Word: valaisan
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Swiss farmers, far up in the isolated glens of Valais Canton, had deplored World War II because it suspended Valais' own brand of warfare. Each year until 1939, Valaisan farmers, notorious throughout phlegmatic Switzerland for their hot tempers, had driven 200 stocky, combative cows up to the high pastures just beneath Alpine peaks. There the select 200 plunged into wild battle. They proved their cunning by dodging heavier opponents and victors of previous years. They showed their sportsmanship by stepping back to wait if the opposing cow slipped on the wet grass. The victor, having pushed or frightened away...
...fights for the war's duration because the fighting cows when in training are fed white wine and bread and are not expected to produce much milk. Last week, thanks to peace, hundreds of cowbells in the passes leading to the high pastures tinkled a martial melody: tough Valaisan farmers and big Valaisan cows were heading for another rendezvous with destiny...
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