Sheep In Your Own Backyard

Sheepherders, Victor, Isaea, Pedro, all three from Peru and foreman John with their dog, Amigo.

Just one of many sheep traveling from southern Idaho up north near Adam's Gulch.

You know you’re not in the city anymore when a flock of sheep is walking through your backyard. And, if you haven’t had the privilege of seeing these sheep up close and personal, you may have at least seen them cruising along State Highway 75.

Bet you didn’t know that these sheep (and their herders) have been traveling since mid-March and won’t finish the trek until the end of July? Nor that this mass migration is part of a century old tradition of moving sheep northward from winter grazing grounds? These particular sheep started in Gooding, Idaho and will end their long march near Adam’s Gulch just north of Ketchum.

Accompanying these 2,400 sheep (yes, that’s not a typo) are Isaiah, Victor, Pedro, and John. John Etchart is the Sheep Foreman for Faukner Land and Livestock. Victor, Isaiah, and Pedro are herdsmen who venture between California and Idaho along with the sheep. With them are five dogs and five horses. Their favorite dog is fittingly named “amigo.”

Victor and Isaiah are both from southern Chile in Patagonia. Yet they didn’t meet until they landed in the United States and began work as herdsman. When asked if they find it difficult to look after so many sheep, they reply with a smile and a simple “no.”

“Es muy facil.” Translation: It’s very easy.