The Desert Cowboy of America's Great Basin

Amid a terrible winter drought, a migrant worker struggles with the task of caring for thousands of sheep in the Great Basin desert-completely and utterly alone. Read more: www.theatlantic.com/video/ind...
"El Desierto" was directed by Carly and Jared Jakins (www1.paperhatfilms.com). It is part of The Atlantic Selects, an online showcase of short documentaries
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[@lesliearreola4428]

This is what my dad did as a teen in Durango, Mexico. Loved watching this cause I always imagine what it must’ve been like for him.

[@jKLa]

Neet film but terrible title, as Shepherds are NOT cowboys. Very different workforce and required skill set between the two occupations.

[@AlfaFilms1NZ]

Barely a word was said during the whole length of the film, yet it conveys so much

[@shafiqraju]

He said a lot without saying a word! Love it!!

[@myplaylist.1121]

I’m from the Great Basin. There are places you can look out over and not even see a road or utility line. Just as it’s been for thousands of years. It’s so quiet that your ears hurt searching for any sound.

[@Piratedavessaltylife]

Love the Intermountain west. Society sucks. What beauty and serenity looks like. A man and his dogs just chilling. Excellent video

[@eastidahocarpenter]

I stumbled on this video in my suggested feed. So glad I found it. What an amazing short documentary. The world needs more people willing to work hard. Farmers, ranchers, trade workers, police officers, nurses, etc., all amazing people. Makes me miss working around cattle from when I was in high school

[@jKLa]

Shockingly badly titled though as Shepherds are NOT cowboys.

[@Fopenplop]

Why'd you include donut-huffers on that list?

[@Cedartree-cf6om]

Sheep herding in very rough conditions, locations no help except from his dogs, requires a special personality/person. My cousin from Peru was a herder, who preferred to being alone, away from humans. The family could rely on him to manage and protect the herd and dogs with his life. To the family they understood my cousin/s nature and cherished him like royalty. So to this herder Francisco, life is good, he is satisfied man.

[@jKLa]

The title is misleading as it shouldn't refer to cowboys but to shepherds. Extremely ignorant use of language!

[@SweatyWelder68]

my family is going through major loss right now Mom and Dad Both passed within a few weeks of each other and this was refreshing... and Lifted My spirit...Gad Bless the unseen Cowboys and their Companion...Beautifully Done!

[@sylvia106]

Simple. Beautiful. That man has so much more than money can ever buy. He is living life. Love this.

[@bahe2010utube]

Migrate workers doing the job nobody wants.

[@MrNedsaabdickerson]

It is a work or art! Best film I have seen in a least 10 years, hard working people are the real super heroes!!!!!!!!

[@PNWwonder]

Beautiful documentary! Hard working, dedicated man. I hope his employer values him and gives him a good wage for his commitment to the flock.

[@SawMan247]

Sadly Amber this hard working migrant worker is paid no more that 25k a year send 23k to his family back home and lives off the rest. The employer probably pay for his housing aka camp trailer and gives them some used clean cloths. The price of sheep farming is high and the sacrifices everyone makes are felt.

[@PNWwonder]

@@SawMan247 sadly you are more than likely spot on!

[@dallassmales6819]

A thankless job. Not many will work like this anymore! Thank you Francisco Llerena for your dedication and hard long days & nights.

[@Geoduck.]

For those who have never visited the high desert it's a place of great beauty and changeable weather.

[@proudlakerfan]

Beautifully shot film. The quiet way the story was told perfectly matches the quiet nature of the desert landscape.

[@Claudia-cr2pm]

Beautiful. Those are some happy dogs!

[@Cally-Lily]

Such a man is exceptional in life. He's a modern day Shepard. He's is content with little. His main concern are the sheep and dogs. If only, people could learn to be as contend what a wonderful world of would be. Thank you for showing us such a beautiful film.

[@jKLa]

Beautiful but the description is all wrong. He is a Shepherd NOT a Cowboy.

