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The Second International
Scythe Symposium and Festival

Grassland Care with the Future in Mind

Horny Liptov, Slovakia
30. 6 - 4.7, 2006

A follow-up to the first event on the subject in Molln, Austria, 2004

Organized by:

  • Slovak University of Agriculture
  • Open-air Museum, Pribylina
  • Slovak Ministry of Agriculture
  • Slovak Ministry of the Environment
  • Plant Breeding Station, Levocske Luky
Co-organizers:
  • Peter Vido, International Scythe Network (Canada)
  • Dipl. Ing. Adolf Staufer, Verein Eisenstrasse Oberösterreich (Austria)
  • Doc. Ing. Norbert Gáborcík
  • PaedDr. Lukás F. Janoska
  • Agricultural Enterprises of Pribylina and Liptovska Teplicka
  • The Cultural Centre of Liptovska Teplicka
  • Research Institute of Grassland and Mountain Agriculture
  • Union of Agricultural Co-operatives and related small businesses
  • Slovak Chamber of Food and Agriculture

    • The event will consist of four parts: Symposium, Festival, Grassland Conference and Practical Courses.

    A few of the activities will run parallel to each other, sometimes in different locations, though in a small geographical area. Below is an outline only; for details of the agenda and application form to secure accommodations, please contact the organizing committee:

    Narodopisne Museum Liptovsky Hradok
    Partizanska 153
    03301 Liptovsky Hradok
    Slovakia
    narmuseum@post.sk
    Tel/fax: (421) 44 529 5163
    Presentation proposals: helena.gregorova@uniag.sk

    Part A: Symposium

    Begins in Pribylina at 8:30 Friday.
    Formal presentations end at 18:00 followed, after supper, by an open forum and discussions.

    Opening Address:
    Dr. Iveta Zuskinova (Liptov's Open Air Museum)
    Dr. Jan Novak (Slovak University of Agriculture)

    The variety of specific presentation topics (HTML or MS Word) will be explored under the following themes:

    1. The Application of the Scythe:
  • in ecological grassland care
  • in energy conservation
  • for reduction of pollution, and
  • for the promotion of health, well-being and quality of life.

    • 2. The importance of hand mowing in folk culture and its preservation.
    3. Dynamics of the mowing movement (questions of biomechanics in work and sport activities)
    4. Improving the quality of scythe-related service.

    A Botanical Analysis of Mountain Meadows -field workshops: Dr. Ing. Jan Novy, PhD.

    A guided tour of an exhibition of Haymaking-Related Art will take place at 9:00 Saturday; the museum will be open to the public throughout the weekend.

    For the purpose of ethnological documentation (to be recorded on film) the traditional haymaking process (described below) will take place during Monday, starting at daybreak

    Part B: Festival

    Haymaking Traditions (from Friday afternoon until noon on Saturday)
  • customary preparations including a bonfire on the evening before the beginning of hay harvest
  • group mowing at daybreak followed with a breakfast at 8:00 served in the field
  • the haymaking process demonstrated-- spreading, tedding, raking, laying on drying structures, and bringing the hay into temporary meadow hayshelters

    • Mowing Competitions--Saturday from 11:00 to 16:00
    Categories: singles, pairs and teams of five

    Folk music and dances--representing the working activities of country people:
  • Saturday evening in Liptovska Teplicka
  • Attendance at the Gala Program of the famous Folk Festival in Vychodna-- Sunday all afternoon

    • Solidarity Mowing Party--11:00 Sunday

    Part C: Scientific Grassland Conference with International Participation

    Held in celebration of the 65th Anniversary of the founding of the Grass and Grain Improvement Research Station of Levocske Luky: 3-4 July 2006
    For more details contact: stanica.luky@zoznam.sk

    Part D: Practical Demonstrations and Instructional Courses

    Demonstrations and casual short courses for symposium participants and the general public on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. More serious instruction, for pre-registered individuals only, on Tuesday and Wednesday (4-5 July)

    Instructors: Peter Vido and Igor Vateha


    5 Apr. 2006
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