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James Mason | all galleries >> Galleries >> The war in Central Bosnia > The work of a farmer never ceases
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aug 93 James Mason

The work of a farmer never ceases

Near Vitez, Bosnia

Even during wartime a farmer, or more accurately, a "seljak," has to get the job done. These men from Vitez took time out from war to work in the hay meadows in the hills above town. I recall wondering if they'd be the ones to gather hay here next year. The hay was mostly for dairy cattle. There were a few odd horses and some goats as well. Vitez had a modern dairy farm with very nice looking Holstein cattle. When the war came the cattle were turned loose. I saw some which had been killed by shellfire, but most were grabbed by opportunistic local people. I met one woman who appeared to be about 80 leading one of the Holsteins and I asked her how much she thought the cow was worth. She eyed the cow for a moment then said "about 9000 Deutschemarks." That worked out to $6000, exactly what I'd guessed the cow would be worth in Oregon.


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