IRON COUNTY COMMISSION SEAT B
Early Life
Steve grew up in the small town of Annabella, Utah, surrounded by acres of beautiful farmland nestled at the base of the majestic Cove Mountain. He spent his childhood working on cattle and sheep ranches and harvesting crops. He learned the value of hard work and persistence and gained a deep love and appreciation for the outdoors. In addition to learning all that ranch life entails, Steve became a master at conditioning horses, which earned him a job training show horses for Wayne County’s legendary Doc Weaver. High school football and wrestling taught Steve the value of teamwork, team building, and sportsmanship. His strength and determination led him to compete for two state titles in wrestling.
CAREER & FAMILY
After an idyllic childhood in Annabella, Utah, Steve moved to Cedar City to attend SUSC. While working on his college degree, he pursued a real estate and land development career. This experience eventually led Steve to great success as the owner of his insurance agency with Farm Bureau Financial Services, earning him top accolades, including the Farm Bureau’s prestigious Blue Vase Elite and Heritage Awards. Steve also served as Chairman of the Cedar City Chamber of Commerce. Steve is proud of the business he has worked so hard to build and is grateful for the flexibility it provides him, so he has time for family, giving back, and serving our community.
Steve’s small-town values, rural upbringing, and business-savvy mindset are among Steve’s strongest suits, but nothing brings Steve more joy and love than that of his family. They are his foundation and why he is the man he is today. Steve is married to the love of his life, Denise, and they have three grown children, two sons, and one daughter. Denise is the owner of the highly successful Envy-Us beauty salon. Their children have chosen health care, foster care, and law enforcement professions. In addition, they have a 3-year-old granddaughter who is the highlight of their lives and keeps everyone smiling.
HOBBIES & GIVING BACK
Steve spent much of his childhood in the great outdoors and fishing with his father. Steve’s love of fishing quickly grew from hobby to sport. For the last 25 years, Steve has been a bass tournament angler, fishing on major professional tours from Texas to California.
Recognizing the significant impact that fishing had on his own life, Steve sought a way to use fishing to give back to the community. He realized that many children, particularly those with disabilities, may grow up without ever experiencing the thrill of casting out, the quiet anticipation of a catch, or maybe even reeling the “Big One.” So he founded an annual non-profit event called Fish and Fun. The event sponsors 65 participants to a day of fishing on a boat at Sand Hollow Reservoir with a member of the National Guard as their guide. All participants are provided with fishing poles, gear, and tackle that they can keep. Fish and Fun has been an enormous success for the past 16 years and has been featured on Roughing It Outdoors, At Your Leisure, Channel 2, and other local stations.
Steve’s desire to give back originated from his parents, who always sought out opportunities to help others in whatever capacity they could. Giving back has always been a part of his life. He has volunteered for the Special Olympics, participated in town clean-up projects, and helped build Park Discovery. He and his wife helped organize fundraisers for two individuals with cancer, raising $4,000 for a friend and $35,000 for a 2-year-old child.
Steve also enjoys hunting for coyotes, elk, and deer. He is a proud gun owner, not only for the sport of hunting but also for the ability to protect his home and family. He is a firm supporter of 2nd Amendment rights.