Potato golf and a wheelbarrow instead of a carriage. How did the regional stage of the "Master of the Village" competition go in the Polotsk district?
A festive mood reigned at the site near the rural House of Culture from the morning. 14 participating families organized vibrant presentations of their homesteads, brought their own grown produce, generously set tables, and showcased a variety of gastronomic delights prepared according to grandmother's recipes. Traveling through this improvised Belarusian village, guests never tired of admiring the fruits of the locals' labor, their devotion to their homeland, and their commitment to preserving and developing the traditions of their people.
– May the glory and well-being of the Dvina region and the country as a whole grow with your successes and talents, – wished the participants the head of the main department of ideological work and youth affairs of the regional executive committee, Gennady Egorov, at the solemn opening of the competition.
Warm greetings were also addressed to the heroes of the day by the deputy chairman of the Polotsk district executive committee, Petr Petkevich, and the first secretary of the regional committee of the BRSM, Vyacheslav Khrol, expressed sincere gratitude to the hosts for their cordial welcome and the high level of organization of the implemented projects, as well as for the interesting developments that Polotsk region always readily shares with other regions.
The first test is the presentation of business cards. In national costumes, under the flags of their districts, families came on stage to talk about their dreams, hobbies, how they manage their households and spend their free time. Some recited poems and sang songs, others tried to stand out with interactive elements, turning into theatrical characters, inviting jury members to dance the polka, or giving them branded buns with magical predictions.
The participants showed no less ingenuity during the "Bread is the Head of Everything!" competition. The creative presentations of the products were original, as were the loaves of bread themselves – different in shape, taste, and preparation recipes.
"Everything will come in handy in the house!" – this was the name of the next stage of the competition. Using an axe, a saw, and a plane, the husbands made cutting boards, and the wives decorated them with original drawings. A stork's nest, a goldfish, an imprint of the palms of all family members, and even the inscription "BRSM" – the authors of the works came up with all sorts of things. But the most impressive was a charming floral composition in the decoupage technique.
The agricultural relay race provided a magnificent spectacle. Instead of a carriage, the head of the family transported his beloved in a concrete wheelbarrow.
– Do you have a license for this type of transport? – the host teased.
– He has a license for everything! – the wife cleverly parried.
In "rural golf," couples had to roll a potato into a hole with a club and then hit it into a bag. Then the wife demonstrated male skills by hammering nails, and the husband showed how to hang washed laundry. Next, the husband gave his precious half flowers, lifted her into his arms, and ran to the finish line at full speed. The load was not easy for everyone, but all participants in the competition, to the delight of the spectators, coped with the non-standard situations with dignity.
And finally, the trials came to their delicious conclusion, requiring the demonstration of national cuisine cooking skills. The organizers proposed an ancient method for baking draniki in field conditions – on a split log, which burns and generates heat from within, supplying warmth to the pan.
A logical continuation of the program was the "My Home is My Fortress" competition, during which families showcased their achievements and offered culinary masterpieces for tasting, including freshly baked draniki served in beautiful settings.
Andrei and Nadezhda Sobol from the Postavy district treated guests to rich fish soup and various types of fish. The couple is united in everything. They repair and furnish their village house with their own efforts, manage the household together, and enjoy outdoor recreation with a tent along with their two lovely daughters, Eva and Sofia, whom they have also taught to fish.
“Having your own home in the village is priceless. You step out in the morning – nightingales are singing, and in the evening, you see a starry sky that you never see in the city. Space, quiet, peace – you feel happy,” Nadezhda Sobol poetically described the advantages of rural life.
The Berezko couple from the Senno district also did not strive to move to the city, choosing to remain living in their native places. Sergey is a machine operator at the Masherov State Farm, and Olga works there as a veterinary paramedic. They met at the age of 18, dreamed of a large family, which they created. Their daughters Ira and Kira are schoolchildren, and four-year-old twins Sasha and Stas attend kindergarten.
The Teter family from Polotsk district is another eloquent example of how fruitful one can be in rural areas. Alexander is one of the best machine operators at OAO "Kushliki". He strives for the best result in everything he does, and therefore achieves success. His wife Olga is the soul of the family. She works as a cook, manages the household, creates coziness in the home, and engages in creative pursuits. The couple calls their six-year-old charmer Polina their "little fire" and "sunshine". "With her, happiness entered our home, and we truly believe that we have a little magician growing up in our family," the couple dedicated these touching lines to their little one.
These three families became the triumphant winners of the competition: the first place was awarded to representatives of Polotsk region, the second to Postavy region, and the third to Senno region. However, as the jury members noted, the competitors showed such a high level of preparation that the point difference between them was minimal. But the main thing is that the event allowed families to unite, test their strengths, make new friends, and have a great rest.