Fowler focused on inner health

Golden resident Stacy Fowler wears a lot of hats.

“I’m outdoorsy,” she said. “I love nature and animals.”

Fowler currently sits on the board for Get Outdoors Colorado, and is the director and founder of Camp GO.

A big passion of hers is physical fitness. She served four governors as the president of the Colorado Governor’s Council for Physical Fitness and is currently the Colorado State Coordinator for the Presidents’ Challenge and vice president of the National Association for Health and Fitness. She also founded the nonprofit organization, We Play It Forward.

Originally from Texas, Fowler and her husband relocated from California to Golden. She is actively involved with the community and the Golden Chamber of Commerce. She sits on the board of Golden Women in Business and chairs the Olde Golden Christmas and Holiday Celebrations event.

“I think life should be enjoyed and fun,” Fowler said. “I love being able to connect and plug people into our community.”

Q&A with Stacy Fowler on her two businesses: the Golden Hayride and Coach Stacy’s Healthy U

What is the Golden Hayride?

The Golden Hayride is a tour and sightseeing experience.

There’s music and we tell stories wherever we go. We tell riders some history of Golden and where to eat. And we let riders tell stories, too.

About 20 people can fit on it for a ride. It is a stake-bed truck –; horses are too messy, so it’s horse-powered. But it’s not only a hayride. The railings and benches can come out to become a haystage.

How did the Golden Hayride get its start?

My husband Joe and I started it in June last year. We’re all about having fun, so we thought, what is something fun that we can do in the community?

We’ll start up in June again this year, but people can book it any time of the year.

How long does a ride last?

The rides around Golden last about 15 or 20 minutes. But private events can last as long as they book it for.

Which Golden events does the Golden Hayride do?

We’ve been at the farmers’ market, the chamber’s first Fridays, Halloween and haunted hayrides, UllrGrass and the Olde Golden Christmas’ parades and candlelight walk –; and a ton of Christmas caroling.

We’ve also done birthdays and events at the Colorado School of Mines and Golden High School. And a girls’ night out with the Golden Women in Business.

What do people like about the Golden Hayride?

It’s good old-fashioned fun.

Its name is Howdy –; Howdy the Hayride. People love getting on and saying, “Yee-haw!” Everybody likes to have a yee-haw good time.

What is Coach Stacy’s Healthy U?

It is a health and wellness fitness company. I consult, and I do personal training and fitness classes. I also do public speaking.

I’m kind of like a life-coach, in a way –; I look at wellness as mind-body-spirit.

How long have you been involved with health and wellness in the community?

I’ve been doing this since the late 1980s, but Healthy U started when I came here in 1996.

Are there any upcoming events?

I’m doing sessions with the Jefferson County Public Library in June. They’re do-it-yourself health and fitness classes.

What advice do you have for people who want to improve their health and wellness?

One of my mottos is, when you’re moving, you’re improving.

I get asked all the time: what is the best exercise I can do? I tell them: the one you’ll do. Because that’s key.

And I really encourage fitness buddies. You want a buddy that has your same abilities and interests.

Why share this passion with others?

I think people need hope and encouragement. You’re never too old to start exercising, but you’re always too young to die.

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