<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2kTxhG_0vk1TdNY00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2kTxhG_0vk1TdNY00" width="1280" height="640" ></figure>The Rexburg Chamber of Commerce hosted the Experience Rexburg event September 21 at Porter Park.The event was held the first Saturday after the start of the Fall 2024 semester. According to Janalyn Holt, president of the Rexburg Chamber of Commerce, the timing of the event was very important.“It’s strategically placed on this weekend to capture the excitement of all the students coming back for fall semester, which is typically the biggest enrollment of BYU-Idaho,” Holt said.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=20A2jN_0vk1TdNY00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=20A2jN_0vk1TdNY00" width="1024" height="768" ><figcaption>Businesses began setting up their stands around 7:30 Saturday morning. Photo Credit: Ryan Turner</figcaption></figure>The event featured food, games and live music. It was open to all, but according to Brett Crandall, chairman of the board for the Rexburg Chamber of Commerce, the experience is specifically marketed toward BYU-Idaho students.“The whole purpose of this event is for the students,” Crandall said. “We want them to be aware of what businesses and organizations are here to serve them in Rexburg. And the point for our businesses, they want the business from the students.”<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0zfx6X_0vk1TdNY00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0zfx6X_0vk1TdNY00" width="1024" height="768" ><figcaption>Food trucks lined up on West 2nd St. Photo Credit: Ryan Turner</figcaption></figure>Restaurants and entertainment venues were present at Experience Rexburg, including JustServe and the Madison County Public Library. These organizations work in accordance with BYUI and student volunteers.“We work in conjunction with I-Serve on campus to link service projects that students can get involved in,” said Eric Andreasen, who was running the booth for JustServe. “It’s a completely free website or app on the phone, and you can put in preferences for times you want to serve, what type of service projects, and it will link you up with those service opportunities in the community.”Abby Alquicira, a kit collection librarian from the Madison Public Library, said that Experience Rexburg is beneficial for both students and local businesses.“I was a student once here at BYU-Idaho,” Alquicira said. “And it can be kind of hard to be away from family so this Experience Rexburg is very nice. It helped me know what I have in my community. As far as me as a librarian, it’s a way for me to meet new patrons and show people that we are a beacon of hope, a beacon of light in the community. We want people to have access to literature and be able to find a safe space to belong.”<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3HJ7xE_0vk1TdNY00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3HJ7xE_0vk1TdNY00" width="1024" height="768" ><figcaption>Alquicira (right) helps run the library’s stand at Experience Rexburg. Photo Credit: Ryan Turner</figcaption></figure>According to Crandall, past success with the Experience Rexburg event has allowed it to grow each year. This year, around 120 businesses participated.“Every year, we get more and more businesses that want to participate because they want to make those connections with students, and they’ve seen the success that we’ve built over the years,” Crandall said. “If our businesses didn’t see that this event was successful they wouldn’t participate, and I think it's a testament to the fact that it is such a great event that we get more and more each year.” For BYUI students, both new and returning, the event is meant to showcase what Rexburg has to offer.“It’s fun to see people you know and connect to a lot of businesses,” said Rebekah McNeely, a junior studying humanities. “So it’s nice to see all the stuff … around Rexburg.”According to Corynne Crosby, a senior at BYUI, events like Experience Rexburg show how much Rexburg has grown over the past few years.“It’s just growing,” Crosby said. “I think that Rexburg is growing because I don’t think I’ve ever seen it this packed before. I came here in 2016, and I think that this year there’s been a lot of people moving in, so I think it’s going to be really good.”<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3bSiOw_0vk1TdNY00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3bSiOw_0vk1TdNY00" width="1024" height="768" ><figcaption>Live music entertains the event attendees. Photo Credit: Ryan Turner</figcaption></figure>According to Andreasen, Experience Rexburg has been a great opportunity for people in Rexburg to learn about the community that they live in.“It’s just great because everybody in the community is getting out and learning about the different services that are here and the different things that are offered in the community,” Andreasen said.Crandall and Holt said they both found the event to be a lot of fun. According to Holt, Experience Rexburg has been beneficial for both students and the community.“Part of the mission of the chamber of commerce is to promote local business,” Holt said. “What better way to have our businesses come here in one location and have these masses of people, not only BYU-Idaho students but members of the community as well, come right to your door figuratively to be able to see what we can offer here in Rexburg.”More information about events and business in Rexburg can be found on the chamber of commerce website.</div></body>

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Chamber of Commerce hosts Experience Rexburg for new BYUI students

The Rexburg Chamber of Commerce hosted the Experience Rexburg event September 21 at Porter Park. The event was held the first Saturday after the start of the Fall 2024 semester. According to Janalyn Holt, president of the Rexburg Chamber of Commerce, the timing of the event was very important. “It’s...