The sheep founded again: many events in honor of the historic sheep

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• The article is based on the number of fortnightly Saturday 11 August 2018 Plateau, available in all newsstands of the plateau.
   
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The match quietly a few years ago, the event in honor of the sheep ' founded ' (by Force) has grown from year to year so as to become, for the country that is the cradle, one of the highlights of the summer. Awaited by many because it is unique in its kind, draws tourists and enthusiasts from all over the region.

The Festival is held thelast Sunday of August and is duly prepared with various initiatives (conferences, meetings, screenings), aimed to raise awareness-discover or rediscover-the herding , which for more than five centuries was a mainstay of the economy of Force and of the whole Plateau. Forgotten by many, in recent decades it has said little, almost ashamed, maybe for life ' wandered ' conducted by transhumant shepherds. And if they were losing the trail. Francesca Rodeghiero recalled during the opening night of the program she developed for the 2018 Edition of the Festival, which has seen the media room of the local museum crowded with people, in homage to the works of yesterday and today that women reproduce.

An initiative, like the others, to document our past, that allows you to rediscover a story that some never knew they had. So here is the opportunity to resume the threads of collective memory, hot-wired or made thin by events. The research about our past is important to everyone, in order to recover a strong sense of identity, recalled the presenter of the evening, but it is vital for young people, who will have to rediscover his source because, as said, is the root that brings the plant. History and traditions will also be discussed in forthcoming meetings, with the presence of distinguished speakers, particularly related to these issues and to the country.

Saturday, 11 August, an evening not to be missed. Will be speaking Angel Chemin, landscape historian, former Professor at the IUAV University in Venice. As curator of the library of the monastery of Campese could refer to many important documents kept there, covering the communities of Foza, that fell under the jurisdiction of that monastery. Talk about sheep farming and transhumance routes along the Brenta Canal (still little studied). There is much anticipation for her report because it will touch a theme so far remained undetected: the presence of sheep and shepherds in pala Parish Church of Foza, 15th-century work attributed, would you Nasocchi school, want to Francesco Dal Ponte ( father).

Extremely interesting is shaping up even the appointment of Saturday 18 August which includes Holy Lunardi, former Professor of physics at the University of Padua, author of important studies and many qualified publications. As evidenced by the last name, is a native of Foza it constrains a strong bond, being granddaughter of pastors who moved in the veronese plain where they had the habit of wintering with the flock. Will tell us about his family and many other settled, like hers, along the Adige river. The conferences will be held in the multimedia room of the Museo di Foza, starting at 20.30.

The path towards the party continues with a study Conference on the recovery of purebred sheep Foza, scheduled for Saturday, August 25, at 10.30 always at the Museum.

This ancient breed of sheep, as you know, was at risk of extinction as we were only staying a few heads but, thanks largely to the efforts of Philip Menegatti and start a family, has set in motion a collective effort to save the latest sheep of this glorious breed. In recent years, there is an ongoing project of the Veneto region aimed at his recovery.

The feast

Foza devotes thelast Sunday in August to his sheep. Selected by the shepherds ' fodati ' (from which it took its name) and renowned for its abundant wool, long and particularly suited to weaving, spread a very large area, so as to be identified with the sheep. He made the fortune of many textile factories of the plain, which sent intermediaries to buy wool by shepherds still before shearing. And they'll just mowing and all other work of wool to be the highlight of this festival conceived years ago by g. Francesca Rodeghiero, who is still the engine. But let's go with order.

Those arriving in the country in the morning, finds it parried with festive banners and wooden figures of sheep along the Avenue. Even the Windows of shops compete with themed exhibitions. The square is enlivened by stalls selling handicrafts and mountain (mountain cheeses, Rotzo potatoes, beans of Posina, herbals, garments of wool and other natural fibers, bags and straw hats, handicrafts wooden and much more). You can admire the carvers at work as well as the basket-maker, braiders, the manufacturers of bags and hats and mattress stitch in action, the accordionist entertains the audience.

In front of the town hall-which bears the coat of arms on the façade of the country characterized by a shepherd with his sheep-in a specially crafted fence here is theexposure of the sheep ' fodate ', from the long Black wool maculata, which bee seen. A few steps away, the Museum offers guided tours, with special attention to the section that tells the history and importance of this ancient activity. Alongside the native sheep this year there will be, as guests, some heads of sheep ' Bans ' Lessinia, another breed endangered species protected by region. And, in view of a future common enhancement, will be celebrated a twinning between local farmers and breeders of that race.

For the lunch break there is plenty of choice among the themed menus proposed by the premises of the Center: complete meals, pizzas, bruschetta, snacks ... In the afternoon, after the parade of actors, children of the country will dance the Cabal, an ancient folk dance, then the mea for the storage of hay just dried, will be Hay recalled run with the old tools.

From 15 onwards will stage the chain of woolfrom the sheep shearing performed live. Follow the various works by women of Foza: washing of wool, carding Thistle flowers and with the old tools, spinning both with the time zone that the foot flyer, Hanks and composition yarns, wool dyeing with vegetable matter, felting to get the boiled wool, weaving looms four licci, crochet and knitting works, mattress padding. The program includes then the cheese and sheep's milk ricotta from pastors of malga Slapeur.

The award ceremony's featured sheep ' will close a day that promises to be very interesting for everyone: residents and tourists, adults and children who will be able to know a little more about this corner of the plateau evocative and full of story.

Newspaper photos and text from the plateau

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FEAST of the SHEEP of 2018 FOZA