María Antonia, a cattle ranching legend

María Antonia Pujols Bravo is a legend of cattle ranching, which lived for many years in the town of Romana 7, in the municipality of Contramaestre.

In his farm “El Alcázar” she successfully developed the breeding of different species of animals, genetic crosses, poultry and exotic plants. With such activities she managed to make her farm stand out as one of the best in Cuba and Latin America.

This woman is also connected by history with the eternal leader Fidel Castro. With him she shared childhood, friendship, revolutionary thought and on several occasions she received him in her home.

With little more than 90 years old, in July 2018 the town of Contramaestre joined the pain of her relatives, close to 60 workers and a great number of friends who physically dismissed her in the René Portocarrero Art Gallery of the municipality.

The guide of “El Alcázar”, disciplined and demanding woman. With an extraordinary straightness in the character, master for many ranchers of the country left a lasting mark in the cattle ranch worthy to continue and to preserve.

One of her most experienced pupils in Contramaestre, who is still feeling his physical departure, is Jaime Fonseca Rojas, a farmer who tries to materialize the knowledge he learned from María Antonia in his farm “La Gloria”. This is how he tells of his experiences with this legendary woman.

“The knowledge I have of livestock I practically owe Maria Antonia. She was for me, she was very special. I started genetics with her. She was a wonderful person, a great teacher, she was always willing to cooperate with those who needed her knowledge. All the breeds I have in sheep, cattle, horses, cattle…)”

Fonseca Rojas remembers her birthdays, her wine drinking habit and her respect for the Catholic religion. And he underscored that he will forget Maria Antonia when he dies.

Written by Jorge Lora