Special day

Stoani-Fritz: It all started on an Easter Sunday

The sheep listen to the sound of the food bowl, but not to Stoani music

(Bild: Privat)

Fritz Willingshofer is celebrating a big anniversary today. The Stoani boss made his first public appearance exactly 60 years ago. Now sheep farming and woodturning have become his great passions. 

At almost 75 years old, Stoani Fritz could actually be enjoying a quiet life on his grandfather's farm, known as "Petschnhofer". After a demanding 50 years on stage, hundreds of thousands of kilometers on tour and TV appearances all over the world, the Stoani boss really deserves it. But the retiree, who tends to the sheep in the barn early in the morning, deals with Stoani inquiries and requests, works tirelessly in the wood-turning workshop and welcomes guests to the Stoani House in the afternoon with his brothers Reinhold and Hans, knows no retirement. The Stoakogler are still a magnet for visitors in their home town of Gasen. "Not a day goes by when I'm not asked for a Stoakogler performance," the Stoani boss proudly remarks.

Some of the Stoani-Drechslerei products will be found as presents in the Easter nest.

(Bild: Privat)

Unbroken interest in the Stoakogler's music
"I'm sure we could still play to a full tent today, even though times have changed." A comeback of the popular Stoanis can be categorically ruled out, even if the brothers occasionally play a serenade for celebrities, as they did recently at Heino's birthday party.

"We are in awe of the fact that we have been able to play together in good health for 56 years". They not only play in the popular Stoani line-up, but also once a week at the Loambudl bowling alley. As a sheep farmer, Fritz Willingshofer, who has already handed over his farm to his son, is happy to make time for this. "These days, I'm really just a hobby farmhand," laughs the shepherd of a flock of hundreds of sheep and Easter lambs that he has to look after.

"In my automated sheepfold, I don't have to hump anymore."
 The old barn was "automated" in consideration of his advanced age. It is the inventive spirit that saves the senior farmer a lot of drudgery and humping. A hay crane fetches the feed, which rolls to the sheep on a conveyor belt. The outdoor picnic becomes a stage performance when the ewes and their boisterous little lambs scurry up to the rustling of the feed bowl to be stroked. There is also music for the ears. "I've also played them Stoani music, but with no reaction. They prefer food".

Around 100 sheep cavort on the Stoani-Leitn.

(Bild: Privat)

Stoani-Fritz as a sheep farmer
When Fritz Willingshofer switched from cattle farming to sheep 35 years ago, he was the first sheep farmer in Gasen. "I couldn't think of anything better to do on this steep slope. It was easier in terms of work and back then it was more about the wool." Today, the coveted meat brings in much more. "That's not why you become a millionaire," Willingshofer adds, who has probably made a stoa(kogler)rich living from the music royalties. The passion he discovered for wood-turning also yields Transchel money. His "inventions" such as the financial syringe or the wooden pepper mill sell like hot Easter cake.

Easter Sunday with Helene Fischer
The traditional Easter snack is not served until the afternoon of Easter Sunday at the home of nine grandfathers (Fritz even becomes a great-grandfather in September). In the morning, the brass band plays the wake-up call in the village. "On Easter Sunday 60 years ago, this was my first public performance as an untrained musician, and today my 12-year-old grandson Gregor will be playing in the local band for the first time," says the visibly moved thoroughbred musician, who also associates Easter with Helene Fischer.

Helene Fischer, then just 23 years old, at the Easter Gala in Hartberg.

(Bild: Privat)

The Stoakogler usually played on Easter Sunday, including at the Easter Gala in Hartberg in 2007, where the folk music trio performed on stage together with Helene Fischer, who was still unknown at the time. "She was so pleased that she was allowed to stand next to the Stoanis with her fan stand. That will stay with me forever," the Stoani boss is certain.