[@williebourke9962]

A fantastic documentary on the life of a desert cowboy /shepherd.This man is some man for one man ,Complete with rifle for coyotes X Maremma sheepdogs X border collies ,they leave nothing to chance .I'm guessing he only works for the sheep owner ,Pay him well ,good men are hard to find,and they don't get any better than that man ,He's tremendous at his job .I'd give him a straight 10out of 10,I live in Ireland and it's so different here than in Mexico .Great great documentary,and hardly a word spoken in it ,I loved it

[@nzsaltflatsracer8054]

I have a mobile repair business & occasionally I work on sheep herder vehicles here in the outback Idaho Rockies & most of the herders are from South America like Peru & Bolivia. Loved the video, it's always a great place to be where the people are not!

[@katherinepoletto7875]

Yes.let us fill the IDAHOAS up with S.American and Bolivians where once they stayed ON TOP OF ROCKI÷S.LISTEN TO THAT MUSIC. 3RD WORLD IS*HERE

[@BobLoblaw23]

@@katherinepoletto7875 lets welcome them to our first world with open arms. They are feeding us after all.

[@adam7190]

I really enjoyed the serenity of the video. Seems boring compared to the hustle and bustle of modern life, but I found it incredibly peaceful.

[@MotoGiant]

Jakins are Jenius's - fantastic, not a word spoken, but I spent 18 minutes in the desert - I want to go back....now!!

[@semperfi2507]

So amazing how no words can be spoken and yet the beauty of Mother Nature and this great land takes voice yelling through its amazingly stunning videography and cinematography in its greatest form ! Semper Fi

[@robertkopacz1971]

En Polonia, las ovejas son montañas. Es un trabajo igual de duro. Me alegro de que alguien esté documentando tu vida. Saludos desde Polonia. Hola amigos

[@robertlhoyt9775]

He is a shepherd. Do not see cows. Tough, lonely life. Love the dogs. Appreciate his hard work.

[@jKLa]

Exactly he is a Shepherd NOT a Cowboy. The skill requirements and workforce demographics of the two occupations within the US are *VERY* different.

[@greenfuzz13]

That was excellent, a pure documentary. Also refreshing to see a part of the world that still abides to nature's rhythm. Really well done.

[@jKLa]

It has a bad title. It is about Shepherds. Shepherds are NOT cowboys! Sheep vs. cattle herding are very different.

[@_thomas1031]

My goodness this was an amazing to experience. My great grandfather's were mestizo sheep herders in that region, awesome to see what it would be like today🙌

[@HangarFour]

Perfectly filmed.

[@markive9907]

I often see these sheep camps ,hunting in Nv ,Co,every yr . Always curious about the sheep headers. Thank you .great documentary 👍

[@TheRoafer]

I live in the Great Basin, love this short video. I cherish where I live every minute of every day. A window into the life of a herder. My favorite dogs, working both sheep and cattle are very special. The only dogs I've ever owned except for Blue, and Red Heelers. A great read, Sweet Promised Land by Robert Laxalt.

[@rgarlinyc]

Hauntingly severe, hard-scrabble yet peaceful life... thank you, a beautifully crafted film!👏

[@robr.3679]

Outstanding. I wish The Atlantic still produced videos like this.

[@mistermilo4308]

TRUE DOCUMENTARY, amazing work. Static beautiful shots, Non influenced depiction of cowboy, congrats to creators!!

[@troyupshaw3846]

Sheepherder, not cowboy.

[@gabolujan3109]

@@troyupshaw3846 the damn title says cowboy. So he is a cowboy.

[@nottweef1753]

Absolutely beautiful! BRAVO!

[@clfhnt]

One of the best documentaries on the "web". thanks so much!!

[@dedwin8930]

Very great video!! So much said with no speaking !!!!

[@Hey_its_Koda]

My grandpa worked in montana as a sheep herder with a mexican group. He learned spanish. He was Navajo. So he spoke Navajo and Spanish. He left to the montana mountains because of the draft in WW2.

[@jKLa]

Most shepherds are now Peruvian guest workers. That's the way some politicians and wealthy people would like a lot of other jobs to be as well... very different from modern day Cowboys actually, which still include plenty of Anglo and Tejano (and Navajo!) as well as Mexican workers. Many used to be Black as well and some still are in the South.

