Joaquim Lefty: "The master of sheep shearing".
There verge of completing a half century as sheep shearer, the hands of Joaquim Lefty already spent several thousands of ruminants, if we consider that for each campaign the wool strip 14/ 15 thousand animals.
Name: Joaquim Lefty, Age: 65 year old
Profession: Shearer sheep
Birth and Residence: PedrogĂŁo (Vidigueira)
In addition to the professional life that leads to the farms of about 4.000 Associates South Sheep Breeders Association (ACOS), that spread from Ourique to FundĂŁo, Joaquim Lefty is one of the great attractions of Ovibeja, where for five days makes hundreds of statements for gaudio of thousands of fair visitors.
It started to 18 years in his homeland, PedrogĂŁo, in the Vidigueira municipality, with the appearance of electric shearing machines, which replaced the manual scissors, that Lefty describes as "a thing of the other world that revolutionized shearing", recalls.
He began by making grooming for the home Van Zeller in the county, ma quickly began working on their own and to go around the country to shear sheep. This was followed by a formation as the shearer IROMA, having won the "Award for Best Shearer", in total 80 trainees. Having begun to train new professionals throughout the Alentejo.
In 1983, with the creation of ACOS, Joaquim Lefty, moves and barrel to Beja and meet the new EU requirements, back to do new training and gets the Shearing Course for Trainers and began to coordinate the association's shearing sector starting to offer this service to members.
The shearing campaign 2019 It is on the ground since last day 15 March and ends 15 June. "Every year the ACOS hires two dozen shearers Uruguay, to be able to respond to requests from associated and tosquiamos near 150.000 sheep ", Lefty says Joaquim, that coordinated four teams that are scattered various parts of the Alentejo and Beira Baixa.
"Shearing is hard work, but addictive. You have to like to be worth the sacrifice of shear 150 sheep in a day ", shoots smiling. "The animal is placed in a comfortable position and not to stand. Depending on the wool, an animal is sheared in two minutes ", brings out. After shearing the wool is packaged and sent to a Spanish cooperative in Nova de La Serena Village (Estremadura), and which is chosen avaliada.'
Joaquim Lefty, known as the "Master of the shearing of the Masters", It is also a hallmark of Ovibeja and ACOS, Travels the country fairs linked to sheep, which makes demonstrations and promotes fair Bejense. "I've had a fair in Paris, one of the largest producers in the world sheep. I polled and one speaker described the steps I was. It was something divine that never forget ", ends.
When placed on what you enjoy most during Ovibeja Lefty is perentĂłrio: "No doubt that is the clamor of thousands of school children who will see the grooming. I have their chirping in the ears ", shoots moved.
All Portuguese politicians have passed through the fair and Joaquim Lefty highlights the figure of Antonio Gutterrez, as the person most admired and praised his work. "Your visit was always a certainty", says smiling. To see Joaquim Lefty is working visit Ovibeja that takes place between the next 24 and 28 April.
Teixeira Correia
(journalist)
