~Jay Begay, Jr.- Lazy J Diamond Ranch; Colleen Biakeddy - Navajo-Churro Sheep; Gay Chanler - Slow Food Alta, Arizona; Roy Kady - Sheep Herder and Weaver

Excerpt from Program:
"The Slow Food Navajo-Churro Sheep Presidium Project: A Collaboration to Ensure Native Food Traditions, Economic and Cultural Survival.

"The Navajo-Churro Sheep Presidium is a project sponsored by Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity in collaboration with traditional Navajo sheepherders and weavers in order to create a regional market for their holistically raised Navajo-Churro lamb meat, in addition to the wool. The goal is to ensure the survival of this once plentiful but now rare breed, while promoting a viable economic future for the traditional Navajo sheepherding lifeways, and the rich culture associated with it. Roy Kady, Jay Begay Jr. and Colleen Biakeddy are the founding producer-members of the project.

"Slow Food recognizes that a sustainable food supply must rely on maintaining the biological diversity of domesticated animals, crops and other plants. Additionally, it supports the stewards of traditional knowledge and sustainable production, and collaborates with them and their food communities to ensure cultural and biological resilience in times of global change and uncertainty in our food systems.

"In recognition of the importance of this effort, the project has been endorsed by the American Livestock Breed Conservancy, Diné bé iiná, Inc. (Navajo Lifeways), The Navajo-Churro Sheep Association, The Center for Sustainable Environments, and Renewing America's Food Traditions. The Institute for Rural Development at Dinë College, the Navajo Sheep Project, Heifer international and the Alta Arizona Slow Food Convivum have also played supporting roles."