Fair of the fat ox stronger than the snow. “We live in the countryside and it’s not a snowfall that stops us. Only the early wake-up call so as not to miss the appointment that has been awaited for years. In Moncalvo, a job started years ago in the stable ends, the fair is a bit like Christmas “: this is the comment shared by the thirty breeders who, yesterday morning, replied in attendance. Cold but punctual they presented themselves with about sixty Piedmontese breed heads in competition. Dry arcades but ring with an intact carpet due to the white blanket and no catwalk for the “white giants” dressed in the red and white saddlecloth symbol of victory. That of the Grand Prix was worn by “Arthur” of 1300 kilos bred by Andrea Migliore di Caraglio. One-two from Cuneo since the heaviest Grand Prix of the Ox was won by the model presented by Luigi Carlo Vallino of Marene, which weighed 1,430 kilos on the scales.
«Snow is not a new company, last seen in 2008 and never stopped the Fair. The stop last year, however, came due to the pandemic. Otherwise, 383 editions would not have been collected. The presence of breeders, butchers but also of the public who crowded the PalaBue for the boiled meat served by the Pro loco confirmed how awaited the event was “underlines Luisella Braghero, president of the commission that with the Commune is directing «His Majesty the Fat Ox».
Edition in which above all the ox was the protagonist, with 25 specimens practically half of the animals submitted to the vote of the jury chaired by Marco Lanfranco. Numerous farmers from Asti have been awarded, starting with the place of honor among the fatty oxen for the Munfrin di Moncalvo farm purchased by Micco butcher and bronze to the Moncalvese butcher Gianni Alemano. Vittoria among the oxen of the thigh for the San Desiderio of Monastero Bormida with third Lucia Minetti of Roccaverano. Acknowledgments also a Rosangela Zotta and Valter Bruna from Cocconato, Dante Torchio of Moncalvo, Luigino Torchio from San Damiano, Il Boschetto and Simona Rainero from Rocchetta Tanaro, Angelo Nicola and Fratelli Tognin from Moransengo, Roberto Vercelli from Callianetto and Bruno Biletta from Penango winner among fat beef.
Braghero and the mayor Orecchia awarded a plaque to Alberto Mosca, in memory of the father Giovanni historical butcher of Biella for half a century uninterrupted presence at the Moncalvese fair.