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24th “Farewell to Summer Holidays with Hucul Horses” – Rudawka Rymanowska, 29–31 August 2025

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Grupa mężczyzn w garniturach pozuje do zdjęcia na tle namiotów i banerów instytucji rolniczych podczas wydarzenia plenerowego.

On 29–31 August 2025, the 24th edition of the “Farewell to Summer Holidays with Hucul Horses” event took place in Rudawka Rymanowska – a unique meeting that has been combining tradition, science, and passion for livestock breeding for years.

Regional Hucul Horse Championship

One of the main points of the programme was the Regional Hucul Horse Championship. The director of the National Research Institute of Animal Production, Tomasz Jacek, PhD Eng., ceremoniously presented the Institute Director’s Award and cups to all the winners of the championship, thus emphasizing the importance of breeding horses of this extremely valuable breed.

Scientific conference

At the same time, a scientific conference entitled “Milk and meat from Simmental cattle – an opportunity for mountain and foothill areas” was held, attended by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Stefan Krajewski. The event was an important forum for the exchange of knowledge and experience on the use of Simmental cattle potential in the sustainable development of mountain areas.

Educational and practical workshops

The National Research Institute of Animal Production, in cooperation with its partners, prepared a rich and diverse programme of workshops combining scientific knowledge with practice and tradition. The meeting began with a “Lesson in Biodiversity” led by Magdalena Dziad, MSc Eng. Participants had the opportunity to rediscover the value and beauty of native animal breeds – not only as part of cultural heritage, but also as an important link in maintaining ecological balance. The lecturer emphasized the importance of nurturing biodiversity and the role of native species in building sustainable agriculture. The practical part of the workshop transported participants into the world of old skills and flavours. Under the guidance of Andrzej Lassak, creator of the regional brand “Sery u Andrzeja” (Cheeses at Andrzej’s), participants prepared butter and cheese with their own hands, learning the secrets of traditional recipes and dairy craftsmanship. The next item on the agenda was a workshop on making soap from mare’s milk, led by Katarzyna Marcińczak from Manufaktura Marcińczak. The meeting provided an opportunity to learn about the process of making natural cosmetics and showed the potential of local raw materials as the basis for innovative and environmentally friendly products. There were also classes on old handicraft techniques. Małgorzata Polańska-Kubiak presented the art of weaving with native wool to the participants, introducing them to the wealth of patterns, textures, and techniques that have been present in Polish tradition for centuries. The workshops attracted a lot of interest, bringing together both enthusiasts of tradition and people looking for inspiration for contemporary activities. The event confirmed that science and practice can go hand in hand, and that traditional skills—cultivated for generations—still inspire and find their place in the modern world.

Art contest for children

Despite the lack of native animal shows due to the threat of an epizootic disease, the tradition of the event continued with an art contest for children entitled “Draw a native breed”. The task for participants was to draw their favourite farm animal. The contest attracted over sixty young artists, who presented their works in four age categories. The jury appreciated the talent, ingenuity, and creativity of the participants. The awards were presented to the winners by Prof. Sylwester Świątkiewicz, Deputy Director for Science at the National Research Institute of Animal Production. This unique event has been developing children’s sensitivity to nature and building awareness of the importance of breeding native breeds for years.

Stand of the National Research Institute of Animal Production

At the NRIAP stand, participants had the opportunity to use educational materials, talk to experts, and learn more about the Institute’s activities for the protection of biodiversity and livestock breeding.

Co-organizers

The event was organized by the Experimental Station of the National Research Institute of Animal Production Odrzechowa Sp. z o.o. in cooperation with the Regional Horse Breeders’ Association in Rzeszów, the Polish Association of Simmental Cattle Breeders (Odrzechowa branch), and the National Research Institute of Animal Production in Kraków. The 24th “Farewell to Summer Holidays with Hucul Horses” proved once again that Rudawka Rymanowska is a place where tradition meets modernity, and a passion for breeding and biodiversity connects generations.