The man behind the land

July 23, 2024

ELMORE COUNTY, Idaho (KBOI) - Thousands of people are expected to flock to Elmore County this summer for the inaugural Mountain Home Country Music Festival. But a concert of that size isn't possible without a big chunk of land.

Sawtooth Grazing Association owns a plot of land just off of Highway 20, in between Mountain Home and Fairfield. John Faulkner has been running that land for about 30 years. Located on the north side of the highway, it's used for sheep and cattle grazing.

But in less than three months, the meadow will be transformed into a small city, home to the Mountain Home Music Festival.

"It's going to be interesting," Faulkner said. "People are a lot harder to manage than livestock."

Organizers expect 15,000 to 20,000 people to take over 600 acres on the property during the three-day music festival. Faulkner is already out working on the land, making preparations.

"It isn't a rinky-dink deal," he said. "It seems like a big deal to me."

Faulkner says the county first approached him back in September 2014, asking about his land. Elmore County, looking for an economic boost, wanted to bring a music festival to the area.

But Faulkner himself? He's not a big country music fan.

"I don't take much time for it, no," he said.

He also said he's well aware that the land will take a beating.

"It's going to get trampled," Faulkner said. "You bring that many people in, that's worse than a...band of cows."

When asked how much organizers were paying to use the land, Faulkner replied modestly.

"It's not that much money, it doesn't even beat grazing hardly," he said.

But Faulkner says he's happy to help launch the festival. For him, it's not about money, but about giving back to his community.

"It's going to help the schools primarily as far as this county goes," he said. "It's also the people around. The hotels, motels, they'll all be filled up now."

Because festival organizers have insurance, Faulkner says he won't be liable for anything that happens on his property during the three-day event. He also isn't responsible for cleaning up what's left behind.

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