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 Heritage & Arts to learn more about the Navajo-Churro on Sunday, June 7, 2026 at 2:00pm.

A new book, Albuquerque’s Roman Catholic Heritage, by award-winning author John Taylor, has just been published by the Valencia County Historical Society.

Former State Historian Robert J. Torrez wrote,

Albuquerque’s Roman Catholic Heritage is much more than the title implies. This wonderfully illustrated and easy to read volume goes beyond the history of Roman Catholic heritage in the historic Villa de Alburquerque. The author opens with the stories behind the original San Felipe Neri Church in today’s “old town” and skillfully shows the development of the numerous parishes that developed as the city expanded and incorporated the myriad communities and local chapels that dotted the middle Rio Grande Valley, including histories of churches and parishes located north and south of greater Albuquerque, as well as those along the eastern slope of the Sandia mountains. These stories are enhanced by dozens of seldom or never-before published photographs as well as many contemporary images not only of churches, but of individuals that contributed to the development and growth of the Roman Catholic heritage in the greater Albuquerque region.

The book describes over 100 parishes, missions, and other affiliated institutions.  Its 183 pages are richly illustrated with 300 color images and over 100 historical black and white images.  The document is also thoroughly indexed for ease of study.

Albuquerque's Roman Catholic Heritage is available on Amazon or at the Los Lunas Museum of Heritage & Arts for $30. For additional information or questions, please contact John Taylor at jtlymtnest@aol.com or Louis Huning at huninglo@loslunasnm.gov.