Ján Škorňa: 900 dielov Farmárskej revue, zákulisie a budúcnosť relácie

The program’s enduring success is largely attributed to its host, Ján Škorňa, who has been the face of Farmárska revue since its inception. Škorňa, along with cameraman Jaroslav Pavlík, conceived the show as a way to present a more positive and accurate portrayal of Slovak farmers and agricultural practices, countering negative stereotypes often depicted in commercial media.

“We wanted to show that there’s skill, intelligence, and cutting-edge technology on the farm,” Škorňa explained. The show blends practical advice for farmers and gardeners with engaging human-interest stories and a touch of humor, creating a format that resonates with a broad audience.

The 900th episode aired on February 8th on Dvojka, a channel of Slovak Television (STVR). The program’s popularity extends beyond television, with a strong presence on social media and YouTube, attracting viewers from neighboring countries like the Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, and Canada.

Škorňa’s dedication to the show has been unwavering, even in the face of personal challenges. He has continued to host despite injuries, and proactively prepared episodes in advance during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure uninterrupted programming. This commitment has solidified his connection with viewers and established Farmárska revue as a reliable source of information and entertainment.

The show’s longevity is also a testament to the strong team behind the scenes, Škorňa noted. “We have a fantastic crew, and over 19 years, it’s become a stable team,” he said. “Everyone knows what they’re doing, and People can rely on each other.”

A key element of the show’s appeal is its collaboration with figures like Ľudo Vaššo, a local fruit grower known for his wit and expertise. Vaššo’s playful pronouncements, such as the claim that apples of the krasokvet variety enhance the beauty of Slovak women, add a lighthearted touch to the program and contribute to its popularity.

Looking ahead, Škorňa and the Farmárska revue team are exploring new formats and projects, including a “Meta version” of the show that would utilize artificial intelligence to categorize and make its extensive archive of 3,000 reports more accessible to viewers. They are also planning to add subtitles to their content to reach an international audience.

“I’m living my dream,” Škorňa said. “And I’m already looking forward to the 1,000th episode and other projects that I have in the works.”

Pred takmer dvadsiatimi rokmi sa po prvýkrát ozvala úvodná znelka Farmárskej revue. Spomínate si ešte, aké dojmy a očakávania ste vtedy mali?

I remember it particularly well. Also because the preparation process for the first episode was really difficult. But I don’t say that as a criticism, but rather as praise for the professional editorial process at Slovak Television. We reworked the pilot episode several times. The then-head of the program, Jaroslav Kerner, a graduate of the Prague Film and TV School (FAMU), is a tough professional. I literally absorbed his criticisms and comments and valued them very much. We worked hard on the first issue, but in the complete we succeeded. And I’m still in touch with Jaro Kerner to this day. We leverage his top-notch filmmaking eye, vast knowledge, and language skills, for example, as chairman of the International Jury of Agrofilm.

We came up with Farmárska revue with my colleague, cameraman Jaroslav Pavlík. After twelve years as a news reporter, I wanted to try something new. I was sorry that Slovaks had a distorted image of farmers from commercial television, where they were looking for a wife or showing off in the worst possible light. We wanted to show that there is skill, intelligence and top-notch technology on the farm.

Nikto nečakal, že relácia Farmárska revue sa stane tak populárnou. Čím si myslíte, že si získala verných divákov?

First of all, it’s that we bring peace of mind and good mood. The media is full of negative information and criticism. We bring the exact opposite. In Farmárska revue, viewers are assured that they will see good and beautiful things. And of course, we always want to be useful to viewers. For gardeners, breeders, but also for those who don’t even have a flower on the windowsill. They will see how everyone grows and raises things, and thanks to us, they can choose and buy healthy and good food from Slovak farmers. If they turn on our show on Saturday afternoon, Sunday morning or Monday evening, viewers are guaranteed to see a premiere. Unlike the vast majority of other shows, we don’t have a break in the summer or during holidays, so there’s a viewing habit that helps us maintain viewership.

