Ruth Higdon: I am a retired cancer surgeon and have raised yaks for 20 years. I fell in love with
yaks during my many visits to Nepal. My adopted Sherpa children are from a remote area near
Mt. Everest and came from a yak-herding family. I purchased my first animals while I was living
in Alaska for 11 years. I used them as pack animals and had many adventures in the Alaska
wilderness. I now own Smiling Buddha Ranch in Ridgway, Colorado. I run the ranch with my
son Namgyl Sherpa and we welcome anyone who is curious about yaks.
I am a co-founder of the USYAKS Association and have been on the Board since its founding.
I am very interested in the genetics of yak and traveled to a remote part of northern India to
the Indian Yak Research Center to learn more about the Asian experience with yaks. I have
served as Treasurer and Registrar for USYAKS and am now on the transitional Board for North
American Yak Association.