From Classrooms to Crop Fields: My Journey to Opening a Farm in Rankovce, Macedonia

Sometimes, even brief travel stories can have a significant impact on people's perspectives. Our team aims to change the way many of us view travel. We seek to involve as many local individuals as possible from across the Balkans who contribute small efforts that lead to a big difference in tourism. 

Today, we would like to introduce you to another one of our local heroes, whose story is anything but small.

Meet Denis Bojkovski, a young farmer who was born and raised in the village of Stancha, located in the municipality of Rankovce. For those unfamiliar with Stancha, it lies beneath the German Mountain and is situated at an ideal altitude, perfect for outdoor sports and active recreation. 

Denis has spent his entire life in this village. Growing up, he was surrounded by animals, as his parents raised cows, sheep, pigs, and horses. He recalls that they always had one or two horses.

After graduating from high school, Denis faced a choice between continuing his education at college or starting his own farm in the countryside. His love for animals led him to choose the latter, and he began raising cows and horses. He initially bought a small herd and funded this investment with money he had earned from previous jobs.

Denis eventually partnered with another farmer who raised cows, horses, and pigs. Together, they now operate a joint farm that processes milk and dairy products.

Denis emphasizes that the most important aspect of raising animals is having love for them. He believes that the animals themselves will teach you how to care for them properly. Denis raises his animals in a village situated 1,100 meters above sea level, which he considers to be pure nature and a divine beauty. Being in a rural area makes it much easier to raise animals. His consumers are always delighted to learn where the livestock is raised, and they especially enjoy visiting the beautiful natural surroundings. When they see the environment for themselves, they feel that the products are truly nourishing for their souls, says Denis.

According to Denis, this region offers a variety of healthy food options. While there are several aspects that need to be organized to ensure everything runs smoothly, he hasn't encountered any difficulties so far in his work. 

He identifies three positive aspects of this profession: freedom, peace, and tranquility. Although he has many responsibilities to manage, he believes that working with love leads to positive outcomes by the end of the day.

Denis operates a farm that raises calves, goat kids, and piglets. He produces goat cheese using traditional methods and collects porcini mushrooms, which he processes and jars. Additionally, he produces meat that is also jarred and creates homemade plum brandy, taking advantage of the abundant plums in the region. 

Furthermore, Denis is engaged in agriculture. He grows potatoes that are cultivated without pesticides, relying solely on manure from the animals on his farm, which is plentiful.

He is open to cooperation and invites anyone interested to reach out to him through the Facebook page "Zdrava hrana - dolg zivot," where he shares photos of the animals. Additionally, he has created an Instagram account under the username @ubavinite_na_stancha. 

He encourages everyone to visit his farm, stating that the horse rides and picnics in nature he plans to organize will help alleviate stress.

To enhance the experience, he often organizes picnics by a river with food that he grows himself.