Basque History in America fills the street of Idaho for the annual Trailing of the Sheep Festival, October 12-14, 2007

Thousands of sheep will fill the streets of Hailey and Ketchum, Idaho this weekend for the 11th annual Trailing of the Sheep. This cultural event reminds Idahoans what many immigrants, including the Basques went through as they started their lives in the new world. While the Basque Sheepherder has been the focus in past years, this year will focus on the Peruvian herder and his contribution to Idahos sheep business.

The sheep business has played an intrical part of Idahos livestock culture. Festival organizers say since the early part of the century, sheepherders, many some of the first Basque immigrants made their way through the Snake River plain of Southern Idaho traveling in bands of close to 1,500 sheep. Their journey led them through the Wood River Valley to summer mountain pastures. Its a route up Highway 75 through now populated residential areas, including the towns of Bellevue, Hailey, and Ketchum.

[Oinkari Basque Dancers perform for the crowd. The group is one act that represents the Basque Sheepherders (Photo courtesy: Jack Williams, Trailingofthesheep.org)]

In 1997, festival organizers decided to start remembering history with a weekend full of history and heritage.

Festival weekend

Festivities kick off on Friday October 12 with the Sheep Tales Gathering: Living Our Parents Dream. A seminar includes an evening with the former advisor to the Governor of Utah. There will also be a Cooking with Lamb exhibit. Chef and Owner of CKs Restaurant will show the crowd how to prepare lamb dishes. Also, a Dutch Oven Sheepherding Bread making exhibit.

[One of many groups representing immigrants of multiple cultures that made up the sheepherding industry in Idaho (Photo courtesy: Teri Niedrich, Trailingofthesheep.org)]

Saturday October 13 will be the Sheep Folklife Fair. Entertainment will include Peruvian musicians, Hispanic dancers, Boise Highlanders Bagpipers and Drummers, and the Oinkari Basque Dancers.

Sunday October 14; History of Sheepherding in the Wood River Valley. At noon is the famous Trailing of the Sheep Parade. Ranching families and herders will take their sheep through the streets as spectators watch from the sides.

[The Trailing of the Sheep Festival has recently been ranked among the Top 10 Fall Festivals in the World by MSN Travel; say Festival Organizers]

Related links

Trailing of the Sheep Festival, Ketchum & Hailey, ID
www.trailingofthesheep.org

The 2005 edition at EuskalKultura.com
Dantzaris y músicos vascos en el 'Trailing of the Sheep'

euskalkultura.eus

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Basque History in America fills the street of Idaho for the annual Trailing of the Sheep Festival, October 12-14, 2007

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