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Anita Myhr
Here, time has stood still for 100 years
About 130 kilometers north of Östersund, on the southern slope of Nordrun, we find Myhrbodarna—a 100-year-old mountain pasture run by Anita Myhr. With sweeping views of the mountain landscape, high-altitude hay meadows, and oddly shaped old birch trees, Anita lives here with her animals during the summer. For Anita, it’s hard work from early morning until late evening—and she does it with joy.
The final stretch takes us along a gravel road through dense spruce forest. Eventually, we spot a wooden fence on the left, enclosing a hill with several timber buildings. We turn in and park. As we step out of the car, we hear the soft clinking of cowbells and the occasional bleating. The first thing that strikes us is the magnificent view of the mountains, their peaks still covered in patches of snow. From the dairy house, dressed in a headscarf and apron, Anita Myhr steps out and gives us a warm welcome.
Anita describes herself as an old-fashioned farm woman, and just outside Valsjöbyn she runs the mountain pasture Myhrbodarna. She was born in Söder in Stockholm but grew up as the daughter of a hotel owner in Östersund. Despite being considered a “city girl,” Anita has always felt most at home in the countryside. As a child, she loved spending time with relatives and family friends who lived on farms.
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In 1968, Anita began working as a primary school teacher in the village of Rötviken. It was during this time that she met her husband, whose family had run Myhrbodarna for generations. Anita immediately fell in love with life at Myhrbodarna, surrounded by mountain cows and goats, and felt that this was something she wanted to learn. However, coming from the city and believing she could run a farm was no easy task. Anita went through a কঠk apprenticeship under her mother-in-law to learn everything about life on a mountain pasture. Her mother-in-law was diligent and meticulous, and could often be perceived as strict—something Anita believes has influenced her as well. But she emphasizes that it’s important to do things properly and not put off tasks like washing dishes.
“The most important things are the animals and food handling. Routines are absolutely essential, especially up in the dairy where conditions are quite basic. Many people who come here to work have a very romantic idea of what it means to work on a mountain pasture—and it is romantic—but that’s something you get as a bonus.”
The importance of routines is very clear. When we visit Anita, there are two maids and one farmhand working alongside her. Everything is done immediately, here and now. Milk containers and feeding bottles are washed right after use. The cows’ udders are checked after milking and cleaned to keep them healthy.
Anita’s husband passed away in 2004, and since then she has run the farm on her own. Today, she is 71 years old, and she has no plans of slowing down. However, this year she chose to advertise for extra help, and the interest in working on a mountain pasture was high. More than 40 applications came in from all over Sweden. The maids, Rene and Kattis, both come from agricultural backgrounds and are experienced in milking cows and handling the products the animals provide. The farmhand Micke lives in nearby Valsjöbyn and has helped Anita on the farm for several years. It’s clear that he and Anita work seamlessly together—when Anita mentions that they should fence off the stream, Micke has already started the job before she’s even finished her sentence.
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The days are long. Anita gets up at five every morning. She starts the day by lighting the stoves and heating water for washing dishes. Then she brews coffee and has breakfast together with the maids. After breakfast, it’s time to milk and wash the cows. Once that’s done, the milk is separated and the animals are let out to pasture. After that, it’s time to churn butter and make cheese. Anita makes cheese from both cow’s and goat’s milk. She doesn’t have any goats of her own but buys milk from a goat farm in Valsjöbyn. Three days a week, she also opens the pasture to visitors. Then waffles are baked and traditional pastries are served.
In the evening, the animals return from grazing, and the cows want to be milked again. After that, they share a common dinner before Anita turns to her evening chores. This can include anything from baking a cake using buttermilk to doing laundry or planning the next day’s meals. There is always something to do, and the work is often physically demanding. Despite this, Anita feels that she always gains energy when she is at the pasture.
“Often, the days start at five and go on until eleven or midnight before I go to bed. Then I’m tired—but it’s a good kind of tired. Even though there’s always work to be done, some days more than others, you gain strength from being here. Especially from seeing the animals thrive when they can roam freely. They head out in the morning and come back home every evening.”
Anita keeps Fjäll cows and Åsen sheep. The Åsen sheep is an endangered breed originating from Dalarna. They are small and agile, well suited to moving through mountainous terrain. The Fjäll cow is also an endangered breed, and as the name suggests, it is adapted to colder climates. Despite roaming freely and sharing grazing land with both reindeer and bears, Anita has never lost any animals. She believes this is because the sheep and lambs stay together with the cows.
“The County Administrative Board is amazed that I’ve never lost an animal. But the sheep and lambs are trained to follow the cows. And Fjäll cows are the breed best suited for free grazing. They can be aggressive if they feel threatened and work together as a herd to scare off predators. They don’t back down—and they also protect the sheep and lambs, which wouldn’t survive on their own.”
Just before Midsummer, Anita walks with her animals from the farm in Valsjöbyn up to the pasture, and on Midsummer Day, the season begins with a church service. It’s an old tradition and marks the arrival of the first visitors. Music is played, and Anita serves coffee and traditional flatbread sandwiches. For Anita, the visitors are an important part of life at the pasture. As the daughter of a hotel owner, she learned early on how to take care of people and make them feel welcome. Being able to combine life at the pasture with tourism is something she truly enjoys. She notices that more and more people are curious about traditional farming and want to escape the stress of city life. And Myhrbodarna is truly a place that leaves an impression on most visitors. The sweeping mountain views, the high-altitude meadows, the closeness to the animals, and the uniquely shaped old birch trees create a rare sense of calm.
“The best part is all the people who come here and call me during the winter. They write letters and send cards telling me how much they appreciated their visit and that they want to come back. That’s truly wonderful.”
When we ask Anita how she first came into contact with Woolpower, she says she has had it for as long as she can remember. She has used the garments both in sports and on mountain trips, and today they are her go-to gift for her grandchildren. Days and nights up at the pasture can be cold, and for Anita, Woolpower garments are always close at hand.
“When you’re about to go to bed, it can be really cold and damp. Then it’s so nice to put on a thick, warm base layer before crawling under the covers. I often stop by Woolpower when I’m in Östersund. I think they’re fantastic clothes.”
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About Anita Myhr
Occupation:
Farmer
Age:
71 years
Favorite Woolpower garment:
My favorite garment is the one I reach for most often—the Full Zip Jacket 400. When you’re feeling a bit cold, it’s always close at hand and keeps you wonderfully warm. But also the base layers—and the socks! Different thicknesses for different needs. I really like them!
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