[@jKLa]

That's such a cool story, -it's good I think to know more then one language. Thanks for sharing! It's really kind of sad that Shepherding really kind of died off as a skill set and way of life in the US long ago.

[@daniellopez9622]

Intimate, beautiful and real.

[@kirstinstrand6292]

Aloneness can be beautiful.

[@fahrradhansi]

The great pictures don't need any words .... good job.👍 Best regards from Germany

[@ashemdayeasongs3109]

Had a relative who grad from HS then left for Vietnam. Later when he came back took up ranching on Wym sheepherding cattle etc. Retired after so long. Wow he passed on i wondering time he spent ranching. RIP J Begay

[@bahe2010utube]

I hear you, my uncle herd sheep in Colorado but couldn't handle the hard work. Hell we're sheepherders right here on rez. Look nowhere around , its here

[@maxcorder2211]

Would you rather be here or in a cubicle computer coding? This is what a man does.

[@jaredtaylor1518]

Love beginning of video with Ibex dry lake bed with House Range and Notch Peak in the back ground. Even Utah's central West Desert has it's own beauty to it.

[@ferdinandbaez2243]

Trabajo duro y en soledad.

[@juiohhkd3447]

Llevarme contigo yo t ayudo

[@johnmackinnon1026]

This was a fantastic video,....thanks for making it, just loved it.

[@bcicav626]

This guy is a real Cowboy, the real deal. He earned it.

[@jKLa]

No he is NOT a Cowboy. He is a Shepherd. The terms are NOT interchangeable! To think otherwise or use these terms interchangeably is the height of ignorance! Even the workforce is very different. Mostly South American (especially Peruvian) for shepherds vs. largely Anglo, Mexican, and Mexican American for modern day US cattle herding.

[@jKLa]

He earned it but he is NOT a Cowboy!!! He is a SHEPHERD. Not the same!

[@dylon537]

This man has a sense of solitude that Buddhist Monks chase for

[@pameladaley955]

No chasing just doing.

[@powerwagon3731]

Thank you Atlantic. I live in the mountain west and I would never want to be anywhere else.

[@PurlCat]

The Atlantic has really been putting out some impressive, provocative videos recently.

[@judyspaulding4141]

I really enjoyed this film. I feel they do a lot of none other could endure. Thanks again!

[@judywalton909]

This is so well done thank you all very moving.

[@leeroy855]

I want to thank KZbin for allowing my brain to experience everything my heart desires. Along with every video creator thank you.

[@peterscholte300]

Awesome not a single word was said yet it told so much.

[@andrewl6712]

This is special.

[@Annasea666]

Well that was enthralling

[@Tarnimo]

So relaxing seems like zen driving around that water truck all day.

[@I-0-0-I]

More of this please! Great work.

[@lesliesmith5797]

A beautiful video. Thank you 🦋🦋🦋

[@neolahoodrat3157]

Thanks guys from Neola

[@salutations5749]

Love it!! Thanks Atlantic

[@benthesinger1276]

Really nice film! Thx!

[@philipsmith2649]

Heart breaking(ly) beautiful.

[@jonc6157]

This real life stuff is awesome. An Odyssey.

[@brotherzeke8002]

The Great Basin of the West. When the settlers saw that basin as they left the Wasatch Range? They were astonished and Depressed. Many a settler died in The Great Basin.

[@vanished3306]

I have had a similar thought many times. Like when the first settlers west hit the Grand Canyon…”Do we head north? South? Turn back?” I mean, they had no idea what they would find, was there even a way around it? Tough, adventurous, and crazy people!

[@dongvermine]

Beautiful

[@wombat3455]

I absolutely LOVED this film!

[@jKLa]

Shepherds are *not* cowboys. Both the workforce demographics and skill requirements are very different actually. Also wish we could have have herd him speak some during the film.

[@jKLa]

This film has a false title: Again, shepherds are *by definition* NOT cowboys!!!

[@skanktalk7873]

beautiful

[@antonvierthaler]

Very nicely shot! Would’t he rather be the Desert Shepherd, though?

[@TightwadTodd]

Exactly..I think there is some confusion,regarding the definition of "Cowboy" here..

