Honoring Long-Serving Alpine Staff

The honor for long-serving alpine personnel recognizes the special contribution of both non-family and family-employed workers who, through at least 20 completed alpine summers, make a significant contribution to the management of Salzburg's alpine pastures. As a tiered loyalty bonus funded by state resources, this award acknowledges commitment over decades and emphasizes the regional cultural importance of alpine traditions. Since 2015, the bonuses have been awarded annually after the end of the alpine season in autumn, with exact dates determined by municipalities and local farming associations. Payments are made during local award ceremonies organized by the responsible municipal administrations in cooperation with the local farmers' associations.

The funding is exclusively aimed at natural persons and does not require application fees. To verify eligibility, municipalities cross-check their data with the internal records of the district farmers' chamber. Further basis is provided by the Salzburg Agricultural Promotion Act (LGBl 16/1975 as amended) as well as the associated sectoral guideline for honoring long-serving alpine personnel. In this way, the initiative not only contributes to the recognition of individual achievements but also strengthens awareness of sustainability and tradition in the rural development of Salzburg.