As villages are disappearing and young people shy away from agriculture, Dražen Jović from the Semberian village of Brodac chose rural life out of love for farming.
He completed his education at the Technical School
"Mihajlo Pupin" in his hometown and later graduated from the Faculty
of Agriculture. Dražen further honed his skills in Russia, where he completed
an internship as a scholarship recipient. Although he received a job offer to
stay in Russia, his patriotism prevailed.
"My great-great-grandfather was a soldier in the
Salonika front, my two great-grandfathers were held captive by the Germans, my
father and grandfather built this country, and unfortunately, we lost my
twenty-five-year-old uncle for it, so returning home was never in question for
me, and going abroad was never an option," Dražen told InfoBijeljina.
Upon returning from Russia, Dražen proved the saying "there’s work for those willing to work" to be true.
He spent a year
working various jobs, developing his skills, and then got a job in his field at
the Agricultural Estate "Semberija." He has been working there for
seven years, and for the last five years, he has served as the head of
production.
As he emphasizes, he wanted to express his patriotism
through his enormous commitment and dedication to his work at the company,
aiming to create conditions where future generations can have secure and
well-paid jobs, ensuring their livelihoods.
In his role, Dražen advocates for justice and fairness for
all workers, without favoritism, which are some of his core principles.
"I also engage in agriculture privately, but my
interests are wide-ranging. I’ve always thought about the needs of my local
community and have been available to help, so I’m involved in various
activities to ensure a rich and quality life in my village. I am also the
president of the FK Jedinstvo Brodac management, where we strive to attract
children and youth to engage in sports, helping them feel a strong connection
to their birthplace and create lasting memories with their peers," Dražen
shares.
From additional work in the village, Dražen says he can earn
enough to afford an apartment in the city, but he finds it impossible to do the
opposite. His wife Nevena supports him in his plans. After completing her
master's studies in Serbian language and literature in Novi Sad, she also
returned to the village, where they are building their family together.
Source: InfoBijeljina