Meet Ana and Marjan: Life, Love and Cheese on a Slovenian Mountain Farm Pr’ Vernk

In Zgornje Jezersko, surrounded by the peace and beauty of the Slovenian mountains, we visited Spodnji Virnik Farm and its small artisan dairy. Here, young couple Ana and Marjan Smrtnik are writing a new chapter in the story of Slovenia’s countryside.

The organic Pr’ Vernk Farm and Dairy represents something many of us increasingly long for: knowing where our food comes from, trusting the people who make it, and enjoying products that are genuinely local. The animals spend their time outdoors, their feed is produced on the farm, and natural manure is used to fertilise the land.

The food produced here is not simply “organic” because a label says so. It is organic because this is a way of life – one rooted in living and working in harmony with nature.

Here, every day is different

Visitors quickly sense the warmth and authenticity that permeate every corner of the farm. There are excellent organic dairy products, a welcoming atmosphere and sincere conversations with the young farmers themselves. Ana and Marjan do not romanticise farm life. They speak openly about early mornings, working in every kind of weather and the determination it takes to keep going.

Yet despite the demands of their work, their enthusiasm and love for farming remain evident.

Days on the farm start early, but no two are ever quite alike.

The morning begins with taking the cows and goats out to pasture, followed by milking and work in the barn. Then comes breakfast – and the essential coffee together while they plan the day ahead. Lunch follows in the afternoon before it is time to return to the barn, process the milk and deal with whatever else the day may bring. “When the cows and goats come back from pasture, we bring them into the barn, check them, feed them and milk them. In the evening, if necessary, we process the milk and tidy everything up,” Ana Smrtnik says, describing their daily routine.

And, she adds, there is always something new and unexpected to deal with. Days, weeks and months seem to fly by. Yet it is precisely this ever-changing rhythm – working alongside her husband, being surrounded by nature and waking up to breathtaking views – that she finds so fulfilling.

Messenger, Milk and a Little Bit of Magic

High in Slovenia’s pristine mountain landscape, Ana and Marjan share their everyday life, their work and their dreams for the future. On the farm, they make yoghurt, cottage cheese, cheese and other dairy products by hand, without artificial additives and with great attention to animal welfare. Every product reflects their deep respect for nature – and the trust their customers place in them.

Ana and Marjan did not meet at an agricultural machinery fair or while buying hay, as you might perhaps imagine. Their story is decidedly more modern.

“We met via Messenger,” Ana says with a smile.

She, too, grew up on a farm. Her family’s Krč Farm, in the village of Visoko near Kranj, has a long tradition of dairy farming. Her mother, Jana, looks after 70 dairy cows, while Ana has been involved in milk processing since childhood.

So how did their love story begin?

While looking for advice on dairy processing, Marjan came across Ana’s family farm on social media. He was drawn to the beautifully designed labels on their dairy products and to the genuine, heartfelt approach the family brought to their work. It did not take long for the first message to turn into a meeting. Today, the two of them are building a life together that follows the rhythm of nature.

“I started helping on Marjan’s family farm in 2021, when we became a couple. Last year, we made our permanent home here and started living and working on the farm together,” Ana tells us.

A Commitment to Organic Farming

Despite demanding bureaucracy, strict regulations and the challenges of farming in mountainous terrain, Ana and Marjan remain committed to natural methods of farming and milk production. For them, organic farming is not simply a business decision. It is a vision and a commitment to both nature and their animals.

The farm is also certified for hay milk production, meaning the animals are fed exclusively on pasture and hay rather than fermented feed. Much of the grass is still cut by hand, and hay is raked without machinery – preserving traditional methods while respecting the land they depend on.

Their approach resonates with visitors, too, and support from both the local community and customers continues to grow. “People increasingly recognise and appreciate the conditions in which we farm,” Ana tells us. That appreciation, together with their own determination, gives them another reason to keep going.

For mountain farms, where working conditions are demanding by their very nature, organic farming and certification can provide significant added value. It matters not only when selling dairy products, but also in building trust with customers who value authenticity, quality and food produced in harmony with nature.

The farm also has a small shop where visitors can buy their products.

What Does the Future Hold?

While many people their age look elsewhere for opportunities, Ana and Marjan see their future right here on the farm. They want to continue developing their dairy production and forestry work, while improving the way the farm operates. But their plans are about more than farming alone. They are also building a life together around values they share: hard work, nature, honesty and love.

From the outside, their story might sound almost like a fairy tale. Behind it, however, are countless hours of hard work, sweat and dedication. There are early mornings and long days. But there are also plenty of smiles, shared moments and warm glances.

Pr’ Vernk is more than proof that organic farming can thrive in the Slovenian mountains. It is also an inspiring story about a new generation choosing to build its future in agriculture.