It reads like a successful curriculum vitae of a young person who swapped his village, his rural life for the big city (in Austria mostly Vienna) for the purpose of university education. The term "brain drain" is used to describe the resulting migration of highly qualified workers from the countryside to the city. Max Borchardt could have chosen, he says. As a graduate of the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna in the Department of Agricultural Sciences and Agricultural Education, the doors to a career in research or consultancy were open to him. The young Carinthian, however, chose the land, his homeland, the farm, whose solid walls date back to the 16th century and which was acquired by his grandparents in 1935. Since the beginning of 2018, Max has been allowed to create the third chapter of the Borchardt family story. But what ultimately motivated him to take this step? "The desire for a family and children, for an honest profession," says the young farmer about his emotional "coming home".
"My first friends were guest children"
Borchardt's childhood on the farm was dominated by beautiful, fulfilling summer days, which were not just about fun, games and swimming at the beach; as a farmer's child, he had to lend a hand in the fields and stables from an early age. "But that was completely normal for me and, above all, I enjoyed the contact with the animals. I always found working on the farm fulfilling," he looks back. The farm set and still sets the daily and working rhythm, even in times when people are talking more about digitalization and Agriculture 4.0. However, this should not be misunderstood at this point, because at the Borchardt farm there is free Wi-Fi throughout the accommodation, but this contemporary service is also surrounded by numerous analog distractions, with the pony, rabbits and cats of course being the stars of the petting zoo. In addition, the riding stable (which is leased but located directly on the farm grounds) is another enticing gateway to family-friendly, intergenerational leisure activities. "Riding is particularly popular with the girls, and sometimes parents use their free time for trips to nearby Lake Faak, Lake Ossiach or Lake Wörthersee," says Max, explaining the benefits of the location in the Carinthian lake district. "The majority of our guests spend most of their time at the farm anyway," comes the counter-thesis to the lake experience on the farm's doorstep (note: all three lakes mentioned are less than 15 minutes away from the farm by car!)
"We have held the organic certificate since 1995"
The Borchardts' farm has a small structure and the land is divided into many small fields. The multi-mown meadows are used almost entirely to produce roughage for feeding on the farm. In addition to grassland, silage maize, table potatoes, grain maize and vegetables are grown for the farm's own needs. 20 head of dairy cattle supply fresh milk to the Carinthian dairy cooperative.
Unsurprisingly, Max Borchardt's agricultural signature is not yet very pronounced after such a short time since taking over the farm, but as a first step, all three vacation apartments in the farmhouse have already been modernized. A radical change of course is not necessary here anyway, as the young farmer is taking over a very active, functioning farm that connects and nurtures generations. "It may well be that we will expand direct marketing even further. I am also firmly convinced that the value of knowing where the food comes from, how the animals are kept and ultimately the quality of the product will increase for a certain proportion of society," says the farmer about the additional and future sales potential of direct marketing.
"The typical Viennese summer visitor no longer exists"
"For us, the slogan 'Holidays with friends' still applies. We offer our guests active country vacations close to nature with a family connection," says the Wernberger, defining a host model that has hardly had to change in recent years because it still fits in very well with our times. Less is often more could also be considered a fundamental plea for Farm holidays.
He is not actually planning any major vacations in the near future, says Max. Anything else would be surprising after such a short time of taking over the business. "My greatest source of relaxation is satisfaction. Simply being proud of the work I've done or being licked by my own animals is much more important to me than a vacation," says the young farmer, who has felt a close connection to the animals since childhood and can sometimes watch a small kitten play for half an hour. In return, the farm has already hosted guests from Dubai, Egypt and many other countries.
A quote from George Moore, Irish writer and art critic, aptly sums up the decisive phase of Max Borchardt's life: "Man travels the world in search of what he lacks. And he returns home to find it."
Stefan Heinisch
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