Secretary of State Pete Cenarrusa would claim that he is not so different from many second-generation Idaho Basques—just luckier.

He was born in Carey, Idaho, in 1918, to immigrants from Gernika who met four years earlier in Shoshone. Like many of their generation, they left Spain’s poor economy to seek work on ranches in the western United States. Pete grew up speaking Basque and got to know many Basque sheepherders.

Above: Pete Cenarrusa’s Statehouse office overflows with mementos recalling his Basque heritage and military career—and his thrift: the carpet is the same one he brought to Boise 50 years ago. Photo by Diane Ronayne.

“As I listened to them talk about herding sheep and the sheep business,” he says, “I absorbed a lot of knowledge about the range sheep operation, and how they grazed and raised their lambs, and how the dogs worked with the sheep.”

After attending Blaine County schools, he studied animal husbandry and agricultural education at the University of Idaho, graduating in 1940. His first job was teaching agricultural sciences and coaching in Cambridge, Idaho. After a year, he jumped at a $10 per month raise (to $115) to return home to Carey High School where he also taught and coached. With some pride, he notes, “I started the team, and found used uniforms for all of them in Hailey for just $25.”

During World War II, Cenarrusa enlisted in the Navy, taught aviation cadets and was trained as a close-air support fighter pilot in preparation for the invasion of Japan. Just as he was ready to see action, the United States bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki, abruptly ending the war.

Upon returning to Idaho, Pete’s classroom experience again proved invaluable. He found work teaching farming methods to veterans.

“Since I had the background of teaching agriculture and a university degree in agriculture, I was hired as teacher for the whole of Blaine County for the Veterans Administration, and Idaho Vocational Education. I did that for three years and got acquainted with everyone in Blaine County because I visited all their farms.”

In 1948, Republican Party members approached the handsome, affable Basque and encouraged him to run for office. Eventually he agreed and was elected to the House of Representatives in 1950.

Right: A young Pete Cenarrusa visits with a sheepherder at the back of a home on wheels. Courtesy of Pete Cenarrusa.

Since the legislature met every two years, Cenarrusa could continue teaching while joining in the operation of his family’s farming and sheep business. Although he eventually left teaching because of time constraints, he remains active in ranching today. His operation pioneered the transporting of bands of sheep to California winter range, and has cooperated with the UI at the U. S. Sheep Experiment Station at Dubois to test melatonin, a hormone that increases ovulation in ewes so they can produce more early-season twins.

“Our country is so far ahead of other countries in agriculture because of the land-grant system,” he maintains. “Here we have the University of Idaho, and the UI extension and ag research all over the state. Dr. (Marie S.) Bulgin at the Caine Veterinary Teaching Center is very good. She knows more about sheep than almost anyone in this or any other state.”
The powerful combination of his hard-working, thrifty Basque heritage and his agricultural roots fueled Cenarrusa’s legendary political career through his early days as chair of the House Agriculture Committee, three terms as Speaker of the House, and 34 years as Secretary of State. The latter entitles him to a seat on the State Land Board, which rules on many agriculture-related issues.

“Our country is so far ahead of other countries in agriculture because of the land-grant system.”

“You can’t imagine how important the agriculture sector is in the state of Idaho,” he says. “That’s how I get elected, because I understand it and know how to deal with it on the land board. I get criticism from environmentalists sometimes that I’m too good to the farmers and ranchers, but you’ve got to have some compassion for people. I’m not about to take opportunities away from people to better themselves.”

This compassion extends to the Basques in Spain, with whom Cenarrusa has been in close contact for years. At his urging, in 1972 the Idaho Legislature sent a petition to Congress asking the government of Spain to extend human rights principles to all Basques and Spaniards and allow amnesty for those imprisoned or exiled for political activities. Idaho Senator Frank Church read the petition into the Congressional Record on April 6. Cenarrusa also has fostered dialogue between Basque nationalists and the Basque people to work out a compromise to stop terrorism. For his efforts, Pete was inducted into the Basque Hall of Fame and, in January this year, was honored as a Basque of the World in ceremonies in the Basque Country.
 

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