Poland sees rising interest in traditional sheep herding professions

Traditional sheep herding roles in Poland are experiencing a resurgence in popularity. In Ludźmierz, a ceremony was held to award certificates to 14 journeyman shepherds (baców czeladników) and 24 young shepherds (juhasów) who completed a six-month training program.

These graduates passed professional examinations conducted by the Chamber of Crafts in Katowice. Currently, there are 189 certified journeyman shepherds and 116 young shepherds in Poland. Notably, the profession is seeing increased participation from women, with 28 women currently holding qualifications.

The training is organized by the Małopolska School of Hospitality in Myślenice. According to course coordinator Sabina Cygan, demand for the training is high, often resulting in waiting lists. Graduates typically work in sheep grazing and the production of traditional cheeses, such as oscypek, often continuing family traditions or reconnecting with ancestral roots.