The Fall River Propane Swift Idol is coming up on August 2nd and eight contestants will be competing for the chance at $6,000.

Joseph Shumway from Osmond, Wyoming will be competing. He is a sixth generation dairy farmer in Star Valley who has a strong passion for music.

He calls himself a “jack of many trades” as he not only works on the farm, but he is a professional genealogist. He works for Ancestry and has worked from home the last five years.

“Basically as a genealogist, I’m a Sherlock Holmes for dead people,” Shumway said jokingly.

He says the dairy farm provides a nice life for his three kids. He is grateful to be able to raise them in Star Valley.

Shumway says music is an important part of his life. He performed in a country-rock band when he lived in Utah.

“It was a blast,” Shumway said. “That gave me a really great outlet for my music.”

He says Swift Idol is a great opportunity for him personally to reengage himself in his music. He says he put it on the shelf for a while.

In the last year music has helped Shumway in a very deep and personal way. He says he has struggled with mental health issues and even contemplated taking his own life.

“As I’ve come out of that experience, I’ve had a renewed love for life,” Shumway said. “I’ve had a renewed love for people.”

He says music has helped him in his process to find self-confidence again and now he plans to share his talents with others.

“I have been very blessed with a gift in music,” Shumway said. “And I want to be able to share that with people and to myself use it as an opportunity to show where I’ve come from over the last year.”

He says he is very optimistic about the future and Swift Idol has gotten him very excited.

Swift Idol is August 2nd and you can pre-purchase tickets here.