Trailing of the Sheep Festival October 12-14 in Ketchum and Hailey, Idaho

            
       "Fire's Out, Fall's In" in the Big Wood River Valley! Just ask the 1,500
sheep that sashay through Main Street in downtown Ketchum on their
annual day to shine - as the grand finale of the big Trailing of the Sheep
Festival on October 12-14.

The Castle Rock Fire that threatened the resort town just outside of Sun
Valley a few weeks ago may have left some blackened spots in the
mountains but the sheep that graze there are in fine form. And they'll flock
in all their woolly glory from Hailey through Ketchum along Highway 75,
guided by traditional Basque and Peruvian sheepherders and their specially
trained fleet of dogs.

  Keeping with the century old tradition, sheepherders move their flocks from
summer pastures in the mountains north of the resort town of Ketchum and
Sun Valley, south through Hailey and the Wood River Valley to winter desert
grazing areas. This year they will be surrounded by new friends for their in
town appearance, the Chaski's Peruvian musicians with the Utah Hispanic
Dance Alliance and old friends local Peruvian musicians and dancers Latino
X, the Oinkari Basque Dancers, Boise Highlanders Bagpipe, Drummers, and
Dancers, and the Polish Highlanders.

       The Eleventh Annual Festival highlights the unique contributions made
by Peruvian sheepherders who worked and settled in this Valley. Special
Peruvian performers and speakers will entertain with their weekend
performances.

       The festivities start on Friday October 12 with afternoon Cooking with
Lamb workshop at 1PM on the secrets of preparing delectable lamb dishes
led by gourmet chef and owner, Chris Kastner of CK's eatery in Hailey. There
is small fee and registration is available through College of Southern Idaho.
At 3:00 PM gourmet camp cook, Allan Laudert, provides an open to the
public sheepherder breadmaking class at no charge on historic Irving's Hill
in Ketchum.

       The Sheep Tales Gathering on Friday night at the nexStage Theatre,
7:30 PM highlights the stories and memories of life in sheep ranching. This
year it begins with a short history of the Peruvians led by Tony Yapias,
advisor to Governors of Utah and University of Utah Professor, Armando
Solorzano on the immigrant experience reflected in "Living our Parents
Dreams" in sheep herding and ranching. The public is invited to participate
by bringing their own stories and photos to reminisce and share. There is no
charge for this story filled weekend. Come and Enjoy!

       Saturday's Celebration  is the at The Folklife Fair at Roberta McKercher
Park in Hailey, just south of Ketchum from 10AM to 4PM. It honors the work
of sheep ranching and traditions of the Peruvian, Basque, and Scot peoples
who figure prominently in this history. The Fair is filled with cultural
performances through music, dance, food and demonstrations of sheep
shearing, herding sheep with dogs and sheep camp life. There are crafts for
children and adults alike, and spinning demonstrations. 

The Fair highlights performances of touring groups Utah Hispanic Dance
Alliance and Peruvian musicans; Chaski's, The Boise Highlanders bagpiper,
drummers, and dancers, The Polish Highlander folk dancers, Latino X
musicians and dancers, Oinkari Basque Dancers and Txantxangorriak Basque
musicians. Western Folklife Center of Elko Nevada set up in a sheep camp
collecting stories and memories. Don't miss the our newest addition, "Lamb
Tastings" featuring 3 local chefs demonstrating lamb cuisine along with the
3 prominent sheep ranch families history. St. Charles Basque Dinner will be
served as it has for over 50 years.

       Early Saturday morning, 9AM - 10AM: Meet the Artists at the Trailing
Art Exhibit at "The Center in Hailey". Noted Retablo artist, Jeronimo Lozano
will demonstrate and discuss his works. The show continues throughout the
week displaying 15 talented artists.

       Saturday evening progresses with a dramatic and colorful Peruvian
Ballet Folklorica 7 PM at the nexStage Theatre in Ketchum. Utah Hispanic
Dance Alliance accompanied by Chaski's Peruvian Muscians bring the stories
of Peru to life through music, dance, and costume. Truly a night to
remember! The cost is $15.00 and tickets are available at the door.

       Sunday morning local historian Ivan Swaner will talk about the history
of the Valley at historic Lane Mercantile (Starbucks) in Ketchum beginning at
10AM.

       All of these activities are a prelude to the Sunday Afternoon Big Sheep
Parade beginning at 12 noon. 1,500 sheep are moved down Main Street
Ketchum passing restaurants, boutique shops coffeehouses and hotels, then
south along Highway 75. This "Trailing", or herding the sheep occurs as it
has for nearly 100 years and will be led by one of the remaining four
families, this year John Falkner's,  that still move sheep through the valley
each season. The animals are ushered through town in style by a parade of
historic sheep wagons, Utah Hispanic Dance Alliance, Chaski's Peruvian
Muscians, Oinkari Basque Dancers, Latino X dancers and musicians, Polish
Highlander Folk Dancers and Boise Highlander bagpipers, drummers, and
dancers.

       Sheepherder walk conclude the weekend events with a guided tour
through Neal Canyon north of Ketchum led by local historian Ivan Swaner
and third generation sheep rancher John Peavey. This mountain meadow is a
traditional resting place for herders and their sheep. The afternoon offers a
chance to view fanciful Basque sheepherder tree carvings and hear more
about sheepherding in the Wood River Valley under clear blue autumn skies
and full fall foliage. The sheep shuttle leaves the Forest Service Park in
Ketchum at 1:50 PM. 

       Past Festival program favorites remain including gourmet lamb specials
at local restaurants in the Lamb Dine-Around and local historical museums
will remain open for visiting.

       We are delighted to once again have Western Folklife Center Historical
Display open from Thursday, October 11 through Sunday, October 14 at Sun
Valley Ski and Heritage Museum. In this exhibit the Western Folklife Center
presents stories, images, and expressive cultural material reflecting the
perspectives, hope, and challenges of contemporary sheep ranchers. Sheep
ranching in the West is continually changing as it adapts to the demands
placed on it due to the globalization of the industry and environmental
pressures. This exhibit provides a multimedia snapshot of this once
prominent, but now threatened, lifestyle.

       How it all got started ... John and Diane Peavey are the third generation
to own and operate the Flat Top Sheep Company north of Carey. They trail
their sheep through the Wood River Valley each year, constantly adapting to
the challenges presented by the growing population and development
throughout the area. In 1990, the Peavey's invited area residents to join
them in trailing one of their sheep bands down the valley. School children
and adults participated, and the idea for the Trailing of the Sheep event was
born. Today this three day event sparks the imagination of visitors from
around the world who come to witness this seasonal migration that began in
the Old West and continues to this day amidst the beauty of a fall weekend.



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