[@mickymouse2445]

Please more videos of that kind

[@trentdrummond3147]

Great work

[@michaeldowns4236]

Beautiful !!!!!

[@curtforeman9014]

Great video!

[@jakelopes2789]

Hard life..love the video

[@noabroadwaybrockett7087]

Videos never disappoint

[@edwardbright5894]

This movie speaks Volume through actions not sound...🤠👍🐕🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐕

[@lionoa67]

ouaww respect....merci

[@ncooty]

@5:35: The literary irony of the background sound is stark.

[@garypritchett5625]

That was dope!!!

[@Blu1aar]

Great! Just great!

[@chrisoconnor5880]

That’s 20 minutes of my life, I’ll never get back

[@soaceba]

Just missing a gunfight, hidden gold, bounty hunters and this is a modern western 😎🤙🏼 great cinematography

[@creeker6422]

Excellent

[@MrRyanmcmahon]

Nice to know that people still work for a living...

[@patmccauley930]

That’s Living at it’s Best !

[@quercus4730]

Nice to see there are some real cowboys.

[@jKLa]

Yes but these are SHEPHERDS. Shepherds are NOT cowboys. The required skills and even the demographics of the workforce are VERY different for US shepherds vs actual cowboys. It is amazing the arrogant ignorance of whoever came up with this title and many of the commenters here who actually seem to think the terms are interchangeable. THEY ARE NOT

[@quercus4730]

@@jKLa I meant know disrespect. As you pointed out the title is cowboys. It is obvious these are not cows. Ovine or bovine they are living the life.

[@jKLa]

@@quercus4730 I didn't say you were disrespectful. I guess it's just a shocking reminder to me that a whole segment of society, including whoever chose this title, as well of most of the comments, may find this a neet film but are so detached from rural life that they actually think it's reasonably or at least no big deel to casually call a shepherd a cowboy.

[@jKLa]

@@quercus4730 also, most shepherds are now Guest workers from South America where as most actual cowboys as well as CAFO workers are either Mexican/Mexican American and/or of Anglo/European descent. I'm sure quite a few of our political and social "elite" including those at the Atlantic, would prefer to make all agriculture as well as construction etc. jobs more like Shepherding and not like cattle herding in this regard...

[@quercus4730]

@@jKLa In the U.S. anyone that rides a horse is a cowboy or girl.

[@brandonbrown6302]

I respect that lifestyle

[@dave-d-grunt]

Nice!

[@tonycarter565]

powerful

[@Entropy106]

High desert above the 37th parallel is nothingness, but it’s still everything you need.

[@johnlacey5068]

The word cowboy is misused here, he doesn't herd cows. He herds sheep. Therefore he is a Sheepherder or shepherd. What's the heck wrong with you people?

[@antoniomata8587]

wow !

[@yosoytercio245]

👍🏼tranquilidad.

[@oldprophet]

Just you the dogs and the livestock and God, Beautiful :)

[@vr6g608]

Surely one of the last real cowboys.

[@rvrandy1710]

Ive always thought sheep from a distance looked like "range maggots" LOL But seriously i would like a job like his :-)

[@alialmamun9769]

Looks like New Mexico

[@Antipodean33]

That is a good life

[@conniewolf7300]

Somebody needs to buy the sheep camp guy a solar panel!

[@vanished3306]

A quiet life that’s hard for both man and beast. The solitude is inviting but the terrain isn’t. The day the water truck won’t start is the day you and the herd parish.

[@pictlandpickers1171]

Nah farmers alway find a way. We are ultimate problem solver a far from cry from today's "computer says no" generation

[@kgain673111]

Finally, dogs doing what they were bred to do. Those border collies are at home wrangling sheep and riding in truck beds.

[@lesliesmith5797]

Or, on the roof 😂😂🦋🦋

[@ericabrahamson2057]

Whats the struggle? Not his first rodeo, he knew what he was getting into. This is typical work for a sheep herder.

[@omarandpedro]

sheep herder, not a cowboy. No Subarus, no lattes, dogs that mind because they have a purpose, awesome

[@jpdonnelly3735]

Misleading title