05/11/2026
Professor Richard Marlar the President of the Navajo-Churro Sheep Association will be giving a presentation on the Navajo-Churro Sheep and its impact on New Mexico.
Navajo-Churro sheep are descended from the Churra, an ancient Iberian breed. Although secondary to the Merino, the Churra (later corrupted to “Churro” by American frontiersmen) was prized by the Spanish for its remarkable hardiness, adaptability and fecundity. The Churra was the very first breed of domesticated sheep in the New World. Its importation to New Spain by the Spanish dates back to the 16th century where it was used to feed and clothe the armies of the conquistadors and Spanish settlers.
By the 17th century the Churro had become the mainstay of Spanish ranches and villages along the upper Rio Grande Valley. Native Indians acquired flocks of Churro for food and fiber through raids and trading. Within a century, herding and weaving had become a major economic asset for the Navajo. It was from Churro wool that the early Rio Grande, Pueblo, and Navajo textiles were woven — a fleece admired by collectors for its luster, silky hand, variety of natural colors and durability.
Join us at the Los Lunas Museum of Heirtage & Arts to learn more about the Navajo-Churro on Sunday, June 7, 2026 at 2:00pm.
