Pepe Cruz
The internet is an amazing thing. Many of the farthest reaches of the world are "wired", making us truly a part of the world wide web.
Our sheepherders, like most in the United States, are from Peru. They enter the country on H2A sheepherder visas which enable them to remain in the United States for up to three years. Sheep require year-round care so the government allows them work for extended periods of time. For us, this means that we have steady, reliable employees who know our operation and our landscape. For our employees, this means that they are away from their families for a long time. Many of them are married, with family members awaiting crucial remittances.
Their work in the high deserts and the rugged forests of the American West means an enormous economic difference at home. It can be the difference between abject poverty and educated children, health care for elderly parents, and a nest egg to buy land. Our employees tend to come from relatively remote rural areas where livestock tending is a way of life. Even in the Altiplano, many small towns and communities have internet cafes. Our employees tell us that their families sometimes check this blog, looking for photos of their loved ones.
Pepe Cruz has worked for us for several contracts. He was the hero of the Hinman Fire in the Routt National Forest in 2002, when he brought a band of sheep, two horses, three Border collies, three guard dogs and a sackful of puppies out of the fire unscathed. He had to drive the sheep down a drainage throughout a long night as the fire blew up around him. This year he has an orphan lamb, Dunkin, who follows him everywhere. Pepe asked me to post some recent pictures of him so that his family may see what he is up to. Here they are:
Pepe changing a sheepcamp tire
Dunkin, Siobhan and George watching
Loco
photo by Sharon O'Toole
Seamus and Pepe
docking at Loco
photo by Sharon O'Toole
Pepe & Daniel trailing up the road
near Three Forks Ranch on 129
photo by Sharon O'Toole
Pepe with his best guard dog, Moneco
Beeler Draw, Routt Forest
photo by Sharon O'Toole
Pepe, Dunkin, Marie (Pat's Mom) and George
Dudley Creek, Routt Forest
photo by Sharon O'Toole
Comments
What does it look like inside of the sheepcamp wagon. How is it heated or is it?
Posted by: ellie kennedy | July 30, 2008 12:14 AM
Buenas Tardes... Muy lindas las fotos de mi tio Pepe y su grupo de amigos de trabajo...hombres con un alto conocimiento en el arte de crianza de ovejas, hombres que llevan en muy alto el nombre de nuestro peru... hombres q soportan la ausencia de su familia por conseguir un poco de dinero para sacar adelante su familia... esperamos mas fotos...ahh ¡Tio todo la gente te extraña mucho...!!!
Posted by: NILTON | September 10, 2008 11:31 PM