The Utah Statesman — Monday, June 29, 2026

Stokes Nature Center invites community to vote in celebratory art exhibition

The walls and display tables at Stokes Nature Center are filled with painting, photography, sculpture, pottery, poetry and music submissions as part of a community art exhibition celebrating natural landscapes.

The exhibition, titled “AMERICA250: Celebrating the Beauty of Our Natural Landscapes,” is the culmination of a series of events hosted through a National Endowment for the Arts Big Read grant received by the center. The exhibition opened June 7 and will remain on display through June, with awards scheduled to be presented July 7.

Kendra Penry, executive director of Stokes Nature Center, said the exhibition was designed to celebrate both the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States and the natural landscapes that define the region.

“We decided to go with creating an art exhibit celebrating any type of art, music, poetry, photography, whatever it

is, however the artist defines art,” Penry said. “The theme is the beauty of our natural landscapes.”

Artists were invited to create works depicting natural landscapes as they appear today or as they may have looked 250 years ago. The exhibition welcomes a wide range of artistic mediums, including painting, photography, sculpture, poetry and music.

According to Penry, the exhibition is the first of its kind at the center. While Stokes Nature Center has hosted art exhibitions before, those displays have typically focused on a single local artist.

“In this case, we just opened it up to everyone,” Penry said, “to celebrate the amazing talent that exists in Cache Valley.”

The exhibition features artists from a wide range of backgrounds and experience levels. Penry said submissions came from elementary-aged artists, high school students, amateur creators and professional artists.

Visitors can participate in the judging process through

the exhibition’s Viewer’s Choice award. Rather than using online voting, the center chose a simpler approach.

“Just drop a bead in a glass jar,” Penry said.

Each visitor receives one bead and can place it in a jar positioned in front of the artwork they believe deserves the award. Additional awards include the SNC Staff Choice, Judges’ Overall Winner, Best 3D Submission, Best Historical Representation and Best [Artist] Under 18.

Anna Nelson, community engagement specialist at Stokes Nature Center, said community members have responded enthusiastically to the exhibition since it opened.

“It’s great watching people get so excited,” Nelson said. “I’ve had people coming and asking me for beads, and I just get to give it to them.”

Nelson said one of the most rewarding aspects of the exhibition has been seeing participation from visitors of all ages.

“I’ve even had the opportunity to have little kids vote,” Nelson said. “The opportunity to have all the different age ranges, I think, is great.”

Penry said the exhibition has received more community attention than previous displays, partly because it represents dozens of artists rather than a single creator.

“We have something for everyone up here right now, and it’s been phenomenal,” Penry said.

The response has been strong enough that organizers are already considering similar exhibitions in the future.

“I’ve been asked by several people if we would do it again,” Penry said.

For now, community members can continue viewing the exhibition and casting their votes throughout June. Organizers hope the display not only highlights the area’s artistic talent but also encourages visitors to connect with the natural landscapes that inspired the work.

Dylan Moore is a junior majoring in political science and minoring in anticipatory intelligence and Russian. He always loves going on outdoor adventures and cooking.

— dylan.moore@usu.edu

Former Aggies take pro football opportunities

By Rory McNeill STATESMAN SENIOR REPORTER

With the NFL draft behind us and summer camps starting up across the NFL, we now have a better understanding of where some former Aggies will continue their football careers. While USU did not have any players drafted this year, seven players were given opportunities with NFL teams and multiple players signed with Canadian Football League teams.

Two former Aggies signed contracts as undrafted free-agents shortly following the NFL draft: wide receiver Brady Boyd with the Jacksonville Jaguars and defensive back Noah Avinger with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Boyd tallied 46 catches and 742 yards last season for the Aggies, while also receiving an All-Mountain West honorable mention. He will be joining a crowded wide receiver room led by Brian Thomas Jr., 2024 Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter and veteran Jakobi Meyers.

Avinger, who received first-team All-Mountain West honors last season, will be joining a defense that was in the top five last season for yards allowed per game. Avinger finished the season with 84 tackles, 1.0 sack and 3.5 tackles for loss.

Running back Miles Davis signed with the Carolina

Panthers following minicamps. He was invited to attend the Seattle Seahawks minicamp as well. Davis totaled 731 rushing yards with 11 touchdowns during the 2026 season, with an additional 201 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns. Davis will find himself competing for a spot in a crowded running back room in Carolina, featuring recently extended Chuba Hubbard, veteran AJ Dillon, and their 2024 second-round pick Jonathon Brooks.

In addition, quarterback Bryson Barnes, tight end Broc Lane, linebacker John Miller and cornerback Bryson Taylor all received minicamp invites. Barnes attended the Cleveland Browns minicamp but has since signed with the Ottawa Redblacks of the CFL. Barnes received second-team All-Mountain West honors for the 2025 season, passing for 2,803 yards and 18 touchdowns, while adding another 740 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground.

Lane received invites from the Tennessee Titans as well as the Indianapolis Colts. Linebacker John Miller received an invite from the Denver Broncos, and cornerback Bryson Taylor received an invite from the Atlanta Falcons.

Despite not receiving any NFL minicamp invites, safety Ike Larsen signed a contract with the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL. Larsen spent all four years of his collegiate career with the Aggies, starting in 36 games and appearing in 45 for USU. Larsen received second team All-Mountain West honors as a freshman and first team All-Mountain West honors as a sophomore. In the 2025 season, Larsen appeared in eight games for the Aggies, with 56 total tackles, three tackles for loss and one interception.

While multiple players have already signed contracts, this does not necessarily mean we will see them playing on Sundays this upcoming season, but it does allow them to prove themselves before then. Many players will also spend time on practice squads or bounce between teams as the season progresses.

As for the players who have signed with CFL teams, the CFL season began on June 4th, but neither Larsen nor Barnes made appearances in the games.

Rory McNeill is a sophomore from Rocklin, California studying mechanical engineering. He loves Aggie sports, skiing, golf and writing music. — rory.mcneill@usu.edu

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Will Become Silhouettes: Documenting Women’s Traditional Crafts in Cache Valley.”

Probasco is a student at USU and photographer for the Statesman. Other than going to school and taking photos, Lola also finds time to knit and play guitar. — Ao2452076@aggeis.usu.edu

Aggs-Cross the Pond is USU’s #1 source for the best of Britain. Covering 50 years of English radio hits, from 1970s Punk to 2020s Indie, host Greg takes an hour every week to see what rings under the Union Jack. Listen Friday’s at noon on Aggie Radio 92.3 FM.

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