Oberallgäu - The “Oberallgäuer Meadow Championship” was launched to honor the achievements of agriculture and alpine farming for biodiversity.
With a so far unique competition, the Oberallgäu district wanted to recognize the managers of particularly species-rich grasslands and recognize their passion for colorful meadows and pastures.
Almost 60 farmers from all corners of the Oberallgäu took part in the first "Meadow Championship".
Honoring the special achievements of agriculture and alpine farming for biodiversity - that was the task of the Allgäu alpine diversity project and the biodiversity advice of the Oberallgäu district as well as the "Alpinium" nature experience center with the "Oberallgäu meadow championship" joint project.
Farms with colorful meadows
We were looking for meadows and pastures that contribute to biodiversity and at the same time are well integrated into the farm.
Because only rare or a particularly large number of different species were not enough to take first place in the championship.
For better comparability of the participating areas, different categories were assessed, depending on the type of use and location conditions.
“The Streuwiese in the north of Oberallgäu did not compete against the arnica pasture of an alpine pasture - both are valuable and could be awarded in their respective category,” explains Fabian Höß from the organization team.
Together between nature conservation and agriculture
District Administrator Indra Baier-Müller took over the patronage for the Oberallgäu meadow championship.
She is convinced of the good cooperation between nature conservation and agriculture in the Oberallgäu.
“Our hearts open with our colorful meadows and pastures.
This biodiversity and the Allgäu farmers are worth gold to us!
Because this treasure can only be preserved with the help of our farmers ”, said the district administrator.
Nevertheless: One must also be able to live from these fields and meadows, from this work.
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With the “meadow championship calendar” Fabian Höß (from left) presented a surprise for the participants but also for the sponsors of the competition - here District Administrator Indra Baier-Müller, Sparkasse boss Manfred Hegedüs, Rainer Hoffmann from the Agricultural Office and Ethelbert Babl from the “Alpinium”.
© Josef Gutsmiedl
Manfred Hegedüs, Chairman of the Board of Management of Sparkasse Allgäu, presented the gold prizes of Sparkasse Allgäu to the three winners from each of the five categories.
The areas nominated for the competition were scrutinized and evaluated in extensive specialist excursions.
The technical check also showed that the biodiversity is often well above the assessments of the farmers.
From generation to generation
In the discussions and assessments on site, it also became apparent that the areas presented have been carefully and carefully cultivated for generations - often in laborious manual labor.
The biodiversity is the result of the type of cultivation to which the successors of the farm, despite their best efforts, have held on with the same passion as their predecessors.
The farmers' children and grandchildren were present at many of the “on-site visits”;
a sign for the jury that conservation and tradition are a matter close to the heart.
That was already the case in his childhood, remembers Franz Hage, chairman of the Alpine farming association in the Allgäu AVA, of exciting natural history lessons from his father.
He can now pass that on to his grandchildren.
The winners of the individual categories
Mountain meadows: Johannes König (Oberstdorf), David Berktold, (Oberstdorf), Martin Blanz (Hindelang)
Meadows / pastures: Stefan Bentele (Immenstadt), Benedikt Hagg (Buchenberg), Anton Gabler (Oy-Mittelberg)
Alpine pastures: Benedikt Beßler (Alpe Mitterhaus, Hindelang), Jan Biebricher-Reicherzer (Alpe Mittelhäderich, Oberstaufen), Georg Rädler (Alpe Nicken, Hindelang)
Valley pastures: Tobias Weizenhöfer (Haldenwang), Stefan Göhl, (Rettenberg), Xaver and Martin Rietzler (Obermaiselstein)
Litter meadows: Johannes Speiser (Wertach), Joachim Huber (Unterjoch), Christian Bergmann (Buchenberg)
“By dividing up into the categories of alpine pastures, mountain meadows, hay meadows, valley pastures and litter meadows, we actually organized five meadow championships this year,” concluded Fabian Höß.
The positive response from the participants motivates the project team and jury to organize another championship in the future.
Everyone involved agrees that they have not yet seen all of the treasures in Oberallgäu.
