- Anxiety and worry about straying sheep in Markgröningen.
Wet and slosh-filled like the last two years, the "Historical Shepherd's Run" in Markgröningen won't happen this time around. Instead, weather forecasters anticipate scorching temperatures as the first barefoot runners dash across the stubbled field to the finish line. Sadly, shepherds in Markgröningen are also fretting over a livestock sickness, namely bluetongue disease, which has caused enough concern to cancel the traditional sheepdog trial that traditionally marks the start of the holiday season.
Bluetongue disease predominantly impacts sheep and cattle. It spreads via particular biting midges, referred to as gnats, not directly from sheep to sheep. Neither humans nor any other animals can contract the disease through transmission. A freshly authorized vaccine offers strong protection against severe forms of the malady.
According to Anette Wohlfarth, the managing director of the state sheep breeding association, numerous farmers in the industry are currently teetering on the brink of collapse. For many, it's a matter of survival she warns.
As usual, sprint over the stubbled field
The shepherd-themed race, which aims to replace the "King Pair" Nadine Mezger and Michael Allmendinger, will still take place. The barefoot sprint across the stubble field is a mandatory requirement for those aiming to be crowned shepherd king and queen. Only shepherds or those hailing from shepherding families are eligible to participate. The King and Queen of the shepherds will reap their rewards in the form of a sponsored sheep, courtesy of the state sheep breeding association. The sprint serves as the climax of a parade and a multi-day folk festival.
The sprint takes place at 2:00 PM, marking the penultimate day of the parade that always begins on Friday and ends on Monday. In light of their summer tour, the Minister-President of Baden-Württemberg, Winfried Kretschmann, and the Federal Minister of Agriculture, Cem Özdemir (both Greens), have announced their visit (arriving from 1:15 PM).
The Markgröningen Shepherd's Run, as stated by the organizers, is one of the oldest regional festivals in southern Germany and belongs to UNESCO's cultural heritage. The tradition has been in place for centuries, where a shepherd must outrun a fleeing sheep.
Despite the cancellation of the sheepdog trial due to bluetongue disease, affecting both sheep and cattle in Markgröningen, the organization decides to proceed with the shepherd-themed race. The eligible participants, either shepherds or those from shepherding families, will race barefoot across the field, competing to be crowned the King or Queen of the shepherds, who will receive a sponsored sheep as their reward.
