[POST]Industrial Urals: Arti, The Grand Scythe tournament

Arti is an urban-type settlement in Sverdlovsk oblast. The population is about 13 000 people.

Artinskiy plant is the only manufacturer of Russian scythes. Now Artinsky plant is one of the partners of the 3rd Industrial Biennale that will take place in the Urals this autumn.

Production started in 1809. In 1827 the plant manufactured the first agricultural scythes tempered using a technique proposed by metallurgist Anosov.

50% of the plant’s output is for export.

Every summer a haymaking tournament takes place near the village of Arti.

The 5th annual tournament took place on 18 July, 2015.

The tournament is traditionally held in three stages: the men’s championship, the women’s championship, and the team competition. The final stage is the relay race: the women start mowing, then pass the scythes to the men.

It’s not all about distance covered: the mowed grass should be no more than 5 cm high, and the haymaking should be straight, smooth and high-quality.

Most haymakers dress up in their national costumes (among them are Mari, Bashkirs, Russians and some foreign guests). Additional points can be scored for wearing a costume.

Today the plant produces about 100 kinds of products: scythes, sickles, pitchforks, shovels, rakes, hoes, rippers, chains, sets of garden tools, and more.

In the 2014 Russian Event Awards, the haymaking tournament was recognized as the “Best project to promote folk traditions and crafts.”