The personality in tourism for 2020 was decided by an expert commission, which, based on nominations, selected the winner of the TOP competition in tourism in the Trenčín Region. The award was given to a total of 5 categories, namely TOP accommodation facility, tourism personality, TOP product, TOP innovation and facilities accessible for the severely disabled.

Anna Beníková comes from Horný Považie and has devoted her entire life to agronomy. Since 1994, it has been doing business in primary agricultural production. At present, she is the owner and operator of Koliba Papradno and Agropension Grunt, which she is fully dedicated to. Mrs. Beníková told us more in an interview.

1. First introduce yourself to the readers of Trenčín region. Who are you, what do you do?

I am engaged in sheep breeding and agrotourism. After graduating from high school, I started working at the Agricultural Cooperative in Považské Podhradie as an agronomist until 1993. At the turn of 1993-94, PD Považské podhradie went into liquidation and I remained unemployed. In 1994, a difficult situation forced me to start a business, as I was left alone with three children. I started in rented premises with rented cattle. I never set high goals, my children came first. Everything came gradually, many times it was one step forward and two steps backward.

2. How did your business start at Agropension Grunt and Koliba Papradno?

In August 1994, I started my business in primary agricultural production. I rented a farm in Papradno with 100 cattle and agricultural machinery, which was owned by the Agricultural Cooperative Považské Podhradie. In 1995, I expanded my livestock production by a 50-piece flock of sheep. In 1999, the cooperative went into liquidation and the farm was offered to me to buy.

As the achieved revenues from the sale of products of plant and animal primary production were not enough to cover the year-round costs of the farm, I decided to devote myself to additional activities in agriculture - Agrotourism. The village of Papradno is located in the Kysuce Protected Landscape Area and has good conditions for active recreation in nature.

Demolition work began in October 1999, rough construction was completed in 2000, internal finishing work began in the spring of 2001, and in July 2001 I put Agropenzión Grunt into operation and bought the first two horses. The guest house gradually began to fill with guests and additional services for customers were added, such as a wine cellar for family celebrations, an outdoor swimming pool for refreshment during hot summer days, and horse breeding expanded. Two ponies and one donkey were added.

During this period, consumer behavior towards the purchase of food began to change significantly, and we could observe campaigns in the media for the sale of Slovak food. Our cheese has received the SK quality mark. Based on the growing interest in agrotourism and fresh farm products from customers, in 2008 I started the construction of Koliba Papradno . First, the restaurant was completed, then the work was suspended due to the economic crisis, which fully manifested itself in 2010, and in 2017 the accommodation part was also completed.

3. What was the most difficult in the whole process and vice versa, what do you like to mention the most?

As I had no experience in the field of restaurant and accommodation services, I visited already functioning guesthouses abroad and in various areas of Slovakia to gain an overview and experience.

Agrotourism in my beginnings was not a very widespread concept in Slovakia, I made great efforts to promote whether in regional television, radio, press, travel lexicons, we presented the services offered in the surrounding tourist information centers. At present, the Internet and the presentation of the farm and boarding house on accommodation portals, tourist portals and social networks play a large role in the presentation. I always like to remember the moment when the first customers came.

4. Over the years, you will definitely remember various pleasant or funny experiences. Could you trust us with such an experience?

Our 31-year-old donkey PUF left for the imaginary horse sky recently. He was with us from the beginning, he was a real huncut and he became our mascot. What he did would fit in a book, but one of the last experiences stuck in my memory.

I planted flowers in front of Koliba, when suddenly I hear the whistling of children and they ran around the yard with the words "He's LIVING, HE'S LIVING !!!" the children approached him, began to catch him, suddenly moved his head and cut his ears.

5. Do you plan special events or news for this year, after the release of measures?

As for the farm, the mud is just coming to an end, so in about 8 weeks the first Easter lambs will be ready for sale and the mountain season will also start (sale of cheese, cheese and other products). We are focused on the final consumer.

The traditional April Easter lamb specialties, which we are preparing in the restaurant in Koliba and Bačova cesta in May, will probably not be, at least that's how it appears from the development so far. We hope to open a restaurant and accommodation for the general public in at least the summer. Maybe the hunting weekend in November and the December slaughterhouse will already be realized.

6. What do you deal with in the current period as far as Agropension and Koliba are concerned, the most?

In the area of accommodation and catering services, the situation is very bad. The staff is at home because the movement of people is very limited, reservations are canceled, you can only accommodate people on business trips. Our facilities are located on the outskirts of the village, we do not dispense food through the window due to low demand, especially in this freezing weather.

In short, the situation is that we are trying to get through it from month to month, but as long as it will be manageable, no one knows anything in advance in this chaotic situation.

7. What do you consider to be your biggest attraction? Why should people visit you?

Nice nature, good cuisine and homely atmosphere. In the restaurant we try to prepare as many meals as possible from our home-grown ingredients, we offer horseback riding and we sell our own sheep's milk products.

Our district is located in the Kysuce Protected Landscape Area. Customers have a choice of marked hiking and biking trails from simple to more demanding. When it snows enough, the Tourist Club, which operates in the village, adjusts the cross-country trail for skiers. For the more able, I recommend the Beskydy-Javornice ski cross-country highway. I also try to introduce people to the traditions and folklore of our community through various events. I am a member of the folklore group Podžiaran. It is my hobby and a child's dream come true.

From an early age, I longed to have an accordion, and when I finally got it from my parents, my brothers, out of curiosity, tore it to the last key and it was over. Now I have my heligon, in my free time I learn to play and what pleases me the most, my youngest granddaughter joined me. Just for fun, Papradno was once part of the Bytčianske manor. Once upon a time, the Wallachians girded cattle beyond Javorník to Bečva and supplied rams and cheeses to the Vsetín and Rožňov estates.

8. What do you say about winning the Tourism Personality award in the Trenčín Region?

I was very surprised and moved. For me, this award is a satisfaction and a reward for everyday work. Positive feedback is a reward for a person to see that his efforts have not been wasted. At the same time, I am very pleased that in this way our village Papradno and the region as a whole will be visible. On the other hand, it is also binding. Negative responses must always be kept in mind, they are just as important, they are a great motivator, they bring new stimuli for growth and they can kick me.

In Trenčín 17.2.2021

Text: MT