Baaaaaa! Mutton on Main? HUH?
Livestock sightings are not unusual in the more rural parts of Uintah and Duchesne Counties. Livestock in the streets are actually quite common throughout the Uinta Basin and many different farm animals can be seen lazily grazing in the pastures and fields around the Basin as well. Plenty of people place life size or oversize statues, carvings and sculptures of wildlife on their property as well, but it just isn’t everyday you see a lifelike aluminum sheep herd on the lawn at the local Ford dealership.
Mutton On Main: Aluminum sheep herd on the lawn of Vernal Mayor Gary Showalter's Ford Dealership, Showalter Ford.
Yes, the sheep on the lawn at Showalter Ford are gaining much popularity these days and are the talk of local gossips and coffee klatches throughout the Basin. “Why is one black?” one curious Vernalite asks. “I think maybe he wants us to be sheep and buy a Ford like everyone else.” another person guesses. “Maybe it’s some political statement.” quips another. And yet others can’t seem to refrain from making off color jokes and funny sheep noises. Can you blame folks for wondering though? After all; “Enquiring minds want to know!”
Vernal Mayor Gary Showalter, proprietor of Showalter Ford, and owner of the metal sheep herd says he put the sheep on the lawn just to get people talking. “Well, I come from a long line of sheep ranchers.” Showalter admits. “I grew up around sheep. I really just kinda like sheep. I didn’t put them there for any real purpose other than to get folks talking about them. I just thought they’d be fun.”
“Maybe” the mayor continues, “the sheep are a soothing thought to prevent road rage. People want to know the meaning of them and I just tell them they mean whatever you want them to mean. They are there for whatever you want them to be for. I like my sheep.”
Several pranksters have tried their luck at removing the sheep, but failed to do so. Mayor Showalter says that doesn’t deter folks from trying to vandalize the sheep though. “People keep knocking the black sheep over. I don’t know why they pick on the black sheep. I guess somebody’s got something against black sheep.” he deadpans. “I guess I need to secure them a bit better.”
Whatever the reason, the sheep are there to stay. For a while, at least. And the folks of the Uinta Basin can go on enjoying, wondering, and gossiping about Mayor Showalter’s aluminum sheep herd a bit longer. Sounds like a good story to me, anyway.
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Tags: lawn sheep, Sheep, sheep on lawn, sheep statues, Showalter Ford, Showalter sheep, Vernal sheep, Vernal UT
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