Sage Springs Farm, in Bayfield, revolves entirely around sheep.
The ranch, which specializes in the Navajo Churro breed, sells various cuts of meat at the Durango Farmers Market, said Steven Flores, a ranch hand at the farm.
Sage Springs is owned by Jan and Robert Naegle, third-generation sheep ranchers.
According to the Oklahoma State University Department of Animal Food Sciences, Navajo-Churro sheep are descended from the Churra, the first breed of domestic sheep brought to the Americas during the 16th century.
Flores said Sage Springs’ sheep are local from start to finish.
“Everyone is born there,” he said. “We have our own rams and ewes to breed. It’s all locally made, no artificial insemination.”
The animals are also not fed any hormones or given antibiotics, according to the signage at the Sage Springs booth. The sheep graze in a grass pasture fertilized by sheep manure, except during the winter, when they are fed grass hay from a local co-op and an alfalfa and grass hay combination with some grain.
Flores said Sage Springs is a basic farm with a simple message: “Eat more lamb.”
ngonzales@durangoherald.com
