Utah exports shine: exports from the Beehive State that might surprise you.

• Author: Miller, Derek B.
• Position: Worldview

What if I told you the bow and arrows famously strapped across the back of Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games movies were not only made in Utah, but are Utah exports? Would you believe me if I told you that a bowling ball manufactured in Utah has won more professional tournaments in the last 10 years than any other bowling ball? Or that Utah is home to one of the few distilleries in the west?

When people hear that Utah has made a name for itself internationally, their minds automatically go to the 2002 Winter Olympic Games or the global reach of the LDS Church. These are both elements of Utah's global footprint, but exports play a significant role in putting Utah on the map as well. Here are a few world-renowned Utah products that might surprise you.

Jas.D.Easton, Inc.

Last month, the world's most accomplished athletes gathered in Rio to compete for medals and glory at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. The millions of viewers who watched the archery competitions saw Utah products in the hands of most of the athletes, as all but a few archers shot Easton Technical Products arrows and more than half shot with Hoyt Archery bows.

Both Easton Technical Products and Hoyt Archery are part of the holding company Jas.D.Easton, Inc., which was started by Doug Easton in Southern California in 1922. Though the bow and arrow business started small, growth took off rapidly in the AOs when Easton revolutionized archery by developing aluminum arrows.

In the early 1980s, Easton acquired Hoyt Archery, founded by legendary bow designer Earl Hoyt. The acquisition was particularly successful because Hoyt's innovative focus perfectly aligned with Easton's, and these traits continue to drive the company today. Hoyt primarily produces high-end, high-performance archery products.

Easton has had manufacturing facilities in Salt Lake since 1980. Over the last 10 years, the corporate headquarters moved from California to Utah. The company employs about 600 people, 500 of which are in Utah.

Both Hoyt and Easton Technical Products have a strong market presence outside of the U.S. The companies sell to distributors in more than 30 countries and 30 percent of business comes from exports.

It is impossible to talk about Easton and Hoyt products without mentioning the cameos they make on the silver screen. Rambo, Hawkeye and Katniss have all shot Hoyt bows and Easton arrows. It is pretty cool to think Olympians, superheroes, archers and hunters alike turn to a Utah company...