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January 18, 2000
AssistingArmenianfarmersWayne Schopertravels againBY SARA SYVERSON Journal Staff Writer NEW ULM -- Armenia seems like a world away from New Ulm, but it was a real life experience for Wayne Schoper, University of Minnesota Extension agent for Brown County. This recent trip was Schoper's sixth journey to the former Soviet Union. His goal was to educate Armenian farmers and ministries of agriculture about keeping farm records and to help them develop an infrastructure. "It was an incredible experience," said Schoper, "Basically, we went over there with the attitude to help. We'll be sending more people over there as time goes on. I left behind some building blocks, I hope." Schoper worked on things such as developing crop budgets with the Armenian farmers. "The concept of 'Are we making money?' is kind of foreign to them yet," said Schoper, "It is a pretty bleak life ... there is a lot of bartering going on." The average farm in Armenia is 4.5 acres, compared to the average farm in America of 500 acres. In 1993, the Armenia government released all of the "collective" farms to individual farm families, Schoper said. "They don't have a place to buy and sell feed and supplies there," said Schoper, "We have co-ops here in America." Schoper stayed with a host family in Yeravan, the capital city of Armenia. Frank Backlund of New Ulm accompanied him on the trip. "The Armenian people are great people," said Schoper, "Very hospitable ... very generous even though they don't have a lot. They are wonderful people. They cannot identify with how we live." During the weekdays, Schoper traveled to various villages and met with the workers, farmers and ministries of agriculture. He worked closely with a translator during the trip. When Schoper went to Armenia, he brought with him a variety of farm financial computer software called FINPAC. After the fall of communism, countries experienced hyper-inflation, high interest rates and high unemployment in the former Soviet Union. The interest rate on a loan is 125 percent. "A lot of people live from hand to mouth there," said Schoper, "The U.S. is the land of opportunity to them. We've got a lot of problems, but at least we have freedom." Schoper's adventures abroad will continue. He hopes to go to Mongolia on another educational trip later this year.
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