEKSIDE KIDS
Indian Creek Plaza, 5 PM: Hands-on, playful learning, kid-friendly. indiancreekplaza.com
10-13 — EAGLE RODEO
Eagle Rodeo Grounds: Top cowboys competing! eaglerodeo.com
11 — SUPER SOAKER SHOWDOWN
Indian Creek Plaza, 11 AM: Citywide water battle! indiancreekplaza.com
12, 26 — SPARKLIGHT MOVIE NIGHT
Settlers Park, 7 PM: Free outdoor movies under the stars. meridiancity.org
12 — HABITAT EVENING
IN THE GARDEN
FarWest Landscape, 5:30 PM: For affordable housing and homeownership. tvhabitat.org
12 — FRYDAHO
JUMP Park, 4 PM: Free fries and family fun! jumpboise.org
11 — BLUEGRASS JAM SESSION
Meriwether Cider Company, 6:30 PM: Bring your instruments and get down with other musicians. meriwethercider.com
13 — GENE KLEINER DAY
Kleiner Park, 4 PM: Free outdoor symphony concert—bring a chair or blanket. tockify.com
13 — BIG MACHINES IN THE PARK
Bernie Fisher Park, 11 AM: Exploring, interacting with trucks, emergency response vehicles, farm machinery kunacity.id.gov
13 — TEN AT THE PEN
Old Penitentiary, noon: Food trucks, musicians, artists, cider, cocktails, and beer. meriwethercider.com
16-20 — SNAKE RIVER STAMPEDE
Ford Idaho Center: One of the nation’s top pro rodeos! snakeriverstampede.com
17-20 — 90TH EMMETT CHERRY FESTIVAL
Emmett City Park: Parade, carnival, concerts! emmettcherryfestival.com
19 — KLEINER PARK LIVE
Julius M. Kleiner Park, 7 PM: Live music, food trucks. meridiancity.org
19 — JUNETEENTH MOVIE NIGHT
Cherie Buckner-Webb Park, 9 PM: Bring blankets and picnic! idahobca.org
20 — DOWNTOWN WALKING TOUR
City Hall, 10 AM: guided downtown Meridian guided historic walking tour.
21 — SRS WINEDOWN
Ford Idaho Center, 2:30 PM: Stampede finale featuring wine and more! fordidahocenter.com
22 — WELCOME PARTY GALA
Sun Valley Culinary Institute: Wine, food, and auction. sunvalleyculinary.org
24 — NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERT SERIES
Sunset Park, 5 PM: Bringing live music to local parks. morrisoncenter.com
25-27 — MERIDIAN DAIRY DAYS
Storey Park: Some good old-fashioned fun! dairydays.org
27 — BOISE MUSIC FESTIVAL
Expo Idaho, 10 AM: Marshmello, Sean Paul, Evercelar, and more! boisemusicfestival.com
27 — WILD WEST BREWFEST
Indian Creek Plaza, 4 PM: Western-style festival fun! indiancreekplaza.com
27 — MGK WITH WIZ KHALIFA
Ford Idaho Center, 7 PM: Lost Americana Tour! fordidahocenter.com
27-28 — MERIDIAN FINE ART FESTIVAL
Kleiner Park, 9 AM: Artists, live music, food vendors. meridianfineartfestival.com
27-28 — 78TH IDAHO OPEN
Riverside Hotel: 5-round weekend chess tournament. Mychess.events
WILD ONE SKELETON CHRONO
THE ULTIMATE HIGH-PERFORMANCE
SPORTS WATCH
