FROM CANADA BACK TO THEIR ROOTS IN ŠIPOVO

In the quiet village of Gerzova near Šipovo, a story of return and renewed faith in local agricultural values is unfolding through the daily efforts of a young couple, the Rajins.

PHOTO: Agroklub.ba

After years spent working on cruise ships and living in Canada, Žarko Rajin and his wife made a life-changing decision—not to chase a better life abroad, but to return to what they had always carried within them: their homeland, their ancestral land, and a life rooted in the soil.

“We spent the last ten years abroad, and our journey took us to Canada in 2021. That experience really changed our perspective on what kind of life we wanted,” says Žarko, who is grateful for the opportunities and people they encountered overseas.

There’s No Place Like Home

Despite the beauty and comfort of life “across the ocean,” in the land of forests and lakes, the Rajins realized what they were truly missing. “Nothing compares to our warmth, to the feeling of being home,” Žarko adds.

Their return to Gerzova wasn’t a whim or coincidence—it was a carefully considered decision by two people who grew up in the countryside and want the same for their children.

“We were lucky that my grandfather’s property was waiting for us, with a well-preserved house and barns. At the beginning of this year, we came back. In just a few months, we renovated the house, the barns, and the yard. We also fenced off a large part of the property to keep the animals safe,” says Žarko, now a proud farmer raising 12 head of Aberdeen Angus cattle.

Žarko is quick to point out that none of this would have been possible so quickly without the support of kind neighbors, friends, family, and the local municipality.

Plans to Expand

Today, on over a hundred dunums of land, the Rajins raise Angus cattle in a cow-calf system. But they have bigger plans—both in herd size and diversification of local production.

“Our goal is to expand gradually and produce as many local products as we can. The next step is egg-laying hens and vegetable cultivation,” he explains.

The Rajin estate now looks like a scene from a fairytale. Their story is living proof that villages can come alive again—not through promises, but through hard work, courage, and belief that the future doesn't only lie in cities. With the continued support of local communities and government ministries, rural development could accelerate, bringing more young people back to their roots.