Lynn Stevens Oral History Interview

In an interview on June 11, 2024, in Blanding, Utah, Mia Shumway spoke with Lynn Stevens about his life, experiences, and observations on change in rural Utah. Stevens, born in Blanding in 1936, left for college and a 33-year military career that took him globally before returning 45 years later, drawn by family and the sense of home. He reflected on the community's cooperative atmosphere and quietness, contrasting his rural upbringing, which involved dry-land farming of pinto beans, with his urban military life. Stevens also discussed the evolution of Blanding from a farming community to one influenced by tourism and technology, noting the challenge of limited job opportunities for young people. As a former county commissioner, he highlighted efforts to improve healthcare in San Juan County, including spearheading the building of a hospital in Blanding, and emphasized the need for state policymakers to better understand and support rural areas like Blanding.