Sortand in the collective imagination, The idea of the shepherd is that of a lonely manforward with the years, who guides the flock between the mountains with his faithful dog, at the Shepherdschool in Arezzo, the reality tells a different story: to school to become shepherds and breedersIndeed, out of eight students enrolled in edition 2025, Six are women. A photograph that shows, although still silently, how much this job is redefining.
Shepherdschool: where the modern shepherd is born
In the heart of the Tuscan countryside, precisely in Stia in the province of Arezzo, There is a school dedicated to a job that many would consider the past. Shepherdschool is not an Italian anomaly, but is part of a network of training institutes present in different European countries such as France, Spain, Portugal and Switzerland. Part of the ShepForbio project, co -financed by the European Union through the Life programthis school offers a complete training course for young people between 21 and 33 years old.
Theory and field outputs
This year, 75 applications were received by the organizersand eight participants have been selected from these, six women and two men, precisely, between 21 and 33 years old from Tuscany, Emilia Romagna, Marche and Abruzzo. The course of study involves one Theoretical training of 23 dayswhich takes place between Pratovecchio Stia and the Premilcuore Visitor Center of the Casentinesi Forest National Park. Follows, then, A 30 -day practical internship at partner farms. A non -negligible detail is that, Registration is completely freeand this breaks down an economic barrier that could discourage many aspirants.
The new face of shepherd is a woman. The School of Arezzo this year has 5 women out of eight inscriptions (Getty)
When she is guiding the flock
The most interesting figure of the course 2025, It is undoubtedly the female predominance. In a sector traditionally considered male, in fact, seeing six women out of eight participants represents a significant cultural fact. THEAnd women stop being the “shepherds” of fairy tales, but become “shepherd” in all respects. Among the participants, as the ANSA tells, there is Caterina Blasi, 30 years old, with a degree in Forestry Sciences behind him, who has chosen to apply his academic knowledge on the field. There is Arianna Faccini, 26 years old, former agricultural entrepreneur, who wishes to deepen his skills in the management of animals to improve his company. Particularly interesting, it is the path of Caterina Piermartiri, 32 years old, who left behind a career as an architect, photojournalist and freelance documentary makerto embrace life in pastures.
Beyond stereotypes: shepherds has no gender
This female prevalence at Shepherdschool, represents a concrete challenge to gender stereotypes that still permeate the world of work. Just think of crafts such as the bricklayer, plumber or electrician, who are still commonly considered “men”. Pastoralism, however, It is showing that there are no gender barriers when it comes to passion and dedication. The new shepherds, moreover, come from different regions and varied paths of life, demonstrating that this craft can represent both a first choice and a significant professional reconversion.
Shepherdschool, custodians of the pastures: a contemporary role
The course is not limited to teaching breeding techniques, but embraces a wider vision, which includes the preservation of the territory and sustainable zootechnics. Students and students are not simply learning a job, they are becoming “custodians of the pastures”, essential figures In an era in which the abandonment of the countryside and the depopulation of mountain areas represent concrete problems. These young women are, in fact, helping to preserve priceless cultural and environmental heritageshowing that sheep farming can be a contemporary, sustainable profession and where the genre no longer counts.
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