Yogurt and Melon Competitions Held at Tavas 6th Zeybek Culture and Art Festival

The award-winning ‘Tavas Bakraç Sheep Yogurt’ and ‘Best Tavas Melon’ competitions held within the scope of the Tavas 6th Zeybek Culture and Art Festival witnessed colourful scenes.

Within the scope of the 6th Zeybek Culture and Art Festival organized by Tavas Municipality, the award-winning “Tavas Bakraç Sheep Yogurt” and “Best Tavas Melon” competitions were held at Bağpazarı Amphitheater. Traditional production methods were adhered to in the competition and the bakraçs were used. The producer who won the competition was given a symbolic golden bakraç and a traditional kepenek award. It was announced that the producer who won the competition three times in a row would be given the symbolic golden bakraç permanently.

In this event, called the “Kırkpınar” of yogurt, the first place producer was given the title of chief shepherd. This tradition, which started in 2023, continued in 2024. Last year’s winner İsmahan Parlak presented this year’s winner Hüseyin Taşsöz with a traditional golden copper casket and a kepenek. The doyens, who have an important place in Tavas Sheep Yogurt production, were not forgotten this year either. The doyen tradition, which started in 2023 by putting on kepeneks for Koca Mehmet and Dedeoğlu Mehmet, continued in 2024 by putting on kepeneks for Tavaslı Kakı Osman and Karahisarlı Cerid Aydın.

In the 2024 Tavas Sheep Yogurt Competition, Hüseyin Taşsöz came in first, İsmahan Parlak and Hüseyin Arzıman came in second, and Aydın Karaçalı and Kadir Taşsöz came in third. The producer who came in first in the competition was given a veterinary and feed gift certificate worth 40 thousand TL, the second place was given 25 thousand TL, and the third place was given 20 thousand TL.

In this year’s festival, in addition to previous years, the Best Tavas Melon Competition was also held. Tavas Melon, grown in Tavas and famous for its distinct taste and aroma, is produced on an area of ​​approximately 10 thousand acres, especially in the Ebecik, Sofular, Altınova and Çalıköy neighborhoods. Known as the Kırkağaç 637 variety, this melon is produced from seed without water and stands out from other melons thanks to the unique soil structure of the region.

Havane Tiğre came first in the 2024 Tavas Melon Competition, while Abdullah Şulakcı came second, Osman Kuray third, Yakup Aybek fourth and İhsan Tunçkın fifth. The first place winner in the competition was awarded 45 thousand TL, the second place winner 35 thousand TL, the third place winner 30 thousand TL, the fourth place winner 20 thousand TL and the fifth place winner 15 thousand TL worth of agricultural products such as fertilizer, drip pipe, humic acid and nitrogen.

The jury members of the Tavas Sheep Yogurt and Tavas Melon competition were academics, journalists and local agricultural experts. The jury gave great importance to the preservation of local flavors and production quality in the competitions. The evaluations were made by considering criteria such as the flavor, consistency and production method of the yogurt and melons.

“We will support the producer”

Speaking at the event, Tavas Mayor Kadir Tatık said, “These events held in Tavas aim to keep the cultural richness and traditions of the region alive. Both Tavas Sheep Yogurt and Tavas Melon are introduced to a wider audience through competitions and the efforts of local producers are rewarded. Tavas plays an important role in preserving its cultural heritage and passing it on to future generations with such events. Unfortunately, the general administration does not give the necessary importance to the producer. As local administrations, we will support the producer as much as we can. We will always be by their side.”

Denizli Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Mayor Ali Marım also stated that as Denizli Metropolitan Municipality, they will always be on the side of production and producers and thanked those who contributed to the competitions. The awards of the winners of the competitions were presented by the protocol members. – DENİZLİ