Our region has talent: la Bergerie de Naye

Did you grow up here or did you choose to live here later on (and why)?

I’m English originally, I came to Crans-Montana in 2000 to study hotel management and I’ve never left. I met my husband, and I found my own path when I discovered his profession, his way of life and his values.

What are your interests? Are they closely or distantly related to your?

They’re all linked to my job. I love nature and animals because they bring a happiness and peace that I haven’t found anywhere else. Therefore everything I do is related to improving our produce and its quality, or enhancing it, and how we look after the animals.

So you work at the Bergerie de Naye. What brought you there? What makes you passionate about what you do?

My husband has passed on this passion for agriculture, animals and this way of life to me. That’s why I left my job 6 years ago to join him. Every season, the animals’ needs are different, so our work changes. Our work revolves exclusively around the animals, and we don’t just rear them for their meat, but for their wool too. It’s very important to us to keep up traditions, the heritage of artisan produce, and to be close to the animals and have a relationship with them. In summer, we move them from one enclosure to the next on foot. All this tends to be missing in today’s society, which is always seeking the quickest way and the biggest return.

What is special about your business? What do you think makes you different from others?

We work as a family, and we’re the first generation of shepherd-breeders, a profession that is quite rare in this region. We breed rare indigenous breeds of sheep and goats, which are adapted to the conditions and lifestyle here in the mountains, and we rear them with passion and respect. We do hardly any marketing as our reputation goes before us, we’re known for working with love and respect for nature and the animals. We’re proud of this, and we know we’ve made the right choice when we see our customers return, and when we see that they appreciate and are satisfied with our work.

What is the story behind your business and your produce?

The story of our sheep farm started with my husband. As part of his job as a landscape gardener, he was approached and asked to maintain some unused land. Seeing all the mown grass, he decided to take on some animals to avoid waste. Eventually, what started with a few goats and sheep developed into a full-time job, and today we have some 400 sheep, 120 goats, 6 horses and 3 cows, as well as herd protection dogs.

What are you trying to bring to your customers through your business and your?

Thanks to the local aspect (our produce doesn’t get sent halfway around the world) and our traditional way of doing things, we’re trying to reduce our carbon footprint as much as possible. Through our produce, we’re looking to bring a certain morality and satisfaction to being able to offer not just high-quality produce, but also certainty that the animals are being respected, and that customers are supporting a family business.

How has this very peculiar Covid period been for you? Did it directly affect you? How did you have to adapt?

The part of our business that is linked to nature and the animals hasn’t been affected too much, we’ve been protected. As for the children, we’ve been able to spend time outside enjoying the happiness and peace of being with the animals, despite the lack of contact with others. This has inspired me to share more about our life on the farm on my Instagram account. I like sharing the happiness and peace of life on the farm, and it attracts and amazes my followers. It’s a chance for them to escape, to travel and to change context, even if just for a few minutes.

What motivates you to work in Crans-Montana? In your eyes, what are its strengths?

I love the landscape, the unusual places in the middle of wilderness but which are at the same time very much accessible, like the Plaine Morte, and the beauty of its sunsets. I find it incredible to be able to share this other face of Crans-Montana and Swiss culture and heritage with locals and tourists, and to see the wonder on people’s faces, whether it’s as the herd is grazing in the mountains or during the transhumance celebrations.

On another topic, in the last few years there’s been great progress with the activities on offer for families. In summer, I feel like I’m on holiday here with my children, it’s amazing living here!

What’s your favourite place in Crans-Montana, your secret spot?

For me, the pastures around Aprily and the Notre Dame de Crêtaz d’Asse are places that are so peaceful, where you can unwind, admire the views, breathe fresh air and listen to the cowbells. In fact my children were christened here because we love this place so much!

What would you like to see develop in Crans-Montana?

I would like to see agritourism develop more here, as well as a place that highlights the region’s local produce. We have so much to offer in Crans-Montana!

Follow the adventures of the Bergerie de Naye and Claire on Instagram @labergeriedenaye and @theswissshepherdess