Lincoln Day is the premier day of the year for members of the county Republican party, elected officials, prospective candidates, and interested members of the public to meet and hear from one another.  Over the past few years, the event has featured a range of speakers, many with clear political pedigrees (the governor and many state-level officials over the years, for instance), while others more generally speak on the American experiment, patriotism, and other issues relevant to everyone.  Membership is the Republican party is not required to attend to dinner, auction, and speech—just an interest in listening and learning with fellow Oneida County residents.

The doors open at 6:00 pm.  At 6:30, the event will begin with the posting of the colors, pledge of allegiance and national anthem, followed by the introduction of guests and candidates for public office who are present.

The Iron Door Smokehouse Catering will be doing the meal, featuring their pulled pork specialty.

The program will begin around 7:15 pm.  There will be patriotic musical numbers featuring Emily Christiansen and Carrie Jensen, and then Cory Webster, a former Malad Welsh Festival Bard, will be performing his poetry and guitar.  We also have Dotty Evanson and Jan Myers (former bards of the Welsh Festival) who have written two poems based on the founding of our nation that will be read.

Next Dave Colton will introduce our keynote speaker, Retired General Brian L. Tarbet.

After Tarbet speaks we will conduct the silent auction.

Those attending will then have time to visit with any local, legislative or state candidates for office.

Tarbet comes to Oneida County with an impressive background.  Brian L. Tarbet, Major General (Ret), has served his country in varying capacities since beginning his career as both a member of the U.S. Army and as a lawyer.  

Tarbet’s military career spanned nearly 40 years, culminating with his service as Adjutant General of Utah from 2000-2012.  During this time, he was responsible for 7,500 Soldiers and Airmen of the Utah National Guard. He formerly served on the Army Reserve Forces Policy Committee of the Secretary of the Army.

During his service in the Army as a career intelligence officer, Tarbet received many accolades and honors, including the Distinguished Service Medial, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal and Armed Forces Reserve Medal.  Tarbet has also been recognized by the State of Utah for his service and has been awarded the Utah Medal of Merit, Utah Achievement Ribbon, State Partnership Award, and Utah Service Ribbon.  Internationally, Tarbet has been awarded the Wissam al-Istihkak al-Askari (Order of Military Merit) by the Kingdom of Morocco.

Now retired from the Army, General Tarbet was appointed as General Counsel in the Utah Attorney General’s Office in January of 2013.  Since 2018, General Tarbet has served as Chief Civil Deputy,  He retired in January of 2025.  He brought more than 20 years of legal experience to that position, including prior service in the Utah Attorney General’s office as the division chief of the Tax and Revenue Division.  During that time, General Tarbet was honored as Tax Practitioner of the Year in 1998 by the Tax Section of the Utah State Bar.

From 2015 to 2017, Tarbet and his wife Mary served a church service mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Germany.

General Tarbet is a Utah State University graduate, having earned a BA in political science with business administration and German in 1973. Her furthered his education at the University of Utah where he earned a Juris Doctorate.  He was a National Security Fellow at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University from 1998-1999.

General Tarbet’s wife, Mary, is a USU alumna who graduated in special education. In 1977.  The couple has five children and twenty-one grandchildren.  

Make your way down to the Event Center on March 14 for an entertaining and interesting evening!