The large number of vehicles in the highway TF–16which leads to Tejina and Valle de Guerra, in addition to the difficulties in parking around the Tacoronte Farmer’s Market Around ten o’clock heralds a festive day with a lot of people. It was because, despite the cold of the morning, a large number of visitors, both from the municipality and others nearby, came to the dirt esplanade located in front of the agricultural cave to enjoy the traditional Cattle show. The main event and culmination of the festivities in honor of Saint Anthony Abbot. Breeders, family, friends and curious people, especially children, enjoyed the saint’s descent into the enclosure, the blessing of the animals or the delivery of the honor collar 2024 to the producer of Agua García, Alejandro Basterra.
Previous stop at the Mercadillo Restaurant or Casa El Rubio, due to the color of the hair of its owner, Gregorio, to have a comforting coffee. Johnny, professional waiter with a thousand battles despite his youth He is not surprised by the number of people because “it is the same every Sunday.” In front there are already 120 specimens of Canarian cattle breeds and about a hundred goats in two herds located on both sides of the enclosure. Also dogs, including some Presa Canarios. “The town’s cows have already escaped, riau, riau.” The traditional Navarrese melody is mixed with isas, folías and malagueñas on the cantina’s public address system while the cows are placed little by little with their teams in the arranged places. These events would not be the same without a good canteen with local meat and wine. Pedro Tomé, secretary of the Cattlemen’s Association of Tenerife (Agate) and the veterinarian Pedro Samuel Miranda check that everything is fine in the bathrooms and administration. Test passed with specimens in good condition. Tomé values: “He is proud that they count on us.”
The children enjoy
The ones who enjoy it the most are the children. Like Zuleima, 6 years old, who has come with her father, Domingo. He likes cows, but he doesn’t touch them. Marcos, two years old, is with his parents, Pepe and Patricia; They bring him “to learn” and he is enthusiastic. On the other side are the long-suffering breeders. Mired in the constant crisis of rising food prices. It is told by Raúl Calero, 18 years old, who arrives with two bulls and four cows from Guamasa (La Laguna). For him, this is a hobby “that I have maintained for a tradition of three generations.” He studies Agricultural Engineering but wants to be a veterinarian. Also Urbano López, 25 years old, who comes with his herd of 55 goats walking from El Torreón, maintains the status of goatherd as his hobby because “this does not work despite the subsidies and the outlook is very bad.” He works on a farm, where he enters from six thirty in the morning until one thirty in the afternoon. He has lunch and works with the goats until half past eleven at night. Sacrifice in its purest form. This is also a hobby for Juan Antonio Hernández, 25 years old, from Adelantado Street, in Tacoronte, and a construction worker. He brings eight cows. He gives an example. “An animal eats three kilos of feed a day, five kilos of bananas and whatever grass you give it.” Multiply. Goyo Lion and Carmen Mendoza are a veteran couple from Garimba (La Laguna). They come with Manzana and Hermosa, two beautiful cows of the six they have. They eat chochos and drink wine with the animals in the background, a traditional image of this land. Hugo, 8 years old, and Carlitos, 7, lead two donkeys that become the stars of the morning. Their grandfather, Joaquín Valenzuela, brings them to have a good time. He wants to sell the animals and puts up a sign: both for 1,000 euros. Mother and daughter, Guillermita and Estrellita walk the children on one side on their backs.
Defense of the primary sector
Arsenio Gómez, councilor for the Primary Sector of Tacoronte, emphasizes the importance of maintaining this centuries-old tradition to “value our native breeds in danger of extinction and help their breeders.” The mass in the nearby parish of San Juan Bautista precedes the saint’s descent into the enclosure with the Santa Cecilia band accompanying the image. The parish priest, Macario López, blesses the pets first and then the livestock. In the middle, the delivery of the beautiful Collera de Honor, the work of artist Domingo Salcedo, tacorontero and “proud to collaborate.” The verses of the countryman Lázaro are moving: “San Antonio Abad, patron saint of farmers, works night and day, and never feels pain.” The priest, microphone in hand, ends with a heartfelt and chanted cry: “Long live San Antonio.” Everything ends well, but you can hear, already retreating and in the distance, the pitiful mooing of the cow that is not only a product of exhibition. It is the cry of agony of a sector in full and serious crisis.
