Sheep herding for its wool and meat has been a Southwestern occupation since the mid-1800s. In Native America, the date can be pushed back even further. Sheep crisscrossed Arizona as herders trailed them back and forth to California, providing an important food source for the mining camps. At the height of the industry there were approximately 1.5 million sheep and more than 150 sheep owners--Basque, Americans, Mexicans, and Canadians. These men came both as owners and sheep herders who eventually became owners themselves.

Dr. Barbara Jaquay, an Arizona historical geographer, will recount this fascinating history of a significant local industry which has left a notable human imprint on the region. This presentation is FREE, but RSVP is REQUIRED due to limited seating. BEER and WINE will be available at Poor Farm prices.