Farmers Feeding Utah Delivers 18,000 pounds of lamb meat, 10,000 pounds of flour to assist Navajo Nation

Statement

Today, Governor Gary R. Herbert's deputy chief of staff, Michael Mower, traveled to Blanding with representatives from the governor's cabinet, the Utah Department of Agriculture and the Utah Farm Bureau to help deliver 18,000 pounds of lamb to Blanding's food pantry to assist the Navajo Nation.

Farmers Feeding Utah will also distribute 10,000 pounds of flour to Navajo chapter members -- with more deliveries of live sheep to follow in the coming weeks.

"We very much appreciate working with Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez on efforts to combat COVID-19," Gov. Herbert said. "Our hearts go out to all of our Navajo friends who have been impacted by this awful virus."

Because of difficult conditions in the Navajo Nation and along its borders, the governor issued an executive order transitioning the municipalities of Bluff and Mexican Hat from yellow to orange to signal a significant health risk in the area.

Utah is assisting tribal governments by standing up mobile testing sites, providing sample collection kits and testing equipment, PPE, and funding through the Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake and the Utah Legislature. We are coordinating through regular calls to assess needs moving forward.

Utah's color-coded health guidance for Southeastern Utah does not apply to the current situation on Navajo Nation lands located in Utah, as these are sovereign lands. We strongly encourage Utah residents living on tribal lands to follow all tribal health directives.

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