Since 2002, the Summit Land Conservancy has worked to protect and preserve land and water for the benefit of people and nature.

In 2009, the nonprofit organization began to focus on the Weber River Watershed Initiative.

“A lot of the funds will go to protecting open spaces and habitat upkeep along the Weber River and its main tributaries,” said Heleena Sideris, director of events at Onward Upward and board member of Summit Land Conservancy. “Next to that, we have some parcels in and around Park City that we’ll be working on, and, again, those will be made public soon.”

Summit Land Conservancy also has some landscape scale projects it is working on in Chalk Creek Canyon.

To do all of that takes money, so the nonprofit will host a Blue Sky Bash, a benefit for open space, at the Blue Sky Ranch, 2701 S. S.R. 32, on Saturday, Aug. 20, from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m.

The evening will start off with a cocktail hour that will feature signature cocktails from High West Distillery.

“We also have Old Town Cellars on board for the cocktail hour as well,” Sideris said.

The live entertainment will feature Western duo In Cahoots.

“These guys are local cowboys, who will teach us how to lasso and wrangle and give us a little serenade,” Sideris said. “We’ll also have Hawkwatch International who will bring and showcase five of their raptors, giving people a chance to get up-close and personal with these birds.”

At 7 p.m., the event moves indoors for a three-course, plated meal that will be paired with Parallel Wines from Napa Valley.

“We’ll also host a special American Prairie bourbon tasting that will go along with one of our auction items, which will be a trip to the American Prairie Preserve in
Montana,” Sideris said.

The auction will be led by auctioneer Larry Flynn, and feature seven auction items,
such as a trip to the Tetons — including horseback riding and a dinner cruise on Elk Island Lake — a private dinner at Bill White Farms, an excursion with Olympic gold medalist Billy Demong on one of the Summit Land Conservancy easements in Round Valley, a trip to Puerto Vallarta and a Glenwild dining experience for 10.

Artie Hemphill and the Iron Horse Band will provide the entertainment for the evening, Sideris said.

“We’ll also have a short program that will give a little more in depth of what Summit Land Conservancy does,” she said. “We protect the open spaces, agricultural lands, ranches, farmlands, and watersheds that are in Summit County, the place we call home.

“These are areas we love and the areas that we play in,” she said. “The funds raised at the Blue Sky Bash will go towards some of our conservation projects.”

A lot of the land Summit Land Conservancy looks after is donated, but it still takes money to take care of them, Sideris said.

“For example, one acre on the Weber River costs $20,000,” she said. “That includes land assessments, stewardship, conservation and a lot of behind-the-scenes work.

“We work closely with Park City, Summit County and local and federal governments as well,” Sideris said. “When we raise money at the Blue Sky Bash, we use that money as leverage with the state federal grants.”

Summit Land Conservancy will host its annual Blue Sky Bash at the Blue Sky Ranch, 2701 S. S.R. 32, on Saturday, Aug. 20, from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. For more information, visit http://www.wesaveland.org.