sheepherder

A sheepherder protects and manages a group of sheep, especially during open grazing. In the 1500s, sheep were first brought by the Spanish to what later became known as the U.S. Southwest. By the 1700s, sheep herding had been adopted by the Navajo, and sheep become very important to the Navajo way of life. Sheep's wool is used to weave textiles, such as rugs and blankets, and the meat is a staple of the diet.