Our Animals
St. Edwin is proud to have seven Navajo-Churro Sheep. The breed was originally
brought by the Spaniards to the New World in the sixteenth century. Since then
they have gone extinct in Spain but survive in New Mexico and other parts of the
southwest. Navajo-Churro Sheep are hardy, disease resistant, and easy to care for.
They are ruddy with blended white, black, and dark brown features. Navajo-
Churros have a double-fleece coat offering them warmth in the cold winter months.
Their wool is prized. We ourselves have one beautiful horned ram and six darling
ewes. They typically give birth around December.
Above is our ram, the carnero or macho borrego of our flock. The children
submitted names for him and chose “Copper.” We think he really enjoys his
offspring playing on his back.
Fr. Peter rewarding the goats with sweet grain after a successful photo-op.
South Valley inhabitants are no strangers to ranching. The parish property itself
was once a ranch. The various animals we keep on our property provide character,
fun, and community bonding to our parish. Right now we have sheep and goats;
parishioners would like a few chickens. Above are our new shed-stables.
In April of 2018 we sheered our sheep for the first time. They seem to like it,
running around afterwards like children with new sneakers. We brought their
fleece to New Mexico’s Mora Valley Wool Mill, the largest wool processing plant
west of the Mississipi. Above are bags of “roving,” the scoured, carded, and combed
wool. By now it has been spun and is available in our parish store.
In August of 2019 St. Edwin acquired two more Navajo Churro ewes. Our little
flock of sheep is now increased to eight. On the first day of religious education
the children again voted for names and chose “Fluffy” for the one on the left and
“Shadow” for the other on the right. We hope they are enjoying their new home.
Pictured above are some of our original ewe-sheep, the female hembras borregas of
our flock. The children named the Churros “Bella,” “Cotton Candy,” “Lola,” and
“Angel.” The white ewe in the forefront is the only non-Churro. We call her “Daisy”
and appreciate the stocky offspring she delivers every year. The sheep are shy and
keep to themselves, but learn the customs of the ranch and follow the directions of
their caretakers.
The young ones help us understand how some of God’s creatures can be
both adorable and mischievous.
Above, the first of our nanny-goats, “Canela” with her two kids.
Below, a close up.
We keep the nanny-goats around for fun. They are pets of the parish.
“Buttercup”