GstaadLife

 
Saturday October 23 saw the Topschau, Gstaad's annual beauty pageant for cows. This year's edition took place in the garden of the Grand Hotel Park, quite a contrast from the normal scene over there. In the photo above, Rita, the winner with her owner Simon Frautschi (left) from Turbach, along with Dona Bertarelli and Jean-Yves Blatt of the Grand Hotel Park.

Did you know that there are 18 public places where you can barbecue in Gstaad-Saanenland? They are run by Gstaad Saanenland Tourismus, don't cost anything, and you do not have to sign up for them in advance. You just have to be the first there. So pack your Bratwurst and head out to one of these beautiful spots: GL.com recommends the ones around Arnensee and Lauenensee.

One of the most beautiful Misses in Switzerland - Rita from Turbach.

Last Saturday the most beautiful cows of the 17 livestock farming associations of Saanenland were presented on the 'Eisbahnareal' in central Gstaad (where the tennis and volleyball also take place). It was a fantastic, curiously Swiss event with hundreds of cows and as many spectators. We, ignoramouses, had to inform ourselves of the criteria for winning this particular pageant, with evaluation of ability to walk in a bikini and high heels making way for judgments of an exceptionally beautiful udder, great horns and a gorgeous back line. So just like any other beauty pageant then. Below a short video of the event.

Saanen hospital is to be renovated and from December 2009 will offer general surgery, internal medicine and, once again, gynocology/obstetrics.

Following the recent decision not to build a hospital in Saanenmöser (see No new hospital in Saanenmöser) but to instead continue operating two hospitals in both Saanen and Zweisimmen as health centers, there remained question about where acute care would take place. Well, now the decision has been made and we are very happy to announce that Saanen hospital has been deemed the best location for general surgery, internal medicine and gynocology/obstetrics. Details of the new facilities will be announced by the end of January 2009 and it is planned to have everything up and running by December 2009. Zweisimmen will be turned into a health center for the elderly.

This time last year, the population of Saanenland was in a state of shock over the cheese scandal (click here to learn more). Following allegations of falsely-labeled mountain cheeses, the resignation of Gstaad's “Archbishop of Cheese”, Hanspeter Reust, and an ongoing police investigation into the scandal, six local dairies have since been negotiating the creation of a milk-cooperative. As from July 1 2008, “Milchzentrum Gstaad-Saanenland AG” will be set up in order to coordinate and centralize the valley's milk production, although tough decisions about location and costs are yet to be reached.

Above from left: Bern lawyer Franz A. Zölch, with the six local dairy chiefs David Gander, Gsteig, Klaus Teuscher, Schönried, Jörg Trachsel, Lauenen, Ueli Bach, Turbach, Markus Bach, Saanen, und Hans-Ruedi Steiner, Gstaad.

By Andrea von Siebenthal

The six Saanenland milk processing cooperatives, long known for their desire to work together (and their inability to actually do so due to the previous recalcitrance of the Gstaad cooperative), have transformed themselves into a visionary brotherhood. The local milk cooperatives have achieved what was thought impossible not long ago, and have taken a united stand against the increasingly liberalized (read reduced subsidies) agricultural market. The presidents of the six cooperatives, Gsteig, Lauenen, Turbach, Gstaad, Saanen and Schönried, have signed a Manifesto for Collective Milk Processing, which for those of you interested in the ins and outs of such things is printed in full in the May 25 edition of sister publication Anzeiger von Saanen.

Above (click to enlarge): rear from left: Markus Bach, Saanen; Hans-Ruedi Steiner, Gstaad; Ueli Bach, Turbach; in front from left: David Gander, Gsteig; Klaus Teuscher, Schönried; Jörg Trachsel, Lauenen; Willy Bach, Saanen.

In the run-up to the General Assembly meeting of Gstaad Saanenland Tourismus, there was quite some debate in GstaadLife sister publication, the Anzeiger von Saanen, over the proposals to change the name of "Gstaad Saanenland Tourismus" to just "Gstaad Tourismus". On the one hand, there were those who argued that the brand of repute that attracts tourism and spending to the region is in fact "Gstaad", and that the use of the Saanenland reference specifically precludes the possibility to market such regions as Zweisimmen (technically in the Obersimmental) and Rougemont (technically in Pays d'Enhaut). On the other hand there were arguments made that the Saanenland moniker is the glue that binds the unique villages of the region together, a connection which is an important link to the rural authenticity of the countryside and which helps counter the perception in some consumer circles that the brand Gstaad stands for excessive wealth and snobbishness. In the end, the assembly rejected the name change proposals, with the 67 to 54 vote insufficient to trigger a by-law amendment that any name change would require. Bu it's still interesting food for thought though...Gstaad and Saanenland, which is the dog and which is the tail?