SLO:
Krožišče na regionalni cesti med Lenartom in Gornjo Radgono ob Petrolovi bencinski črpalki služi svojemu namenu že od leta 2011.
Župan mag. Janez Kramberger je 9. novembra 2011, na slovesni otvoritvi rondoja z Ovtarjem, predstavil vsem navzočim tudi zgodovinski pomen skulpture, katere avtor je Daniel Vrečič iz Svete Trojice.
Ovtarji so bili varuhi oz. čuvaji vinogradov, sadovnjakov in poljedelskih pridelkov. Ovtarska služba se je začela s 15. avgustom in trajala do 15. novembra ali mogoče še dlje, odvisno od letine in časa spravila pridelka.
Trimesečno varovanje je ovtar opravljal neprenehoma dan in noč. Čuvaji vinogradov so se le priložnostno hranili pri lastnikih, prenočevali so v utah ali le pod drevesi. Po ustnem izročilu je bil ovtar nekaj nenavadno groznega in strašnega.
Ovtar je tatu zgrabil šele takrat, ko je le ta hotel zapustiti vinograd. Večjo količino nakradenega pridelka je moral izročiti lastniku vinograda. Pogosti tatovi grozdja so bili fantje-vasovalci, ki so trgali grozdje za dekleta. Kdor je ujel vasovalca pri kraji, ga je lahko celo denarno kaznoval. Če vasovalec ni imel denarja, mu je ovtar odvzel klobuk, kar je bila takrat za mladeniča velika sramota. Posebno vestno so morali ovtarji opravljati svoje delo ob romarskih dnevih. Romarji, ki so potovali na božjo pot k Sveti Trojici, so pogosto spotoma obiskovali vinograde in trgali grozdje zase ali za svoje bližnje. Vzoren ovtar je lahko od romarjev pobral kar velik zaslužek. Največja sramota za ovtarja je bila, če je bil na obisku v hiši, v katero je nekdo vstopil s krožnikom sveže potrganega grozdja. To se je ovtarjem pogosto dogajalo ob gostijah, krstih in ob skupnih kmečkih opravilih. Ovtar je bil večkrat ogrožen. Če se je zameril fantom, so mu po vinogradih napletli žice in vrvice, nanje obesili grozdje in mu tako dokazali njegovo nesposobnost. V znak časti in kot orožje so ovtarji nosili ovtarsko palico.
Palica iz hruškove veje je bila podobna primitivni helebardi s kovinsko konico (nožem). Grče so bile okrašene z medeninastimi žebljički. Palica se je nosila na rami, podobno kot puška. Namesto jermena je pri palici služil zakrivljen korobač, spleten iz vrbovih šib.
Povzeto po: http://arhiv.lenart.si/index.php/novice-2011/226-otvoritev-kroia-z-ovtarjem
ENG:
Roundabout on the main road between Lenart and Gornja Radgona near the petrol station serves its purpose since 2011.
On November 9th, 2011, at the inauguration of the roundabout with Ovtar, Mayor Mag. Janez Kramberger presented the historical significance of the ovtar sculpture, whose author is Daniel Vrečič from Sveta Trojica.
Ovtar was in the 19th and early 20th century guard of the vineyards, orchards and fields in the Slovenian hills.
Ovtar's job was a part-time engagement and lasted three months. It started on 15 August and ended on 15 November. During these three months the ovtar worked continuously day and night. It was not easy to get »ovtar license«. First of all a candidate had to have written permission from the land owners that they are willing to engage him, taking care that he had as many permissions from landowners in the immediate vicinity (supervison area which is single ovtar watched was about 3 ha). Then he had to make an application to the municipality, which then chose the candidates. All candidates were asked to take an oath that they will faithfully carry out ovtar service with regular patrols.
Each ovtar was wearing ovtar rod, which was owned by the municipality. It was made from the branches of the pear with the metal tip (knife). They wore it on the shoulder like a rifle.