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Peaveys Honored By Sheep Industry for ‘Innovative’ Sheep Festival
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Friday, January 28, 2022
 

STORY BY IDAHO WOOL GROWERS

PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

 John and Diane Peavey got to bask in the San Diego sun this week—far from the snow-kissed mountains of Sun Valley—as they were presented the American Sheep Industry Association’s (ASI) Industry Innovation Award.

The Industry Innovation Award is an annual award recognizing the accomplishments of an individual or organization that improves the American sheep industry in a game-changing way. The Peaveys were honored with this award for founding the annual Trailing of the Sheep Festival. Since its founding, they have been actively involved in the planning and integral to its growth and success 25 years later.

 Born Out of a Need

 Over 25 years ago, the Blaine County Recreation District wanted to put in a bike path to connect the towns of the Wood River Valley. They approached the local ranchers, including John and Diane Peavey and John Faulkner and his family, to get their permission to put the bike path where local sheep ranchers annually trailed their sheep.

The ranchers agreed with the understanding that the sheep would still be utilizing this pathway twice a year for trailing. Yet, after the bike path was implemented for public recreation, users started complaining about the sheep droppings on “their” bike path.

John and Diane saw this as an opportunity. They invited people to the local coffee shop to teach them about the history of the sheep industry in the Wood River Valley and the critical role they play. Later, they invited them to trail with the sheep to experience the industry first-hand.

The following year, they replicated the program. It continued to grow until John, Diane, and other community members determined, “We have a Festival here.” From there, the Trailing of the Sheep Festival was born, bringing sheep ranchers, community members, and the general public together to learn about the history, culture, and importance of sheep.

Now, 25 years later, the Festival continues to grow and bring in participants from all corners of the United States and even worldwide. In 2021 the 25th Anniversary Festival lured 25,000 participants despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and infused $6.2 million into the local economy.

Participants take part in lamb taste testing, enjoy a Folklife Fair, view a working dog trial, and take in all things sheep and ranching during the 5-day event. While the Festival has grown and evolved, the main goal is still to educate and celebrate the history, culture, and legacy of sheep herding and ranching in Idaho and the Western United States.

“John and Diane Peavey founded the Trailing of the Sheep Festival 25 years ago to save the stories of land and place in Idaho and the West, to bring people together to educate them about sheep ranching, and to celebrate the industry,” said Laura Musbach Drake, executive director of the Trailing of the Sheep Festival. “All these years later, what began as a few people gathering together, is now a festival that welcomes thousands of people from all over the country and all over the world. Their innovation and creativity to co-found this Festival, which is noted by USA TODAY as one the ‘Ten Best Fall Festivals in the US,’ is a wonderful accomplishment and quite deserving of the ASI Industry Innovation Award.”

 Honoring the Legacy

 A long-time dream of John’s was to erect a monument in the Wood River Valley, commemorating the history and legacy the sheep industry has had on it. In October 2021 in Hailey this dream became reality with the unveiling of The Good Shepherd Monument. The monument brought together both festivalgoers and sheep families from across the state. It will continue to stand as a reminder of the role the sheep and wool industry had on the Wood River Valley, the role the industry continues to have to this day and will continue the work the Peaveys started when they founded the Trailing of the Sheep Festival 25 years ago.

John Peavey is a third-generation sheep rancher, former state senator and co-founder of the Trailing of the Sheep Festival. John ran Flat Top Sheep Company for nearly 60 years, before passing it on to his son Tom, the current operator, who has since brought his son Cory into the family business.

Diane Josephy Peavey--John’s wife-- is a co-founder of the Festival, a current member of the Advisory Council and an author who provides an insider’s view of the joys, struggles, and adventures of life in rural Idaho in her book “Bitterbrush Country.”

John and Diane are long-time Idaho Wool Growers Association members and advocates for the sheep industry.

 Coming Up

 The 26th annual Trailing of the Sheep Festival<http://www.trailingofthesheep.org> will be held October 5-9, 2022, in the picturesque Wood River Valley. Each fall, the popular Festival celebrates the 150+ year tradition of trailing or moving sheep from high mountain summer pastures down through the valley to traditional winter grazing and lambing areas in the south. This annual migration is Idaho living history and a family-friendly festival that highlights the people, arts, cultures, and traditions of sheep ranching in Idaho and the West.

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