We talked about the national sheep herding festival Ovenália with Ing. Mária Mularčíková, a long-time member of the Slovak Association of Sheep and Goat Breeders. The Association itself is the main organizer of the event held under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Slovak Republic, the State Veterinary and Food Administration of the Slovak Republic, and the Žilina Self-Governing Region.
How many years have Ovenália been held?
This year will be the 10th edition. We try to create a rich program so that people are interested.
And do they have interest?
Indeed they do, last year Ovenália was visited by 8,500 visitors.
What do you think is the reason?
People already know what to look forward to. The festival is held on a stable date, always the second Sunday in June. Again, there will be the Slovak Championship in pulling cheese threads, this competition has been there from the beginning and shows great progress in the skills of the contestants. Different techniques and methods are demonstrated to pull the longest thread possible. It is about breaking the record; last year the thread was 158 m long. We can also look forward to a competition in the quality of sheep and goat cheeses, which has also been held from the start. The quality of cheeses improves year by year, confirmed by an expert committee mainly composed of veterinarians. Sensory properties of cheeses (appearance, consistency, taste) are evaluated.
Can the appearance of the cheese also decide?
Certainly in the competition for the Most Beautiful Cheese Cake. These cakes are already at the level of works of art. And year by year they become more imaginative and original. In the early years, we saw simpler cakes in the form of flowers or baskets. Now they take the form of various animals or artistic objects.
Do you see a change in the cheese offerings?
Yes, quality has increased, but also the creativity of cheese producers. In the past, from sheep's milk, we only knew sheep curd cheese, bryndza, parenica, threads, and žinčica. Now we find a rich palette of flavored cheeses, herbal, pickled, or long-lasting sheep cheeses. From goat's milk, the variety of cheeses and products has long been a given.
Will there again be live animals at the festival?
Part of Ovenália is also the National Animal Exhibition, where we can also notice increased care for animals and breeding. We observe higher quality of bred animals; besides new breeds, original breeds that were bred in our territory are returning to breeding.
Will there be demonstrations of cheese and bryndza production?
These practical demonstrations and demand for them led the Association of Sheep and Goat Breeders to start organizing various practical trainings for those interested in cheese production and processing. There is incredible interest in them. Trainings are ongoing and cover various types of cheeses. The main mentor is Ing. Karol Herian, CSc, former director of the Dairy Research Institute, Žilina. People seek trainings not only for theoretical information but can try cheese production under expert supervision.
Ovenália also included crafts related to sheep and goat breeding. Will it be the same this year?
Every year the presence of various craftsmen increases, who, for example, make bells, woodcarvers carving various tools and molds for breeders. Another interesting aspect is experts in wool processing and products made from it.
What do you consider the main motive of these festivities?
We want to show visitors not only the quality of products obtained by sheep and goat breeding but also the availability of these products in a simple way "Find your shepherd." In individual regions of Slovakia, breeders have farms or small farms where you can come and buy products or consult about breeding possibilities and conditions or get instructions on making your own bryndza. The goal is also to help people rediscover the skills of making sheep and goat products at least at the level our grandparents did. Besides that, we want to give all visitors the chance to enjoy various types of dishes, which will certainly be helped by chefs Ivan Rusina and František Sedlák (known from the show "My Mom Cooks Better Than Yours"), who will roast lamb in Big Green Egg ceramic ovens during the event.
The main prize of the raffle is also an attraction for visitors. What will it be this year?
It remains unchanged; the winner will receive lamb for a whole year!
