Anna-Reetta Mikkonen’s home farm Kiviapajalla has dairy cattle, forest and rented cottages. Mikkonen found a marriage candidate in this year’s Maajussille bride programme.
Mikkonen is the mother of a 3-year-old child and she works on her home farm in Kiviapajala. Mikkonen was looking for a partner who would share her everyday life and farm work.
– It’s not an easy equation when you combine farming, having a child and finding a life partner. I thought, if I don’t dare to sign up for the programme at this stage, when will I dare?” asks Mikkonen.
Mikkonen says he has no regrets about participating in the programme.
– The experience was amazing, very different compared to what everyday life is like normally. It’s not usual for three lovely men to show up here on the farm for a week.
There was a lot of emotion in the air during Farm Week
During the week, three spouse candidates spent the night on the farm and did some agricultural work. Each of them also went on a date with Mikkonen outside the farm. The meeting places were Punkaharju, Savonlinna and Sulkava.
Mikkonen says that he set out to find a hearty and like-minded life partner with real intention. Mikkonen says that he made the choice by listening to his heart.
– I expect a sense of humor and courage from a man, and it’s good for him to be a little funny, like I am myself. I had a certain feeling about a potential spouse, which was then confirmed during the farm week, says Mikkonen.
Mikkonen chose one of the three candidates, with whom he will continue to get to know. Mikkonen’s chosen one is 30-year-old Kalevi, with whom they have been spending time since the summer. Kalevi, who comes from Konnevedi, is also strongly involved in the work of the Mikkonen farm.
We will not tell you about Kalev’s wish for his last name. Also in the program, the spouse candidates were presented only by their first names.
While participating in the program, Mikkonen himself was surprised by a turmoil of emotions and partly also confusion.
– The filming of the program was really hectic and there were a lot of emotions in the air. Feelings stabilized towards choosing a spouse, describes Mikkonen.
Back to the homestead Stonecutter
Mikkonen’s parents and his younger sister also live on Niilola’s farm in Kiviapaja. After high school and the army, Mikkonen graduated as a nurse and worked in the field for some time.
After returning to Kiviapaja, he acquired yet another profession and graduated as an agrologist a few years ago.
What finally made Mikkonen come back to Kiviapaja?
– Yes, it’s this lifestyle I’m used to: animals, nature and the environment. Working days are not from eight to four, but can be very long. Every day is wonderfully different and I really like my everyday life. I’m quite a smoker and self-sufficient, laughs Mikkonen.
Mikkonen’s farm has dairy cattle, calves, forest and rental cabins.
The village of Kiviapaja has become much quieter than what it was like during Mikkonen’s childhood.
– This is a very peaceful village, there are not many residents. 15 kilometers away, Lohikoski has a gas station, a small grocery store and an elementary school, says Mikkonen.
Sulkava is about 40 kilometers away, but Finland’s largest lake Saimaa is only a few hundred meters from the farm
Generational changes are made, but there are no actual statistics
A total of a hundred farms are changed annually in Etelä Savo and Central Finland.
This year, despite the uncertainty of the economy, ProAgria, the advisory organization for rural entrepreneurship, has received inquiries about generational changes, as in previous years.
However, the young farmer’s start-up support is only paid to a few farms. The condition for the payment of the subsidy is extensive horticultural or agricultural production, forestry is not accepted for granting the subsidy.
The arable area must be quite large to meet the requirement to receive support. According to Lyömiö, there should be at least 60-70 hectares of arable land for start-up support to be granted.
ProAgria Keski-Suomi has been involved in the generation change of 50-60 farms every year. There are no statistics on how many changes of ownership take place.
Is agriculture profitable in Finland
Anna-Reetta Mikkonen believes in agriculture and that Finnish food will continue to be appreciated.
– The future will show whether agriculture is profitable. If it becomes absolutely impossible, fortunately there is a forest and rental villas on the farm, so I can do other things. I am also a nurse by training, and a job is not completely out of the question either, says Mikkonen.
Mikkonen’s everyday life includes, among other things, caring for and feeding animals and milking cows.
– In the spring and summer I do farm work. Of course, I also clean rental villas and talk to tenants.
Mikkonen assures that he plans to live on his homestead in Kiviapaja, and will not move away from there easily.
– Finnish nature is extremely beautiful. I can go collect blueberries for morning porridge from the nearby forest. Or I can jump on the horses on the homestead and go for a ride. I wouldn’t change a day, because every day is wonderfully different on the farm. There is no minute schedule here, says Mikkonen.
*You can discuss the topic on 21.11. until 23:00.*