It was clear early on who would take over the farm. After Michael's brother completed an academic education, Michael was the chosen one who, after successfully completing tourism school in Hermagor, started five years ago to continue what three generations before him had built up. His grandfather ran a dairy farm, his father soon switched to suckler cow husbandry and the organic certificate completes the circle of sustainability. Tourism has been working quite well here for a while now, in Upper Carinthia's jewel in the crown, the pleasantly unspectacular Weissensee Nature Park with its large fanbase of nature lovers. And so the business with the guests is the main source of income. Agriculture, however, is a steady and solid supporting actor in terms of income.
"Stubborn mountain people freed from envy"
In the 1970s, in an era in which the car was not only a means of transportation but also a socio-political mobility messiah, a through road was to be built to the eastern shore of the Alpine lake to Stockenboi. However, the self-confident, stubborn people of Weissensee did not consider the project to be worthwhile and so it was not built. A great gift for today's positioning as a "gentle tourism zone". Of course, car-free travel is not consistently enforced, but alternative mobility options are so well developed that many guests are happy to leave their cars behind, at least once they have arrived. The expansion of leisure mobility is more than exemplary. Exemplary.
"Water sports guarantee from the farm"
The Obergasserhof is not only beautifully situated and offers its guests a lakeside property within walking distance, water sports enthusiasts will also find the best conditions for active leisure happiness here. Michael's brother runs the farm's own sailing school, where even younger guests can learn to surf in a playful way (from the age of 6). "At the age of twelve - without wanting to narrow it down exactly - sailing makes sense. Not before that," says Michael, who also has a sailing license himself and knows the wilder side of the stoic mountain lake. "When it crashes and thunders, it's good to get to the shore straight away, because our lake isn't always a smooth tourist bathtub either," he says, speaking from experience about weather storms and the like.
"Schnapps, music & volunteering"
Michael is a jack of all trades. Always on the farm, 7 days a week. Working in the fields and fishing are food for his work-life balance, which even as a young farmer needs to be maintained. His parents sometimes step in for a few free evenings, and of course they still help out on the farm. "In the fall, that's when I live and enjoy my hobby, distilling schnapps," says Michael about the practice of distilling. What started twelve years ago with grandma's help and "Russian methods", the man from Neusach cherishes and cultivates with great motivation and dedication. He always strives to follow the quality path for his products. A new boiler was also purchased for this purpose. According to the law, what grows on the farm is distilled. The local tourism association now also offers hikes to the Lilg distillery. Another mainstay for the Obergasser farm.
Michael Lilg is probably not the only "drummer" among Austria's organic farmers. For him, however, playing the drums is more than just making noise in the party cellar. Michael is part of the band "Carinthian Lake Boys", which is well-known at least at regional level and has become a little quieter of late. In addition to local engagements and local village festivals, the Carinthian Lake Boys have also been able to impress their fans on the "big stages". KAC Ice Hockey Gala and International Harley Davidson Meeting at Faakersee, to name two real highlights. But it's great that the Hofbühne at Weissensee will remain Michael's main arena. Forever. At least that's what it looks like.
Stefan Heinisch
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