900. Diel je obrovská méta. Ako sa cítite pri tomto čísle a čo pre vás znamená?

I feel primarily grateful that I was able to moderate, see and prepare all 900 episodes and approximately 3,000 reports. For 19 years I have been living my dream. Even more than I could ever have imagined. And I’m already looking forward to the 1,000th issue and other projects that I have in my head and in preparation.

Sledujú vás diváci aj zo zahraničia. Ako vnímate tento medzinárodný záujem?

We have a lot of viewers in neighboring Czech Republic, in Moravia, but according to feedback, they know us also in Poland, often we have suggestions from Slovaks living in Germany or Canada. It’s a pity that we can’t document this feedback with something like the people meters we have here. But we are preparing a Meta version of Farmárska revue project, where we aim to reach a foreign audience by offering subtitles for our reports.

Vy a váš kolega kameraman Jaroslav Pavlík ste reláciu vymysleli v roku 2007. Ako sa odvtedy zmenila príprava jednotlivých dielov?

Today it’s something completely different. We have much greater technological possibilities now, such as drones, new cameras, possibilities in editing and artificial intelligence. At the same time, social networks have been added, where we have found a large group of our viewers. We have also developed other formats.

We are not just a television show. Together we have been creating the international film festival Agrofilm in Nitra for 12 years. We participate in supporting young people in agriculture through the NAJ Agro girl and boy projects. We bring people a multi-sensory festival Touch Life and Enjoy Traditional Tastes. We also do special live broadcasts from Agrokomplex, but amazing are also direct meetings with our viewers at the pig slaughter in Horský sedlo Zbojská. Where with the whole team of our show creators we slaughter a pig, process it completely and eat it together with our viewers.

Počas pandémie ste pripravili niekoľko dielov dopredu. Ako náročné bolo zvládnuť reláciu v týchto časoch a čo vám pomohlo?

It was really challenging but also very healing. In difficult times, we had the opportunity to reckon about something positive, namely our work. We knew that if we occupied our minds with filming, we wouldn’t think about anything else. And we offered the same to our viewers. And they rewarded us by watching us. I think it was healing for both sides. I believe that our wonderful colleague, cameraman and my great teacher Igor Demčák, who succumbed to covid, is watching us from above and keeping his fingers crossed for us.

Vraj ste raz moderovali aj s rukou v sadre alebo s barlami. Máte nejaký nezabudnuteľný príbeh z natáčania?

It wasn’t just once. In 19 years of filming, I’ve experienced many injuries, illnesses and hardships, but it never happened that we didn’t prepare a premiere edition for the weekend. I believe this will last us a long time. It’s funny that I’m actually a small guy. 170 centimeters and less than 80 kilograms. My colleagues in the car are up to two meters and 130 kilograms. But when we stop the car at a farm with a pack of barking, large, shepherd dogs or a proper herd of cattle, they pull me out of the car and wait safely until the situation calms down and they get out when everything calms down and they feel safe.

Ako funguje spolupráca so štábom, keď každý týždeň vysielate nové premiéry bez prestávky?

We have a great crew and over 19 years it has crystallized into a stable team. From production, sound engineers, lighting technicians, editors, cameramen, dramatists to editors and directors. We know each other very well, can rely on each other. We can’t waste time on meetings, calls, and chatter. Everyone knows what they have to do, everyone does their job professionally, as best they can, and we can quickly argue and agree on topics, requirements and necessary changes.

Od detstva ste vyrastali na gazdovstve. Ako vám táto skúsenosť pomáha pri moderovaní relácie pre farmárov a záhradkárov?

It’s wonderful that I haven’t left the farm all my life. I grew up on the farms in Drahová near the village of Utekáč. With a large multigenerational family, we raised everything from cows and pigs to canaries and goldfish. I studied manure management, now the University of Agriculture in Nitra. And even now, with my large family, we run a small farm after my parents. The whole show was created thanks to my relationship with agriculture, and I just hope it’s visible and felt through the screen.

I’m most happy that I have successors. My sons make a living doing something completely different than me, they travel a lot and change places where they live. But when needed, they come and help. They are young and strong. Sometimes they come with friends, and so it happens that managers, doctors and analysts from Prague or Brno are shoveling manure or sawing wood.

