On Saturday, September 19, 2026, during the Saint-Mathieu fair in Château-Ville-Vieille, Christian Blanc, president of the Queyras Regional Natural Park, honored the winners of the local agroecological practices contest – meadows and pastures. This initiative, organized for the 16th year in partnership with the Hautes-Alpes Chamber of Agriculture, marked its return after a break in 2025.
The objective of this contest is to highlight the work of farmers on their hay meadows, by rewarding plots with the best agronomic and ecological qualities. This year, seven farmers from the region presented their plots, following visits organized in early June and early July.
The jury, chaired by the previous winner Franck Rendu, a breeder from Château-Ville-Vieille, included specialists such as Sébastien Guion (Chamber of Agriculture), Grégory Lougouragray (INRAE), Aubérie Dimpre (mayor of Eygliers and beekeeper), as well as biodiversity experts like Alain Bloc, Dominique Gauthier, and Philippe Moullec.
After emphasizing the overall quality of the plots, the jury awarded first place to GAEC Bonnabel (represented by Kevin Bonnabel), which will be nominated for the national contest in the high mountain priority mowing category. GAEC du Guil (François Philip) took second place, and Christophe Gauthier came in third.
Christophe Gauthier, in third place, was recognized for an atypical plot in the Cristillan valley in Ceillac, valuing isolated and difficult-to-access high-altitude environments. His plot, approximately 2 hectares, is managed with remarkable operational flexibility, producing quality hay despite complex access.
Second place was awarded to GAEC du Guil (François Philip) for a plot at Plan de Phazy. This 2.2-hectare meadow, dedicated to hay production, contributes to the farm's fodder autonomy and acts as an ecological corridor. The plot stands out for its floral diversity and fodder quality, set within an exceptional landscape.
The contest rewards plots with the best agronomic and ecological qualities, considering various criteria such as productivity, nutritional value, ecological diversity, beekeeping value, and landscape. These natural meadows, located between 1,200 and 2,100 meters altitude in the Queyras Park, are essential fodder resources for herds during winter.
