Civilnet
Second Annual Sheep Shearing Festival in Armenia.
The second sheep shearing festival took place on June 6 in the Halidzor station of the Tatev ropeway in Armenia’s Syunik province.
The festival, which was organized in cooperation with Tatev Rebirth Project, Homeland Development Initiative Foundation (HDIF) and Strategic Development Agency (SDA), attracted many tourists as well as locals who enjoyed a day of music, dance and festivities.
The organizers had designated special areas for picnics, a playground, and there was a display of samples of national crafts and weaving. Residents of different communities also presented their local products at the festival.
Head of IDeA foundation Armen Gevorgyan, Norway’s Honorary Consul in Armenia Timothy Straight, and China’s Ambassador to Armenia Tian Erlong were among those who attended the festival.
The Homeland Development Initiative Foundation is a legal entity that was born of the Homeland Handicrafts project, which was started by Norwegian and Finnish Honorary Consul in Armenia, Timothy Straight. HDIF aims to initiate, 
facilitate, and nurture sustainable development initiatives in Armenian communities and has been the leading force behind a number of very popular festivals across Armenia.
There were nine participants in the sheep shearing competition from the eight communities included in the Tatev Revival Project.
Of those participants, Seyran Mkrtchyan, Verishen community resident won the first prize.
The second and third prize winners were Shournukh community representative Garegin Dallakyan and Khot community representative Hrant Galstyan respectively.
The participants competed through three stages, and the winners were chosen according to the speed and quality of sheep shearing
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