STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK
They call themselves the Black Sheep.
More properly, they’re known as the Ruby Mountain Ardi Baltza Basque dancers, otherwise known as The Black Sheep, from Lamoille, Nev.
They’ve danced at The Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C., as well as Boise’s Jaialdi. And they will be bringing their dance, which involves both traditional and modern Basque dance, to the 2018 Trailing of the Sheep Folklife Festival on Saturday.
“I understand it’s quite different from the Oinkari Basque Dancers from Boise so it should be fun to watch,” said Carol Waller, a spokesperson for the Trailing.
The Ruby Mountain Ardi Baltza Basque dancers are among some of the new highlights of the 2018 Trailing of the Sheep Festival, which kicks off Wednesday, Oct. 10, with a Farm to Table Dinner at the Wood River Sustainability Center in Hailey, and runs through Sunday, Oct. 14.
Other new items, include a showing of the film “Gaucho del Norte” filmed in Idaho, a Taste & Craft event for foodies, a show by The Dusty 45s on Saturday night and a performance by Gator Nation on Sunday, courtesy of the Sun Valley Jazz & Music Festival.
These events will take their places amidst days that are chock full of cooking classes and classes dealing with making baby socks and other things out of wool.
Here’s a look at some of the highlights:
THURSDAY, OCT. 11
4-6:30 and 7-9 p.m. Taste & Craft, a chance to sample craft beers, wine and spirits crafted in the Pacific Northwest, while eating tasty food dishes, will be held at Ketchum’s Limelight Hotel. A $90 VIP tasting from 4 to 6:30 p.m. includes a complimentary tasting glass and a gift bag featuring Idaho-centric products. A second tasting will be held from 7 to 9:30 p.m. and will include a complimentary tasting glass. It costs $70, with tickets available at https://www.tastecraftevent.com/.
7 p.m.—Screening of “The Shepherdess of the Glacier,” about an Himalayan woman who has tended sheep nearly all her life in the Himalayan Mountains. The film, which won Grand Prize at the 2016 Banff Mountain Film Festival, will be held at Sun Valley Community School. Admission: $20.
FRIDAY, OCT. 12
8 a.m.-5 p.m. Sheep Dog Trials begin at Quigley Canyon, at the end of Fox Acres Road in Hailey. Admission is $3 for adults and free for children under 12.
2:30 -4 p.m. Sheep Ranching question and answer with Henry Etcheverry and other ranchers at Ketchum’s Community Library, 415 Spruce St. Free.
4:30 p.m. For the Love of Lamb walk-around. Those wearing a $20 wristband will be able to cruise from one Ketchum restaurant to anotherto try small dishes featuring American lamb. Wristbands can be purchased at Trailing of the Sheep Headquarters, which opens Wednesday at Ketchum’s Limelight hotel.
7 p.m.—Sheep Tales Gathering features screening of “Gaucho del Norte” and “Sheepherders with Cell Phones” at Sun Valley Opera House ($20). Film screenings will be followed by talk with the filmmakers and ranchers involved.
SATURDAY, OCT. 13
8 a.m.-5 p.m. Sheep Dog Trials continue at Quigley Canyon. Shuttle bus will run between the Folklife Fair and Sheep Dog Trials for $1.
10 a.m.-4 p.m. Folklife Fair in Hailey’s Roberta McKercher Park. Free.
The Oinkari Basque Dancers will perform, along with Basque dancers from Nevada, the Boise Highlanders pipe band and the Peruvian Dancers and Musicians of the Wood River Valley.
The Folklife Fair will also include a variety of lamb dishes for sale, sheep shearing demonstrations and craft activities for children. Dozens of vendors will sell sheep-related clothing, photographs and other items.
10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. Megan Wortman, executive director of the American Lamb Board, will discuss how lamb, which was rarely seen on dinner plates 20 years ago, is back in a big way at the Folklife Fair.
11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. Cindy Siddoway and John Helle of the Siddoway Sheep Company and Helle Rambouillet will discuss “The Story of Wool” at the Folklife Fair.
10 a.m., noon and 2 and 3 p.m. Representatives of the Montana Wool Lab will discuss their research to improve flock productivity and quality and offer demonstrations at the Folklife Fair.
6-11 p.m. Sheep Jam at Whiskey Jacques in Ketchum. 6-6:30 p.m. cocktail reception; 6:30-8 p.m. Lamb Dinner Buffet; 8:30-11 p.m. Show featuring The Dusty 45s. Tickets are $25 for the show only and $75 for cocktail reception, dinner and show.
SUNDAY, Oct. 14
8 a.m.-2 p.m. Sheep Dog Trials conclude in Quigley Canyon
9-11:30 a.m. Sheep Photography Outing leaving from Ketchum Post Office at 151 4th St. in Ketchum. Free.
Noon—Trailing of the Sheep Parade commences with 1,500 struttin’ mutton on Ketchum’s Main Street. Cindy and Gary Braun will play cowboy tunes from 10 a.m. to noon on Irving’s Hill at 4th and Main treeets. And Gator Nation will perform from 1 to 3 p.m. in partnership with Sun Valley Jazz & Music Festival.
2 p.m.—Flat Top Sheep Rancher John Peavey who founded the Trailing of the Sheep Festival with his wife Diane Josephy Peavey, will conclude this year’s festival with a Sheepherder Hike viewing sheepherder carvings on aspen trees. Those wishing to take part may meet at the Ketchum Forest Service Park at First and Washington Streets at 2 p.m. Participants can take a bus ride to the canyon north of Ketchum for $10 or they may follow in car.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Visit Festival Headquartersa t Ketchum’s Limelight Hotel from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. beginning Wednesday. Or, visit www.trailingofthesheep.org.