Herd dog contest of the Valencian Community
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The objective of the “Gossos de Rabera de la Comunitat Valenciana” contest, which is held in the town of Ares del Maestre, is to turn into an attractive show one of the oldest and most traditional trades in the province of Castellón, such as herding with dogs.
The ‘gossos de rabera’ is the name by which sheep dogs are known in the Els Ports region, whose help is essential for a sheep shepherd when it comes to guiding the flock
To joint agriculture and tourism with the aim of boosting the economy of the regions of Alt Maestrat and Els Ports around the livestock sector of deep-rooted tradition in Ares del Maestrat, an economic activity that is the main source of income for the population.Value the work of shepherds, extensive livestock and link all this with agriculture and tourism, to revitalize the economy of these inland areas of the province of Castellón.
Through a competition where different sheep herders and their herding dogs from various parts of Spain participate, the different skills in managing and controlling their flocks are shown. It is a unique competition in the Valencian Community, and it is a consolidated contest within the calendar of this type of competition that has been held in Catalonia, the Basque Country, Navarra and the Balearic Community.
Along with this herd dog contest, a Photography Contest related to herd dogs is held in parallel, and the Best Clothing Contest, where prizes are awarded to the best clothing related to the theme of the contest.Carrying out this contest in Ares del Maestre requires resources such as time, infrastructure and personnel, especially from the promoters of the contest and special facilities to be able to house the flocks of sheep and their dogs, the shepherds and their families and friends for days, and special transportation to carry the herds.
Also, additional accommodation to accommodate and feed all those who attend the event as spectators and fans.
The Castellón Provincial Council, the Municipal Corporation of Ares del Maestre, together with different local entities, finance this event.The main benefits and contributions of this Herd Dog Contest are to value the importance of extensive sheep farming, one of the most important economic sectors in that inland area of Castellón. Along with this, to make its visitors aware of the gastronomy, natural, cultural and tourist resources of the area, generating important sources of income for its residents.
The main risks are that due to climatic reasons, the contest cannot be carried out in whole or in part. Also, the effect that it may have on the economy of the area, due to cancellation of meals, accommodation, local commerce, etc.
The transferability of the Ares del Maestre Herd Dog Contest to other locations in Europe also depends on the availability of resources and investment. The contest has been implemented at a relatively low cost and the city of Ares del Maestre has basically benefited from subsidies and investments from the provincial and regional governments. Other cities in Europe may not have access to the same level of resources, although some governments are increasingly providing funding for projects of this nature.
In general, the transferability potential of the Ares del Maestre Herd Dog Contest to other cities in Europe is high, as long as the necessary resources and investment are available. In addition, the collaborative and participatory approach of its inhabitants with visitors, adopted in Ares del Maestre could be successfully replicated in other cities in Europe, to ensure that the projects are successful.https://www.facebook.com/groups/146867958690013/
https://concursgossosderaberaares.com/es/inicio-espanol/Statement/opinion from a company member involved in the best practice idea; either within your text or in a separate quote-textbox.
https://elpais.com/sociedad/2019/03/01/pienso_luego_actuo/1551452116_864947.htmlAres del Maestrat has once again valued the work of shepherding in the rural world and has made dozens of people enjoy the work and understanding that exists between a shepherd and his dog. After 14 editions, and two years of unemployment, “El Concurso de perros de Rabera” has returned with more force than ever.
Although for Gandalf it may be his last year, once again he left no one indifferent and won first prize. A very different job from that of his partner Saüc, a Catalan gos d’atüra with whom Julio Bayot also performed.
Aunque para Gandalf quizás sea su último año, una vez más no dejaba indiferente a nadie y conseguía el primer premio. Un trabajo muy diferente al de su compañero Saüc, un gos d’atüra catalán con el que también se presentaba Julio Bayot.
The Border Collies and the Catalan and Basque Gossos d’atüra are the most common in these contests. Three very different breeds. For Nesca, Ismael Boix’s shepherd dog, it hasn’t been a good day either and that was reflected in his work during the competition.
Although in this fifteenth edition we could not see Ismael throw his hat at him, he entered the venue as usual greeting the public.
In the shortest possible time, the participating dogs had to lead the flock under the instructions of their shepherd, following the routes to finally get the sheep into the corral. The winner was Juli Bayot’s dog, Gandalf. The dog of Daniel Sánchez and that of the Valle del Tormo shepherd, Juan Ramón Boj, have also received awards. Bayot was satisfied with Gandalf’s work and also with being able to hold the Ares taildog contest for another year. A tradition deeply rooted in the town and that needs generational renewal.
The fifteenth edition of the contest was completed with a contest for the best clothing and a photography contest with dogs as protagonists. In addition, on Saturday the book “De Pastor a Pastor” by Joan Besalduch was also presented.Videos:
https://www.facebook.com/AltMaestrat/videos/1279868129526552
https://www.facebook.com/monteyrastrojo/videos/817215519400848
https://www.facebook.com/monteyrastrojo/videos/6552170231464308 -
In my opinion, the “Gossos de Rabera de la Comunitat Valenciana” contest is an excellent example of how traditional agricultural practices can be leveraged to drive rural economic development and cultural preservation in a sustainable manner. It is a model worthy of consideration and potential adaptation by other European regions.
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