Jerry Brown
The Browns turned to their sheep herd as a lifeline in La Plata, New Mexico.
In the space of a year, Jerry Brown lost almost everything. First, his livelihood suffered a serious blow when he was hurt on a construction job. Then a random shooting nearly cost him his life. Struggling for survival, his family turned to its one remaining asset: a sheep herd he and his wife, Lyn, had started raising twenty years before as part of a 4-H project for their children.
Lyn did research on the wool industry and regional wool festivals and saw an opportunity. The Browns first came to ACCION in 2003 for help publicizing a wool festival they created in Farmington, the Best of the Southwest Fiber Arts Festival.
Although Jerry’s credit had suffered from all the medical bills, their commitment to the new festival and their sheep ranch was clear from the time and savings they had invested. ACCION loaned them $2,500 to promote their festival.
Since then, ACCION has loaned the Browns an additional $5,500 to develop their sheep herd and the festival, which draws people from all over the region.
The Browns’ Shear Perfection Ranch in La Plata, N.M., has provided California red sheep as breed stock to herds across the country and as far away as southwest Asia. The Brown grandchildren are also showing an interest in the family business. Most importantly, Lyn says her husband has found his passion after years of struggle.
The business has been Jerry’s lifeline: "It kept him connected," Lyn says.