Utah’s five national parks often steal the spotlight, but the state’s lesser-known parks can offer something just as memorable, offering easier access, fewer crowds and a more personal connection to the landscape. 

Running a farm is hard enough, but rapid city growth makes it even tougher. More than a decade ago, the late Verl Cook faced a series of staggering hurdles that threatened to wipe out his family’s livelihood.

First, the city decided to treat the Cook’s greenhouse — the most profitable part of the farm — like a big-box retail store. They demanded the family build a paved parking lot, a project that would cost $200,000.

Hall and Scheig found their land last June and broke ground just two months later, transforming what was essentially a blank canvas into a diversified market garden. This year marks their first full growing season, and they’re launching it with a community supported agriculture program, or CSA. CSAs allow people to support local growers by purchasing a season’s worth of produce upfront, giving farmers the financial stability they need during the most expensive part of the year.

Why would a state known for avoiding coffee create one of America’s most successful beverage trends? Why would people willingly add cream and flavored syrups to drinks that already contain more than enough sugar? And why are Utahns willing to wait in long drive-thru lines for something they could technically make at home?