Trailing of the Sheep Cultural Heritage Center, Inc.

The mission of the Trailing of the Sheep Festival is to gather, celebrate, present and preserve the history and culture of families and individual men and women involved in Idaho sheep ranching and to honor their contributions to the development of Idaho and the West. The Festival brings in people from all over Idaho, the Northwest, the country, and even internationally, to enjoy five days of family-friendly activities to learn about sheep, sheep ranching, sheep herding and celebrate the culture of sheep ranchers in Idaho and the West. This is an extended weekend that celebrates the culture, folk and traditional arts and history of Idaho's sheep ranching families highlighting the principal contributors - the Basques, Scottish and Peruvians. The Festival was created in 1996 in response to the loss of farms and ranches and growth in Idaho and around the West. It is with a sense of urgency that we work to preserve the stories and our rich history and culture as economic losses continue to force families off the land. The extended weekend features a Sheep Folklife Fair with multi-cultural musicians and dancers, sheep shearing, handmade woolen creations, educational workshops, folk and traditional art. There is a Wool Fest with classes and workshops. There are culinary events featuring chefs, restaurants and American Lamb. There is also a three-and-a-half-day National Qualifying Sheepdog Trials, storytelling, a hike and the Big Sheep Parade with 1,500 sheep trailing down Main Street in Ketchum, Idaho.