There’s always work to be done in the countryside, but for Tamara Danilović from Klenje, near Bogatić, no task is too difficult. This young, hardworking woman in her early 20s is breaking stereotypes about the role of youth in rural areas by helping her father with all agricultural work. She drives a tractor, plows fields, and, on top of it all, studies medical biochemistry.
Balancing her obligations at the Faculty of Pharmacy in Novi Sad with the demanding work on her family farm, Tamara demonstrates remarkable energy, dedication, and love for her hometown. Her story highlights the importance of family support, traditional values, and finding harmony between modern education and rural life.
Tamara’s father, who is primarily responsible for the farm, points out that farming has become much more challenging over the past 30 years. He emphasizes how valuable Tamara’s help has been in fieldwork and grain transport.
As for Tamara, she finds joy in all the farm work.
“Ever since I can remember, my dad has been engaged in farming. Watching how hard he works to improve and how much he loves what he does, despite sometimes being dissatisfied, he has always been my motivation. I wanted to contribute, to help, to make things easier for them. Yes, I’m a girl, but that doesn’t mean I’m incapable—I can drive, I can help, and nothing is too difficult for me. I may be small, but I manage,” Tamara says.
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“I Want to Follow in My Father’s Footsteps”
Tamara explains that she enrolled in university at her father’s urging, even though farming remains her primary passion.
“My actual desire was to follow in my father’s footsteps and continue farming. But I didn’t have much support because he’s more experienced, he knows what lies ahead, and he knows it won’t be easy. So, it was his wish for me to go to university, to study, and later have a career. Right now, I’m split between what I want—farming—and university. I can’t say I don’t love biochemistry, but this is my home, my village; I was born and raised here. I was brought up knowing how to work, never feeling ashamed of it. I help my dad, especially during the summer when I have fewer university obligations. While he drives the combine harvester, I handle grain transport to the mill. I also love plowing, but I enjoy harrowing the most—it really clears my mind,” Tamara says with a smile in an interview with the YouTube channel “Mačva Info”. She adds that working with new machinery isn’t a problem for her, which is why the whole family strives to equip the farm with the most modern equipment as soon as possible.
“People Shouldn’t Leave Villages”
As someone who studies in Novi Sad, Tamara admits she doesn’t enjoy the daily hustle and bustle of city life, which is why she believes living in the countryside is much better. She firmly believes that people should not abandon rural areas.
“People really shouldn’t leave villages. Quite the opposite—those from the city should come to the countryside and see what peace and freedom feel like. Here, no one is trapped within four walls. I also hope people will wake up and start supporting us young farmers, as well as experienced ones, because they’ve been doing this for years. I believe the future lies in this,” says Tamara.
When asked if she’s received comments about her unusual lifestyle and work for a young woman, Tamara admits that she has, ranging from positive to not-so-nice remarks.
“More Capable Than Any Boy in the Village”
“There have been various comments, of course, some nice, others not so great, but that’s okay. My job is to work and help. I’m not ashamed of it. I have friends who are involved in similar work and are successful at it,” Tamara concludes.
Although she isn’t the only one helping her family with farming in her village—there are three other young women who have taken over the farm work after their father’s heart surgery—Tamara’s neighbor says: “She’s capable, more capable than any boy in the village and in the whole of Mačva. I have no words—she’s the best.”
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Source: Blic, Photo: Printscreen / Youtube / Mačva INFO