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   | The Event Now Old West vs. New West Idaho, like much of the west, is seeing its rural, natural resource-based towns shift their economic base to tourism, recreation and affluent second-home communities. Nowhere is this seen more vividly than in one of the oldest resorts in the west, Sun Valley. The area is a microcosm of the tension between urban/rural, new west/old west as new homes and golf courses spring up along the edges of sheep trails. But here, the competing interests are learning from each other through the cultural and historic celebrations of the Trailing of the Sheep Festival. A National Story In a time when people are searching for family roots and historic connections to place, the Trailing of the Sheep Festival is intriguing. No longer is this a small town celebration.The Sun Valley/Ketchum Chamber of Commerce receives calls and visitors from across the U.S., people who come here in October to experience a piece of history and live western traditions they've only read about. A one block survey of Sheep Parade watchers last year included visitors from Germany, Wisconsin, England, California and New York City, enjoying the parade alongside the locals. Collecting and Saving the Past The Trailing of the Sheep is a time of collecting, remembering and documenting western history by the people who have and are living it. There are stories of the Basque, Scottish, and Peruvian heritage in the industry with its music, dance, and tree-carving art. And the tales of the nomadic life of herders in their camps high in back country mountains stories of saving sheep from bear and cougar, from the ravages of drought, and from death in raging snow storms. The Festival is making history by finding and collecting disappearing western stories. A Food Story Nationally there is a new interest in one of the world's oldest and most popular food items - lamb. Lamb, a staple in countries like Argentina, New Zealand, Australia, France, England, Scotland and the Mid-East, is now finding its way onto more and more restaurant menus throughout the United States. It is gaining in popularity with families looking for fresh, natural foods. U.S. lamb that in the west graze the summer months in high mountain meadows and spend the winter on desert pasture is far different from the intensive farming and confinement care of poultry and pork for example. Walk through the mountains with the sheep and their herders. Visit with sheep ranch owner sand learn the yearly and nomadic cycle of these operations. Discover how Sun Valley's finest restaurants are developing innovative dishes with lamb from local producers. A Travel Story Sun Valley has been treasured since 1936 when it was developed as the first destination ski resort in the United States. In recent years its appeal as a summer playground with golfing, tennis, hiking, riding and festivals of music, theater and art has added to its popularity. Now the Trailing of the Sheep, has enticed people from across the United States to the area so they can enjoy the beauty of Sun Valley in autumn with its hillsides of brilliant fall colors and warm Indian summer days, when its restaurants and galleries mix up a quiet, fall blend of magic for visitors. In the midst of this, the weekend is a celebration of the annual October tradition moving sheep from summer to winter pastures through the Valley. And all this just a week before the famous Sun Valley Swing-n-Dixie Jazz Jamboree moves on to center stage. |
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