“Where there are sheep, there are people”: Gularte defended the role of the sheep item as the social support of the countryside
The president of the Agricultural Society of Cerro Largo, Dr. Fabián Gularte, claimed the role of sheep production in rural life, during the launch of the 2025 sheep harvest in the convents.
In the official opening ceremony of the sheep harvest in the department of Cerro Largo, Dr. Fabián Gularte, president of the local agricultural society, offered an ignition discourse in defense of the sheep sector as an economic, cultural and human engine of the Uruguayan countryside.
From the scenario of the historical convents, and given the presence of national authorities, legislators, representatives of the Uruguayan Secretariat of the Lana (Sul), producers and workers of the sector, Gularte argued that the sheep “It is not just a production: it is a way of life that is transmitted from generation to generation.”
“Where there are sheep, there are people. And where there are people, there are community, there are rural schools, there is a social movement. The sheep item holds more than economy: it holds the soul of the countryside,” He expressed firmly.
A sheep capital
Gularte remarked the historical role that a long hill has had in national lanera production. “This department was the capital of the sheep center of the country. It is part of our identity. We have a responsibility with what we represent and with the new generations that can find in this area a dignified life path.”
In that sense, he stressed that sheep breeding constitutes a great opportunity for rural young people, since it allows to initiate a productive trajectory with little initial investment, developing their own knowledge and tools.
“A sheep tip can be the first step for a young man who wants to stay in the field, learn the trade and build a future. We must protect that right to roots,” pointed out.
The shelling, ambassador of rural knowledge
The president of the Agricultural Society also dedicated part of his speech to revalue the figure of the shearing, an office that, he said, “It must be recognized as technical and cultural heritage.”
“The Uruguayan shell is ambassador to our rural knowledge. It exports its talent, works with pride, leaves the name of the country in each harvest, inside and out of borders. These people deserve respect, visibility and support ”, held.
Fight against depopulation
Gularte warned that one of the most serious challenges faced by the deep interior is rural depopulation, and that the weakening of the sheep sector contributes directly to that trend.
“Every majada that disappears is a family that leaves. Each empty pasture is a story that is cut. The sheep is part of the solution to depopulation, because where there is sheep, there is work, there is movement, there is life,” affirmed.
Finally, he called all the actors – producers, authorities, technicians and trade unions – not to lower their arms. “It is not an easy time, we know it. But this item has a future if we defend it with intelligence, commitment and country vision. Do not give up who we are ”, concluded.
