Tour of Balkans gives new perspective
LONG WAY FROM HOME: Al Vybiral of Wahoo poses in front of a freighter in the Freeport of Riga in Latvia during a recent LEAD program visit to the Balkan Countries of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. (Photo courtesy of Al Vybiral)
By Kris Byars, The Wahoo Newspaper
Although Saunders Counexperienced some very cold weather this winter, Al Vybiral wasn't shivering quite as hard as some.
In fact, the Wahoo crop consultant said he has a new appreciation for how cold it can get after spending a little time in the Balkan nations of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
Vybiral left for his adventure on Jan. 8 and returned on Jan. 21. While he was overseas, the average daily temperature never climbed out of the single-digits. The warmest it ever got was about 5 or 6 degrees above zero.
Vybiral visited the Balkan states as a participant of Nebraska LEAD Program, class XXVIII (28).
The LEAD program is designed to motivate men and women in agriculture to become better leaders and given them a broader perspective on agriculture, both close to home and farther afield.
The LEAD program is designed to motivate men and women in agriculture to become better leaders and given them a broader perspective on agriculture, both close to home and farther afield.
Participants in each LEAD class make a two-year commitment to the program, and also agree to complete certain projects and presentations related to the program. They are also expected to participate in statewide, nationwide and international experiences.
An international tour is one of the highlights of the trip, and Vybiral said it was an experience he would never forget.
Initially, Vybiral said he was a bit surprised when it was announced that they would be heading to eastern Europe. He and his colleagues had noted that it had been a long time since a LEAD class had been to a South American country. They had speculated that they might be headed there.
"At first I was a bit disappointed we weren't heading to South America," said Vybiral. "After having been to where we went, I wouldn't have had it any other way. They're just beautiful little countries."
In size, the all of the Balkan states cover less area than the state of Nebraska. However, within that tiny area, Vybiral saw an amazing amount of diversity.
"Each country has its own language and culture," he said.
These cultures and languages have flourished in spite of the fact that they have been occupied by conquerors for the last 800 to 1,000 years.
"They were at the crossroads of several important trade routes," said Vybiral, explaining the area's appeal to foreign invaders.
"What impressed me was how these cultures have been able to survive," he said.
However, since the fall of the old Soviet Union, these countries have operated independently. Their economies have evolved from the communal farms that were operated under communist rule to a free market economy.
Until recently, Vybiral said they have flourished. Like many parts of the world, the Balkans have experienced a bit of a downturn in the last couple of years.
Among the different activities the LEAD participants enjoyed while they were overseas were stops at the Lithuanian Ministry of Agriculture, two large implement dealers, a co-op and a couple of different farming operations.
Vybiral said it was interesting to see the contrast between the farming operations over there versus the typical Nebraska operations.
For one thing, the crops are different. Instead of corn and beans, the Balkan countries specialized more in cereal grains.
Another distinct difference is in the size of the operations. While there are some larger farms, Vybiral said that the average farm size is between 50 and 70 acres.
"A large corporate operation we visited was 1,300 acres," he said.
The smaller farm sizes mean that the equipment used to work it tends to be smaller than the United States counterparts.
Vybiral also said that, although it has been two decade since the former Soviet Union fell, signs of communist occupation can still be seen throughout the landscape. Guard towers and remnants of the old communal farm buildings still exist today. Private farmers are still using some of the buildings.
"I just can't imaging having lived with that," he said.
Still, as different as some things were, Vybiral said that there were still some remarkable similarities.
"Farmers over there are pretty much the same as farmers over here," he said. "They want what's best for the land and for their families."
"Farmers over there are pretty much the same as farmers over here," he said. "They want what's best for the land and for their families."
Vybiral also noted that, if anyone knows how to make visitors feel welcome, it was his hosts while overseas. Wherever they went, they were offered food and drinks, many of which Vybiral really liked.
"We were treated warmly everywhere," he said.
Looking back over his trip, Vybiral said that it was everything it was meant to be. He gained a great deal of insight into how agriculture works elsewhere. He added that it was also really exciting to him to catch a glimpse of such a diverse group of local cultures.
"It was the experience of a lifetime," he said. "The whole experience was exactly what I hoped it would be."
In addition to the international tour, LEAD participants also took part in 12 in-state seminars that covered topics ranging from local government to water rights.
"It was just all different topics," he said.
As part of the program, LEAD XXVIII Participants also went on a national tour to portions of the United States as well. They visited Washington D.C. and the offices of the various commodity groups. These included stops to chat with the Pork Producers, Beef Producers and Corn Growers association.
The national tour also took them to Chicago, Ill. To visit the Chicago Board of Trade and a magnet high school for agricultural sciences.
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