He had returned to Sardinia to build a future in his homeland. Today he finds himself penniless, without access to what had been his business for years, and with a legal battle just beginning.
This is the story of Mirko Pes, 50, a farmer from Ussassai, who in recent weeks has shaken not only the small town in Ogliastra but also a wider area, that of Barbagia di Seulo and part of Gerrei, which has decided to rally around him.
Pes left the island many years ago to work elsewhere. Then he decided to return to Ussassai and invest in the rural world. He participated in the regional "Youth Entrepreneurship" competition, rented a plot of land with a stable from an elderly local woman, and started his business.
"I had bought the sheep in Villasalto: 120. I had 50 hectares of land and 38 titles, so let's just say I was doing pretty well. I delivered the milk to the Nurri cooperative and was making good progress," he says.
The balance was shattered in 2024, when an unexpected proposal arrived. "It intrigued and scared me at the same time," Pes explains. "This person was looking for land for wind farms: I didn't even know what wind power was. But he was willing to buy the land for me, give me the stables, and allow me to continue working with my animals." After initial hesitation, a financial offer arrived that convinced him.
"At first, everything seemed to be working." Thus was born the agricultural company "Su Lioni," in which Pes is a partner along with the other person. But what seemed like an opportunity quickly turned into a nightmare for him.
"He also hired three other fellow villagers of mine, but at the same time he purchased several plots of land in the village in my name, without my knowledge," says the farmer.
"I started seeing people who wouldn't even say hello to me, who would ask me what I was up to. My world fell apart: I didn't know what they were talking about."
According to Pes, from that moment on, he gradually lost control of his business. "He wasn't paying me, I couldn't access my accounts, he was taking everything away from me. I tried to figure out what was happening, but I found myself without money, unable to enter the barn, and unable to care for my sheep." Until one incident marked the breaking point: "One day, he even showed up with a truck to take them away. The police had to intervene. Luckily, the sheep stayed there."
Pes, supported by his partner and many friends, decides to file a complaint. "I found myself without money, I was desperate," he says. While waiting for the judiciary to take its course, however, a response arrives that reaches beyond the country's borders.
Ussassai and the entire Barbagia di Seulo area are mobilizing with a fundraiser to support the farmer with his legal expenses. "We've raised around €8,000, through the online platform and a collection in town," the organizers explain. "It's a clear message: Mirko is a very good person, a hard worker. He was naive, but he doesn't deserve what happened to him."
This solidarity complements, but does not replace, the institutional approach. The mayor of Ussassai, Francesco Usai, confirms the limitations of the municipal action : "There are complaints pending regarding a strictly private matter. The court will make the appropriate assessment. As a municipality, we are monitoring animal welfare, but beyond that, we cannot intervene." He adds: "It's unfortunate that in a small town like ours, where we all know each other, such complicated situations arise."