Treasuring and nurturing the sturdy stock of Cedar Valley -- both the people and the produce -- is a tradition for Paul and Margery Peterson, Cedar Fort's July 24th Parade Grand Marshals. The couple will be honored as grand marshals in the parade on Cedar Fort's Center Street at 10 a.m. Friday.

"They both have a great love for their roots. They appreciate their ancestors and try to live their lives so their descendants will be proud of them," said Cedar Fort parade chairwoman Kelly Berry.

Both Paul and Margery have used their unique abilities to shine a favorable light on the tiny town nestled in the Oquirrh Mountains. Paul, a world-renowned farmer, has twice won the World Forage Superbowl Competition in Madison, Wis., with his high-quality Cedar Fort alfalfa. Margery has collected and chronicled the history of Cedar Fort in her book, "Our Roots Grow Deep: A History of Cedar Valley."

Paul Peterson grew up in Cedar Fort, the son of James E. and Lucille Worthen Peterson. His great-grandparents, Ole and Maren Peterson, were some of the original pioneer settlers in Cedar Fort.

Growing up on a farm as one of seven sons, Paul worked hard and played with just as much energy.

"We learned how to work, that's for sure, but we had a lot of fun, too -- rounding up wild horses from the mountain, calf-roping and riding the bucking broncs in the rodeo, bottling root beer for the 24th, and making homemade ice cream," Paul said.

Paul has entertained generations of Cedar Fort folks with his resonant singing voice and guitar accompaniment. He graduated from Lehi High School and served an LDS mission in the Southern States Mission.

Paul and Margery met at a dance while they were both students at Utah State University. "I knew I'd marry her by the time I got to the end of the dance floor," Paul said.

"I always said I wouldn't marry a farmer because I didn't want to deal with the dirt," Margery said.

His impression turned out to be the lasting one. The couple married in 1960 and will celebrate their 49th anniversary next month. They are the parents of five children -- David Sherwin, Grant Leon, Annette, Linda and Jonathan Paul. They also have 27 grandchildren.

Paul's passion for practicing and teaching the best farming techniques has continued throughout his life.

"He is such a great teacher. He teaches young people while he works right beside them," Margery said.

He earned both his Bachelor of Science and master's degrees in Agricultural Education from USU, and his Ph.D. in Agriculture Science/Animal Breeding/Administration from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Between degrees he taught vocational agriculture at Morgan High School and Pleasant Grove High School. Paul has co-authored high-school-level animal science textbooks and taught on a college level at California Polytechnic campuses. He served as both a professor and coordinator of the agricultural education department at Cal Poly-Pomona.

The Petersons moved back to Utah so Paul could serve as the Utah state board of education agricultural specialist, a post he held for 11 years. He also has volunteered in the Cedar Fort Irrigation Company, serving for six years as an officer. He served as the coordinator of the farm and ranch management program at Utah Valley University until he retired in 1997.

But retirement for Paul just means more time cultivating, irrigating and harvesting crops on the Cedar Fort farm and raising high-quality beef cattle.

Margery Ann Jennings Peterson grew up in St. George and earned her degree in elementary education from USU. She taught second grade in Logan. She said that she didn't know a cow from a bull when Paul first brought her to Cedar Fort. Although the Petersons reside in American Fork, where they serve in the Mt. Timpanogos Temple, they maintain the Peterson family home in Cedar Fort complete with fruit trees, flowers, a vegetable garden and swings for the grandchildren. A former high school and college yearbook editor, Margery said she felt prompted to write "Our Roots Grow Deep: A History of Cedar Valley," first published in 1990, with a second edition now in its second printing.

"I love this valley with all my heart, and the people are so wonderful. They've given me my sweetheart and his values. We've been very blessed," Margery said.

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