Nowadays, youth migrating to cities, trying to build a career there and ‘find themselves’ has become became a matter of course. Nevertheless, Anna Yershova from the Novosibirsk division of EkoNiva chose another way: a girl from the city moved to a Siberian village and started working at the agricultural holding. According to her, it was the best decision of her life.

Anna was born and raised in the city of Solikamsk, Perm oblast. Ever since childhood, she has liked animals and dreamt of becoming a veterinarian. Anna never even considered agricultural industry: there was no one in her family who worked in that field, kept cattle or even lived in a rural area.

‘When I entered the Ural State Agricultural University aspiring to become a veterinarian, I was sure I would work at the city veterinary clinic, treating cats and dogs’, says Anna. ‘All my internships were at such institutions and I was quite happy with everything. Until one day when EkoNiva representatives came to us. That meeting turned my life around! They talked about the company, the internship opportunities and promising employment prospects that were open for young professionals. And then something clicked and I decided to give the internship a go. I thought: what am I missing? That’s how I got to the Penkovo dairy, the Novosibirsk division of EkoNiva.’

Anna remembers how warm-hearted her colleagues were towards her when they first met and how they surrounded her with attention and support. And, most importantly, it was the first time she got to know the cows and fell in love with them, head over heels, no turning back.

‘I’d never imagined how smart and sensitive these animals are! Interacting with them is pure joy! They understand everything and can even feel the humans’ mood. That’s why, after an internship in EkoNiva, all my dreams of working in a veterenary clinic paled in comparison. The moment I got my diploma back in 2020, I returned to the company and started working at Ogneva Zaimka dairy, where I’m still working to this day.’

Anna settled in the village of Maslyanino. Moving to a small town from the city does not bother the young woman at all. Quite the opposite: she found harmony, peace of mind and vocation in the Siberian countryside. She also met her would-be husband, Andrey Yershov, here in Maslyanino. They turned out to be colleagues: Andrey also works at EkoNiva, currently in the position of Head of Young Stock Department at Penkovo dairy.

‘To tell you the truth, I’m not in the least tempted to get back to the city’, says Anna. ‘I like it here, in Maslyanino, very much. The air is fresh and clean, the scenery is breathtaking, there’s also all the infrastructure one needs for a comfortable life. Whenever a need arises to drive to the city on some business or to visit someone, I become homesick in a matter of days and want to go home. That’s how fast a girl from the city got attached to the village!’

As a professional, Anna is incredibly eager. Having started her career as a veterinarian, she quickly understood that it wasn’t the only area she wanted to develop in. It was crucial for Anna to get an understanding of every single process taking place at the dairy, to gain as much knowledge and skill as possible. She took an active part in any and every possible crash course and training organized by EkoNiva for their employees. And one of them introduced her to the profession she got excited to delve into.

‘We had the opportunity to try ourselves as specialists of other profiles. I worked closely with a nutrition specialist for a week. During that time, I understood that this profession was what I needed. As I see it, it unites every farming process: one needs to understand not only animal physiology, but also the peculiarities of growing and harvesting fodder crops, and to have at least a general idea of how specialised equipment works. Of course, leader qualities are also required, as such specialist is also responsible for the workers under their command. Teamwork is another crucial skill. For example, forage harvesting is joint work of nutrition specialists, agronomists and machine operators. The success of a forage harvesting campaign depends directly on every employee’s input. This position is a perfect fit for me, as a curious and active person. Therefore, I happily retrained and now work as a nutrition specialist.’

Anna Yershova keeps honing her skills in what she does. Aside from that, she is also an excellent role model for the future generation of agricultural industry specialists. When the intern students come to her, she interacts with them quite actively.

‘I try to inspire them with my own example, to pass on the passion for the profession, that I, myself, once had. It is a joy when people come back to us: some for another internship, others to apply for a job. Despite stereotypes, the countryside offers great opportunities for the youth. So here’s what I have to say to all those still pondering their future profession choice: don’t be afraid to come to work in the agriculture.’