The Trailing of the Sheep Festival is seeking additional partners for its 14th annual event, to be held Oct. 8-10 throughout the Wood River Valley. This year's theme will be "sustainability."
Executive Director Mary Austin Crofts said the event will feature local businesses, food, wool creations and sheep cheeses.
Crofts said the festival is looking to expand the Folk Life Fair in Hailey to include a wine-and-cheese tasting. In addition, a grant from the Idaho Humanities Council will help to bring speakers, including Alisa Smith and J. B. MacKinnon, authors of "Plenty: Eating Locally on the 100-mile Diet." The program also will highlight the sheep industry's contribution to Idaho's history and economy and its place as a healthy, renewable food source.
"This is a great boost and opportunity to bring Alisa, who has a fun story to tell," Crofts said. "We are seeking additional sponsors to help with expenses."
Crofts said that last year, the festival's sheep dog trials drew more than 2,500 people, and the festival wants to expand its sponsorship program so every dog registered to compete has a sponsor.
"It's a great opportunity for businesses," Crofts said. "In addition, it's a great marketing tool. For $75, any business can have a dog."
The community celebration will also include the second annual "Art and Lamb Foodie Fest," which will take place during the Sun Valley Gallery Association's Gallery Walk on Friday, Oct. 8, in Ketchum. Several galleries will feature lamb tastings with local chefs and restaurants presenting their best lamb recipes.
"We would like to do more cross-promoting," Crofts said. "It really makes a huge difference and people love to see it."
The festival will include the Trailing of the Sheep Parade, the highlight of the event when some 1,500 sheep will trot down Main Street in Ketchum on Sunday, Oct. 10. A fundraising barbecue will be hosted by the festival's board members.
Other events will include gourmet cooking workshops, felting workshops, sheep tales and storytelling, Peruvian musicians and dancers, Oinkari Basque dancers, Boise Highlanders bagpipers and drummers, Trailing of the Sheepdog Championship trials and the Folklife Fair.
In addition, the festival is seeking volunteers. For details, call 720-0585.
Sabina Dana Plasse: splasse@mtexpress.com
The Trailing of the Sheep Festival is a unique event celebrating the heritage of the Wood River Valley. Photo by Mountain Express
