Oleg Valenchuk: Gardeners' diligence is the best response to any challenges of our time.

      The final inter-district exhibition-competition of the season, "Vyatskie – Sadovody Khvatskie," took place here.

      The initiative of the Chairman of the Union of Gardeners of Russia, State Duma deputy Oleg Valenchuk, and the Kirov Regional Organization of Veterans is gaining greater momentum each year. This year four such exhibitions were held in the Kirov region, bringing together about 500 participants. In the village of Vichevshchina in Kumensky District, veterans from Kumensky, Uninsky, Bogorodsky, Nolinsky, Sunsky, Kirovo-Chepetsky districts and the city of Kirovo-Chepetsk won the judges' hearts with their culinary, gardening and creative talents.

      Each year not only the number of contestants grows, but also the standard of their entries. Tables brimming with vegetables, fruits, berries and winter preserves amazed with their variety. Golden pumpkins stood alongside rosy apples, crunchy cucumbers alongside fragrant tomatoes. A wide variety of flowers, grown with love and care, completed the picture of abundance, creating the atmosphere of a true celebration. The contest impressed not only with the abundance of products on display but also with their quality—each vegetable, each berry testified to diligent labor and deep expertise.

      But "Vyatskie – Sadovody Khvatskie" is not only a display of the harvest. It is a meeting place for old friends and a platform for exchanging experience and knowledge. The veterans shared their secrets for growing vegetables and spoke about tried-and-true recipes for winter preserves. The teams' bright and creative presentations showcased the individuality of each district.

      While the expert jury evaluated the exhibits, performing groups entertained participants and guests, creating a festive atmosphere and providing unforgettable moments. Music, songs and dances were a wonderful complement to the gastronomic celebration.

      "Oleg Valenchuk noted, "The 'Vyatskie – Sadovody Khvatskie' contest is not only a harvest festival, but also a symbol of undying enthusiasm, diligence and love for the native land. The gardeners' diligence is the best response to any challenges of the times, a confirmation that neither sanctions nor the whims of the weather can break their iron will and undying enthusiasm."

      At the close of the event, 30 participants whose works were recognized as the best received gifts from Oleg Valenchuk. Two more became recipients of the audience's choice prizes from the regional organization of veterans. After the awards ceremony, the guests of the festival together performed the gardeners' anthem.