The sheep are baaaaah-ck in the spotlight, right in the heart of Bayfield.
About 1,000 ewe sheep and lambs will make their way down from an open field just south of Bayfield High School, trekking along southbound Buck Highway for the 24th annual Bayfield Heritage Days event Saturday morning.
“A lot of kids don’t have any connection to rural lifestyles. So, to be that close to sheep and see the herders working the sheep keeping them on the road, what a unique experience for a child and for families that don’t live on a ranch, maybe have never seen a real sheep herder. … There’s a huge gap between rural lifestyles and city living,” said Heritage Days board member Veronica Lasater. “To bring that together for a day, it’s just a really cool thing to be a part of.”
That portion of Bayfield Heritage Days is called “Sheep on the Buck!” The sheep are expected to make their way through Buck Highway at 9:30 a.m., depending on what kind of mood they’re in.
“We always say it’s on sheep time because they might not want to walk that day,” Lasater joked. “The grass is so green, so they’ll probably be slow because they’ll be eating the whole way along the route home.”
Even so, Lasater said the sheep are smart enough for the most part to know where they’re going, adding “many of these mamas have done this route year after year.”
The sheep will continue going through Buck Highway until they reach their destination, a ranch in Ignacio.
Other notable events include a 5-kilometer fun run that precedes it, starting at 8 a.m. The Mill Street parade will get underway at 10 a.m. Live music and rodeo arena activities at Joe Stephenson Park will be among the festivities slated for 10:45 a.m.
Lasater said Bayfield Heritage Days is an autumn event that’s equal parts fun and unique for area families to check out before they start hunkering down for the winter months.
“It’s a tradition that you don’t see anymore. I think ranching in general is kind of a shrinking industry. So, anything to kind of honor those roots that we have here is really important,” she said.
Spectators can line up along Buck Highway between Bayfield Parkway and Mars Drive around 9 a.m. Saturday to get a front-row seat to the show. Cinnamon rolls and coffee will be sold during the event.
Lasater said people eager to see the sheep should park near Bayfield Primary School or near the Mesa Meadows subdivision.
mhollinshead@durangoherald.com
