Dorian Obrovac is creating conditions for organic livestock farming on 330 hectares of land, while exporting hay to Kuwait. Here’s what else he does and how he combats acidic soil.
Above the picturesque village of Rastoke, on the way to the Adriatic Sea, lies the small village of Glinsko Vrelo. It consists of just eight houses, three of which are permanently inhabited. This is where Dorian Obrovac (30), a young entrepreneur, is building his home while making a living from agriculture and forestry.
Dorian is the owner of Schepin, a company with an international name chosen to reflect his export ambitions. He aims to export his organic hay to the Middle East.
“I’ve always been good at geography. Down in those countries, everything is yellow, and I figured they must lack hay—so I started researching,” said Dorian, echoing the saying: “If you’re looking for opportunities, you’ll find them; if you’re not, you’ll never see them.”
The name of his company, however, stems from a piece of classic rural humor.
“My great-grandfather worked on railroads in America during Wyatt Earp’s time. He lost a leg there, and when he returned home with a wooden leg, they called him ‘Šepin’ (a limping man). So I decided to name my company Schepin, to make it easier for foreigners to pronounce,” Dorian explained with a smile.
This young man grew up in the countryside and has been working since he was a child. He paid for his education himself, completed university, and earned a degree in hospitality.
“I was a lively child. I carried wheelbarrows on my shoulders, bent aluminum wires, and drove tractors—my grandma never had a moment’s peace with me,” he recalled.
His family used to raise livestock and sell the meat at their restaurant, Feniks, which is popular among travelers taking the old road to the Adriatic.
The COVID-19 pandemic prompted them to diversify their focus. Instead of relying solely on tourism, they decided to develop agriculture and fully utilize the potential of their land.
“First, we need to create conditions for proper livestock production. Otherwise, the animals control you, not the other way around,” said Obrovac, who plans to raise Simmental cattle for beef production.
Fear of Bears
Dorian owns 330 hectares of land, which he is gradually cultivating, clearing, and mulching. His farm is currently home to about 40 horses and donkeys, along with a small flock of ten sheep—relatively modest numbers considering the vast land he has available.
The main concern, however, is the presence of bears in the area.
“First, we’ll restore the land and put it into proper use. Second comes equipping ourselves with machinery, and only then will we focus on tourism. We learned our lesson during the pandemic when we had to shut down our restaurant… but we survived,” says this determined farmer.
They’ve built fencing to protect against wolves, which aren’t much of an issue since they don’t roam in packs in the area. However, their biggest fear remains the bears.
Dorian has assembled a young team of enthusiasts. Alongside his sister Dorotea Pavlić and friend Mario Špelić, they’ve hired two full-time workers from Bosnia and Herzegovina, with plans to bring in two more.
“We focus on agriculture during the summer and forestry in the winter, so we’re looking for workers who can stay with us year-round. We offer mulching services, land clearing, biomass production, and planting while preparing habitats for forest cultivation in cooperation with Hrvatske šume (Croatian Forests),” Dorian explains.
He works closely with colleagues from nearby farms, maintaining strong bonds and mutual support. Some of his collaborators include Oliver Turkalj, Darko Obrovac, Davor and Dalibor Jozić, and Nikola Radočaj. They know they can rely on each other and are always on the lookout for skilled professionals who can help improve their operations.
“My colleague Oliver, who runs a farm with 200 dairy cows in Veljun, once told me the worst mistake in agriculture is listening to older people’s advice. And I took his advice,” Dorian shared with a laugh.
Author: Leticija Hrenković
https://www.agroklub.com/korisnici/leticija-30346/tekstovi/
https://www.agroklub.com/eko-proizvodnja/mladi-ekolog-s-korduna-zasto-je-vrijeme-za-nove-pristupe-u-poljoprivredi/98447/
Photos: Agroklub
