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April 23, 2024 – 3:38 p.m.
(Keystone-ATS) The cows will cross horns in Aproz (VS) on May 11 and 12 during the national final of the Hérens 2024 breed. The event is organized this year by five breeders’ unions from Val d’Anniviers and hundreds of volunteers.
On Sunday May 12, Mother’s Day, some 150 cows should compete in the arena, the organizing committee said at a press conference on Tuesday. The latter does not yet wish to articulate a final figure for the two days, as registrations still arrive regularly.
Last year’s national queen, Mélodie, owned by the Bängi family and Joey Kalbermatter from Saint Nicolas, will however be there to put her title back on the line. Other prize-winning animals in other categories in 2023 will also be present . And around ten cows from outside the canton are expected.
“Full speed”
“We are ready to begin construction of infrastructure on the Pra Bardy site in Aproz this weekend,” continues Jean-Michel Melly, president of the organizing committee. Leased to the army and devoid of any equipment, the site must be equipped with an arena, stands, canteens, electrical installations and even toilets, for an amount of around 250,000 francs.
Not to mention the “some six thousand hours” invested by the numerous volunteers, slips Jean-Michel Melly who does not hide the importance of the work that they will have to carry out. “It’s time to find a permanent location,” he adds. An observation shared by Race d’Hérens Tour which has centralized the organization (of the qualifying fights and the grand final) for three years.
“Val d’Aosta has succeeded in building a magnificent arena, Valais should also be able to do it,” believes Mélanie Montani-Rey of Race d’Hérens Tour. For the moment, however, no project has been completed, and no deadline can be articulated, regrets the one who emphasizes that “each year, it is more and more difficult to find organizing unions” given the task at hand. realize.
Promotion lever
Each year, Race d’Hérens Tour organizes on average 8 qualifying fights and a grand final, attracting a total of 40,000 people, of which for the national final more than 50% come from outside the canton. “In view of this craze, the Hérens breed has a significant role in promoting agritourism in Valais,” adds Mélanie Montani-Rey.
And all the organizers to call, in this sense, on the public authorities to further support the events linked to it, whether by the creation of an arena or by financial aid.
