2026 Element Awards Luncheon Presented by Black Desert Resort

On March 18th, 2026 we will recognize these three amazing women for the impact they have made on Southern Utah and our business community.

As Utah’s first lady, Abby Palmer Cox hopes to inspire Utahns to break down the barriers that separate people from treating one another as equals. She is an outspoken advocate for “getting proximate,” connecting through our differences, and combating the empathy crisis our country is facing. 

Born and raised in the small rural town of Mt. Pleasant, Utah, Abby grew up on the Palmer family ranch where the values of hard work and grit were a way of life. She enjoyed a close-knit family with loving parents, two brothers, and seven sisters. Both she and Spencer graduated from North Sanpete High School and Snow College. He followed her to Utah State University where she earned her degree in Special Education with a dual emphasis in Early Childhood and Severe Disabilities.

After law school in Virginia, Abby and Spencer returned to Utah to raise their family in Fairview, a town of about 1,200 residents, located two hours south of Utah’s capital. Throughout the seven years Spencer Cox served as lieutenant governor, the family lived in and commuted from Fairview. They now primarily reside in Salt Lake City at the Utah Governor’s Mansion, but connections to their rural community remain strong and a priority for the family. 

Abby has always been active in her community through PTA involvement, church youth groups and service to the homeless. Abby enjoys riding horses, reading great books, music, hiking, running and family outdoor activities. She and Governor Cox, her high school sweetheart, are the proud parents of four children — Gavin, Kaleb, Adam and Emma Kate.

Abby’s initiative as first lady is called “Show Up” because you can pretend to care but you can’t pretend to Show Up! She uses this platform to champion projects related to educator wellness, foster care awareness and support, expanded access to Special Olympics Unified Sports programs in schools across Utah, and statewide service.