Spomínali ste, že sa stále stretávate s novými ľuďmi a učíte nové veci. Ktoré momenty z natáčania vás najviac bavili?

I appreciate that I can still learn new things through my work. If something new appears in agriculture, we go there, see it and make a report about it. A lot of what I experience during filming, I try myself. This is how my long-term cultivation of Canadian blueberries and cranberries originated, for example, the project Restitution of the Moose in Slovakia. Thanks to that, I was in Sweden for moose and I raised them in an enclosure on our family farm for several years. My countryman Stano Bystriansky told me that moose are our original animals. They lived in Slovakia for several thousand years until our ancestors ate them because they were an effortless target for firearms and a rich source of meat. Together we decided to give them a chance to return to Slovakia. We found that they like it here and we will do everything to make them become part of our nature again.

Popularita je príjemná, ale prináša aj povinnosti. Ako ju zvládate a ako reagujú diváci, keď vás stretnú?

I enjoy the popularity and I like it. It’s an opportunity to get feedback from viewers. On television they see me, but I don’t see them. When we meet in person, I can hear from them what they like, what they don’t like and what they would like to see in Farmárska revue. It’s nice when they call me and want to take a picture, I feel like a star then.

Vaši blízki podporujú vašu prácu. Ako sa na váš workoholizmus pozerá vaša rodina?

The family has gotten used to it over the years. They understand and support me. We have a lot of activities together, especially my wife Janka helps me a lot, even though it’s not visible on the screen. She is a completely different type than me.

My wife does a lot of things and I then present them in front of the camera. But both of my sons, daughter-in-law and grandson are also very actively involved in our joint projects. I also appreciate the support of the wider family. For example, my brother’s wife Anička, who was eight months pregnant, came to the autumn family brigade. Together we planted 3,000 beeches. And she was with us the whole time, in a snowstorm she carried the seedlings to the pits. Now we are looking forward to when we go with little Max, who has since been born, to pick mushrooms in the forest that he planted before he was born.

Nedávno vás v relácii spomínal ovocinár Ľudo Vašš a prezradil, že konzumácia jablka odrody krasokvet robí slovenské dievčatá krajšími. Aké boli vaše reakcie na toto odhalenie?

We all had a good laugh. Ľudo has a great gift. In addition to being a great professional, he also has a sense of humor and an unbeatable charm of personality. Don’t tell him, but he could also make a living as a motivator or stand-up comedian. He would definitely earn more and easier, but it would be a huge loss for the nation. With his enthusiasm and conviction, he can captivate crowds, including girls.

Wherever Ľudo appears, all the other men have to talk to each other. All the women stand in suspense and listen to Ľudo. But he is also a responsible husband and father of two beautiful children.

Ľudo can sometimes pull me into things that I later wonder about. He convinced me that lichens on fruit trees do no harm and, you can make a medicinal, excellent tea from them. I tasted it, it was excellent, ….but never again.

Ako sa vám spolupracuje s Ľudom Vaššom? Máte pri natáčaní aj takéto veselé momenty?

We searched for Ľudo for a long time. We knew that the charismatic Mr. Professor Ivan Hričovský would one day need a worthy successor. After years, we found Ľudo Vaššo. In addition to being a tough professional and expert, we also understand each other on a human level. I look forward to every filming, as do the whole crew. It’s always very difficult because everyone wants to talk to Ľudo and I’m always the bad guy who shouts: Stop!!!, don’t eat,… We won’t have anything to show the viewers. Sometimes we taste even what we can’t show in front of the camera. The director often shouts: Stop!!!, don’t eat,… We won’t have anything to show the viewers.

And after filming, the discussions don’t end. I believe that our harmony is felt on the screen.

Skutočne sa počas natáčania snažíte ochutnávať nové odrody ovocia? Alebo je to viac zábava pre divákov?

And not only that, sometimes we taste things that we can’t show in front of the camera. The director often shouts: Stop!!!, don’t eat,… We won’t have anything to show the viewers. Occasionally we taste fruit in liquid form and I have tried many things thanks to Farmárska revue. I have planted many fruit species on my small, high mountain farm. And not always successfully, but at least I tried.

