Shepherds selected for a paid week’s holiday can look after sheep, horses or cows on the sites.
The Metsähallitus Shepherd Weeks in Lapland attracted a lot of applicants this spring. More than 15 000 applications were received nationwide. Almost a third of the applicants wanted to be a shepherd in Lapland.
The most interesting sites in Lapland were the Kaapin Jouni farm in Lemmenjoki National Park and the Välimaa Sámi farm in Utsjoki. Both sites received more than 1,000 applications. Pastoral work in the Perämeri National Park was also of interest. In total, more than 1 500 applications were received for Kokkoo and Herding Lodge.
The Pielpajärvi wilderness church in Inari, a new destination, attracted almost 900 applicants.
According to Metsähallitus, applicants had a better chance of winning a shepherd’s holiday this spring than before. A total of 185 shepherd weeks were drawn from May to September, compared to 171 last year.
During Metsähallitus’ shepherding weeks, people can take a vacation and take care of sheep, horses or cows at the same time. There are a total of 15 shepherding sites around Finland.
*Read more* *News of Lapland**.*