Balgarianovinite.com Bogdan Rusev sheared a sheep in 4:30 and Sliven’s Petar Petrov won the goat hand-milking contest at the 14th National Festival of Sheep Breeders in Bulgaria, organizers said on Sunday.
Farming contests again proved among the main draws at the 14th National Festival of Sheep Breeders in Bulgaria, held near Sts Peter and Paul Monastery.
On the festival’s third day, two of the most eagerly awaited events took place: the second goat hand-milking contest and another hard-fought sheep hand-shearing contest. Both drew large crowds around the arena and highlighted practical farming skills, speed, dexterity and animal care.
The second goat hand-milking contest was held in two categories, adults and children. The event, added to the festival programme this year, again attracted strong interest.
In the adults’ category, Petar Petrov of Sliven took first place after milking 1 litre of milk. Sabi Nikolov of Panagyurishte placed second with 800 ml, while Ivan Petrov of General Toshevo was third with 710 ml.
Among the children, Mariyanka Nikolova of Panagyurishte won with 450 ml. Second place was shared by Kristian Miroslavov of Varna, with 200 ml, and six-and-a-half-year-old Kalinka Nikolova of Ruse. Third place went to four-year-old Radul Petrov of Veliko Tarnovo, who milked 100 ml.
All winners in the goat hand-milking contest received cash prizes.
The programme also featured a sheep hand-shearing contest, one of the festival’s most authentic farming disciplines. The contest on the second day brought together eight competitors, who demonstrated speed, a steady hand and skill in a traditional activity closely tied to sheep breeding.
Bogdan Rusev won after shearing a sheep in 4 minutes and 30 seconds. Organizers said the time was unprecedented for the festival and would be checked against European results in a similar discipline.
Second place was shared by Dimitar Ivanov and Nikolay Rusev, who both finished in 6 minutes and 33 seconds. Hasan Ibryamov placed third in 8 minutes and 3 seconds, after also winning Saturday’s sheep hand-shearing contest.
All received cash prizes.
The three-day festival opened Friday near Sts Peter and Paul Monastery, close to Lyaskovets. Official guests at the opening included President Iliana Iotova, who called the gathering “a celebration of the Bulgarian spirit.” Addresses were also delivered by Minister of Agriculture and Food Plamen Abrovski, Bulgarian Development Bank Supervisory Board Chair Delyana Ivanova, Lyaskovets Mayor Vasil Hristov, and Simeon Karakolev, co-chair of the National Sheep and Goat Breeders Association, which organizes the festival. An international roundtable on “The New Disease Environment in Small Ruminants” was held in Arbanasi.
This year’s festival brings together more than 70 artisans, over 60 farmers and producers offering farm-fresh food and beverages, more than 30 exhibitors from the Bulgarian Agrarian Chamber, and over 20 companies presenting agricultural machinery, equipment, feed, and organic and natural products.
The National Festival of Sheep Breeders is organized with the support of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, in partnership with the municipalities of Veliko Tarnovo, Lyaskovets and Gorna Oryahovitsa. Sheep Shearing, Goat Milking Draw Crowds at Sheep Breeders Festival 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-05-24 17:22:40 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law