Vtipkovali ste, že krasokvet robí aj vás krajším. Ako ste sa cítili, keď vám Ľudo Vašš povedal „Jano, ty si strašne pekný“?

As usual, when Ľudo jokes and creates a good mood during filming. Without humor, this work would be torture. When it’s cold outside, it’s raining, the wind is blowing, the presenter is stuttering and we repeat the shot ten times because a car unexpectedly came into the scene, we’ve all been at it for hours, we’re fed up, but we can’t show the viewers an unfriendly face. Then Ľudo helps with his humor.

I’m happy that people recognize me and ask me for a photo. Most often, they are people my age or a little older, that is, pensioners. If a young girl asks me for a photo with the request: This is for my grandmother, she really likes you, I know that’s the case.

Keby ste si mohli na jeden deň vymeniť miesto s Ľudom Vaššom, čo by ste urobili?

I would have a nice, big, veal schnitzel with potato salad and wash it down with a large beer. Ľudo is a vegetarian and teetotaler. That’s how I would show him what he’s missing.

Objavujú sa špekulácie o nových formátoch a projektoch na STVR. Môžete prezradiť, na čom aktuálne pracujete a čo diváci môžu očakávať?

I’ll reveal it for the first time: I’ve come up with a new project: Meta version of Farmárska revue. We would like to use AI and a virtual presenter to categorize our extensive archive of 3,000 reports so that viewers can orient themselves and re-watch them according to their taste and when they want. It’s just an intention for now and we’re starting to work on it.

Ako by ste sa opísali divákom, ktorí vás poznajú len ako moderátora? Aký ste človek mimo kamier?

You would have to ask my closest people. But a lot of time I spend in front of the camera, microphone and on stage. So a lot of my personality can be seen by viewers on the screen.

Čo robíte, keď nie ste v štúdiu alebo na natáčaní? Máte nejaké obľúbené koníčky či hobby?

I spend a lot of time with my family on our small high mountain family farm. With my wife, we’ve been playing volleyball every Tuesday for over 20 years. I really like film and theater. When someone from our family wants to make us happy, they buy us tickets, for example, to the Slovak National Theater in Bratislava or to a theater in Prague or Brno.

Vaši kolegovia a diváci vás často označujú za sympatického a priateľského človeka. Ako to vnímate a čo považujete za svoj najväčší „trademark“?

I’m happy about that and I like it. It’s an opportunity to get feedback from viewers. I deliberately build the whole show around myself, around my relationship with agriculture. And I feel that my colleagues agree with this and enjoy their work. We don’t have to waste time on meetings, calls, and chatter. Everyone knows what they have to do, everyone does their job professionally, as best they can, and we can quickly argue and agree on topics, requirements and necessary changes.

Je niečo, čo by ste chceli, aby ľudia o vás vedeli, a ešte to nepoznajú, napríklad nejakú zaujímavosť z vášho života?

Maybe my respect for healthy peasant common sense. In a time of information overload, we forget the basics we got somewhere at the beginning. Many people doubt and can’t distinguish clear and pure evil from good.

Ako si udržiavate dobrú náladu a energiu aj po takmer dvadsiatich rokoch nepretržitého vysielania?

I’ll remember my family. Even now, when I think of my wife, sons or grandson, I smile. When I remember experiences with my brothers and sisters, I immediately feel good.

Blížite sa k prvému tisícemu dielu. Už premýšľate, ako ho oslávite?

I have a plan, but I won’t reveal it so as not to jinx it.

Čo je vaším cieľom do budúcnosti s reláciou Farmárska revue? Máte nejaké nové plány alebo formáty, ktoré by ste chceli skúsiť?

Now I’ll reveal it for the first time: To discover my successor. So if anyone is interested, apply……………..

Aký odkaz by ste dali divákom, ktorí reláciu sledujú pravidelne už celé roky?

Turn on Farmárska revue, that’s our biggest reward from you, our viewers.

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