Trailing of the Sheep Honors Area History
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JULY 11TH, 2009
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Mary Austin Crofts
Executive Director
(208) 720-0585
ANNUAL TRAILING OF THE SHEEP FESTIVAL OCTOBER 9–11, 2009
FESTIVAL HONORS RICH & COLORFUL HISTORY OF SHEEPHERDING IN THE WOOD RIVER VALLEY, IDAHO
The annual Trailing of the Sheep Festival will be held this year Friday October 9th through Sunday, October 11th, 2009 in the Wood River Valley of Idaho.
Every year the popular Trailing of the Sheep Festival celebrates the century and a half long traditions of moving sheep from mountain summer pastures south through the Wood River Valley to traditional winter desert areas. This annual migration is not a reenactment Rather it's living history and a weekend long festival that highlights the people, cultures, and traditions of sheep ranching in Idaho and the west.
Ketchum, Hailey and Bellevue, Idaho were founded in 1879 and 1880 during the mining rush when thousands of fortune hunters came to the Wood River Valley in search of prosperity. The Oregon Short Line arrived in Hailey in 1883 and Ketchum in 1884. When the silver market crashed a few years later, most of the Ketchum residents left in search of greener pastures. However, because of the railroad, a new industry was born in Ketchum – sheep.
SHEEPHERDING PREVAILS
It is said that John Hailey brought the first sheep into the Wood River Valley in the late 1860's. As that time, Idaho recorded a breeding sheep population of 14,000. As the mines began to play out in the Valley, the sheep industry filled an increasingly large role in the local economy. By 1890 there were a reported 614,000 sheep in Idaho. In 1918 the sheep population in Idaho reached 2.65 million, almost six times the state's human population. During this time, thousands of lambs were shipped by railroad from Picabo, Bellevue, Hailey and Ketchum to markets around the west. As a major sheep center, Ketchum was second only to Sydney, Australia.
As Sun Valley was opening its winter ski resort in 1936, sheepman Jack Lane was holding fort at his general store in Ketchum. It served as the sheep center where ranchers congregated, swapped stories about the prices and weather, and still stands today, as Starbucks, at Main Street and Sun Valley Road.
From the area of north central Spain and southwestern France where the Bay of Biscay meets the western range of the Pyrenees Mountains, the Basques arrived in southwestern Idaho and southeastern Oregon in the late 1880s to herd sheep and work in mines and timber. In a few years, many Basques formed their own sheep and cattle businesses, and a few became wealthy. Others moved into cities and towns and took up a wide variety of jobs. Basque women and children came to Idaho as soon as the men were well established. Young men continued to come, usually starting their lives in America as herders. The largest concentration of Basque people in the United States is in Southern Idaho.
Today as in the early part of the century, sheep migrate north each spring from the Snake River plain of Southern Idaho region, traveling in bands of close to 1,500 sheep, through the Wood River Valley to summer high mountain pastures. This traditional route takes them up Highway 75 through residential areas and the towns of Bellevue, Hailey and Ketchum. Some continue their journey over Galena summit into the Sawtooth Mountains. In the fall, the animals retrace this trail south to desert fields. In October of 1997 the first annual "Trailing of the Sheep Celebration" was held.
13TH ANNUAL CELEBRATION IN 2009
2009 marks the 13th year of the annual Trailing of the Sheep Festival. It has grown into a 3-day event including sheep poetry readings and music, a full day Folklife Fair with sheep shearing, wool spinning and sheep arts and crafts. There is dancing, singing, music and food honoring the tradition of welcoming fathers, brothers, sons and family home from a long winter of grazing in the mountains.
NEW CULINARY EVENT THIS YEAR. The "Art and Lamb Foodie Fest" will take place in association the Sun Valley Gallery Association Gallery Walk on Friday, October 9th from 5:00 – 7:00 pm. Lamb tastings will be featured at several galleries with famous local chefs and restaurants presenting their best lamb recipes. Not to be missed!
Trailing of the Sheep Parade – 1,500 sheep parade down Main Street Ketchum, Idaho
Gourmet cooking classes
Sheep Tales and Storytelling
Peruvian musicians and dancers
Oinkari Basque dancers
Boise Highlanders, bagpipers and drummers
Folklife Fair
Sheep shearing demonstrations
Sheep herding with dogs
Sheep wagon displays
Spinning and weaving demonstrations
Children's activities
Wool and craft shops
Art galleries featuring local photographers, painters and fiber artists.
This year, in addition to the history, stories, dancers, musicians and workshops, we are featuring "Food and Fiber"- the importance of warm, natural, sustainable wool in today's world. There will be expert spinners, weavers and knitters. We have also invited sheep ranchers and others involved with using wool as insulation - the latest in green building.
A perfect affordable family weekend vacation and a must do this year! Fun and educational for people of all ages.
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