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Next Steps On The Farm Bureau Trail

"Our plan is to create a serene and beautiful place for employees and community members."

-Asenath Tubbs, Farm Bureau Trail Committee Member

April 8, 2019

The Farm Bureau Trail features a view of the Portneuf Valley that extends westward to the American Falls Reservoir and beyond.

By Mike Myers

Farm Bureau and its employees are literally leaving behind a trail of evidence showing they walk the talk stated in Farm Bureau’s Mission Statement. Our mission says we believe in creating an enjoyable work environment and contributing a portion of our resources to our communities. The Farm Bureau Trail, which opened last September to employees and the public, does both of these things. “The Farm Bureau Trail was created with our employees and the community in mind,” says Lance Smith, Home Office Building Systems Manager and a member of the Farm Bureau Trail committee. “It gives employees and residents a place to walk and ride bikes and it helps beautify the city’s skyline.”

The Farm Bureau trail's inception came when Farm Bureau reached out to the Portneuf Greenway Foundation and asked if Farm Bureau could help the Greenway realize its vision of an I-15 corridor connecting the disparate parts of the community. "Farm Bureau representatives noticed that the Greenway's vision could never be realized," says Adam Waldron, Director of Information Services and one of the Farm Bureau's representatives who approached the Foundation, "without incorporating the frontage of the Farm Bureau property." Adam says that once Farm Bureau stepped forward and indicated interest in bringing the vision to fruition, the other pieces fell into place. "Adjoining property owners saw Farm Bureau's commitment and gave the Greenway easements and donations to make the entire corridor a reality. This led to further federal and state grants valued at over a half-million dollars."

The completed ten-foot wide, multi-use trail is located on Farm Bureau’s property running parallel to I-15. It extends over 1,200 feet from the Home Office’s south parking lot to the picnic area at the crest of the trail. The trail connects at the picnic area to the larger Marshall-Racine trail which continues north for another 4,100 feet to the Monte Vista overpass. Together, the two trails provide an unbroken route of over a mile from Tierra Drive to Monte Vista. The Farm Bureau Trail is part of the Portneuf Greenway, a comprehensive trail system stretching over 16 miles throughout the Pocatello and Chubbuck communities. “Our section,” Lance says of Farm Bureau's trail, “may be the only privately owned section of the Greenway.” The trail’s terrain, which Farm Bureau paid to have bulldozed and paved, includes a view of the Portneuf Valley that extends westward to the American Falls Reservoir and beyond.

At the trail’s dedication ceremony last fall, Roy Erchul, President of the Portneuf Greenway Foundation, said, “This trail is a big step towards our goal of connecting the Portneuf Wellness Complex [near the northeast corner of the city] with Idaho State University [located in Pocatello’s southern half]. It is a reality because of the support of our community partners, the City of Pocatello, and the Idaho Transportation Department. I am glad to live in a community where we can collaborate to make Pocatello an even better place to live and work.” Dan Harelson, the projects manager for the Portneuf Greenway Foundation, added, “We have been working with our partners in the community for several years to pull this off and it is very gratifying to see it come together.”

The next steps for developing and beautifying the trail are already underway by Farm Bureau's Trail Committee. “Our plan is to create a serene and beautiful place for employees and community members to relax and enjoy the view,” says committee member Asenath Tubbs, a commercial underwriter at the Home Office. She explains, saying, “The committee would like to enhance the beauty of the trail by planting flowering trees along the length of the entire path and between the path and the Farm Bureau building.” The committee is asking for donations to help cover the costs of the trees. “Due to the high winds,” Lance says, “the greenhouses have recommended we plant larger, 14-gallon trees.” The cost to purchase and plant the trees is $200 each. Trees can be donated by a person or a group, and the $200 includes a plaque with your choice of wording to honor a loved one, co-worker, or express other sentiments. The plaques can contain five words per line and six lines maximum. Farm Bureau is contributing the plaques and covering the cost of irrigating the trees.

The Trail Committee’s goal is to sell and plant 38 trees by mid-May. Crystal Bernier, Administrative Assistant to the Chief Operating Officer and a member of the Trail Committee, says 28 trees have been sold so far.

If you have any questions about the trail or would like to purchase a tree, please contact a member of the Trail Committee: