Dazhynki-2026 in Korelichi: the best hammers, heroic results in faces, “female footprint” and a sea of emotions

The town of Korelichi, Grodno region, hosted the Dazhynki-2026 festival-fair of village workers. The agrarians of the region approached the holiday with a decent result, having received the highest yield in the country in terms of grain group and rapeseed. The settlement itself has been significantly transformed: the facades of buildings have been updated, new facilities and landscaped territories have appeared. On Saturday, the village sang and danced from the morning. Everything was here: from tasting local delicacies to incendiary dances to your favorite hits, from master classes to various exhibitions.

The ceremony of awarding the best of the best began with the announcement of the welcoming address of the President, in which he emphasized the impressive contribution of Grodno farmers to the food security of the country. It was read out by the State Secretary of the Security Council, authorized representative of the Head of State for Grodno region Alexander Wolfovich.

- All the tasks set for the Grodno region are always fulfilled. This year, the region is the second in the country in terms of yield and gross harvest, the speaker commented in an interview with journalists. Residents of the region are distinguished by hard work, hospitality and love for their native land. Look what's going on in the world! There are new threats, various digital technologies, artificial intelligence and so on. And in our country there is a holiday that we celebrate in each region: we honor people who are connected with the land, our harvesters, village workers. We do not threaten anyone, as we are accused, we do not make any claims to anyone. Our brand is food security, peace and order that we can share with everyone. Therefore, this holiday really reflects both domestic and foreign policy towards their own people and those outside the country. This is a good holiday that people have been waiting all summer to pay tribute to the farmers and outline plans for the future.

Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Natalia Petkevich cordially congratulated those present during the awarding ceremony of the industry’s leading experts.

- Our country is extraordinary! Belarus is not just a state with its holidays, traditions and favorite dishes. This is a family on a country scale, said the Deputy Prime Minister. One of the traditions of our large family, our state, is the festival initiated by the Head of State, Dazhynki. This is a holiday that gives an opportunity to say thank you to all the people who ensure our food security, to bow for the fact that they throughout their lives are devoted to their native land, for the fact that they did not succumb to fashion and did not go to the city, but work in a small homeland.

First Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of Belarus Vladimir Pertsov during the ceremony of honoring farmers stressed that over the 30 years that Dazhynki is celebrated in our country, agriculture has stepped far forward:

- Technology has changed and mechanization of production processes has increased. The most important thing is that agriculture has pulled along other important sectors of our country: the production of agricultural machinery, the processing industry, in simple terms, the production of food products, which have already become a brand of the Republic of Belarus for the whole world. And how have the cities – the capitals of regional and republican holidays of grain growers changed? This time the holiday is held in Korelichi, which for 630 years in various wars and troubles five times destroyed and burned to the ground, but each time revived. This speaks of the special sacred spirit of this corner of Belarus and of those courageous people, real heroes who lived and live on this land.

Chairman of the Grodno Regional Executive Committee Yuri Karaev noted the joy of staying on the hospitable Koreli land with a rich history and truly hardworking people:

- When we started preparing for this holiday, we set ourselves a simple but important task: to make changes felt not only in the center of Korelichi, on the main square, but in every courtyard, on every street. As a result, a lot has been achieved: roads have been repaired, facades have been put in order, social facilities have been updated so that people can live comfortably and comfortably, raise children, work, so that young people see the future and stay on their native land. And it is especially important that these changes take place against the background of intense, truly heroic work in the fields. Harvest-2026 once again confirmed that Grodno farmers are able to grow and harvest crops, despite the surprises of the weather. The secret of this result is hard work, dedication and the ability to adapt flexibly to changing conditions, apply modern approaches and not to give in to difficulties. The Dazhynki-2026 festival is a tribute to those who invest their strength in their native land every day, a recognition that the work of the grain grower is the basis of our prosperity, the support of the economy and the guarantee of food independence of the country.

Chairman of the Korelich District Executive Committee Alexander Kurilo told what results the district approached the festival day:

- We approached the work with maximum responsibility, so the results are encouraging. Our farmers threshed 114 thousand tons of grain and leguminous crops with an average yield of 64.6 centners per hectare. This is the second indicator in the Grodno region in terms of yield. This year, a record harvest of rapeseed oil seeds for the region was received - 18.6 thousand tons with an average yield of 46 centners per hectare. In addition, agricultural enterprises of the district fully fulfilled the state order for the supply of grain of the new harvest. Progress in crop production is also reflected in livestock. By the next season, the animals are fully provided with concentrated food. We have a certain reserve that can be realized by the enterprises of our region.

The best harvester of the Grodno region was recognized as the mechanizer of the Grodno SEC of Grodno district Sergey Shantyr, who threshed more than 5 thousand tons. Sergey Vladimirovich shared that to receive such a high award was exciting and at the same time honorable:

- Every year I visit a large-scale festival-fair of village workers, the mood is truly festive. I am glad that my work was so highly appreciated. I can say with confidence that the highest hammers are the result of the coordinated work of all our agricultural cooperatives – agronomists, drivers, engineers. And most importantly, love of the land. Without this, it is impossible to achieve decent performance in such a difficult profession. I have been working in the farm since 2010, and during this time I got stuck in my business. For me, cleaning time is always a joy, regardless of the numbers.

The leader in the transportation of grain is recognized as the driver of JSC “Cherlena” of Mostovo district Alexander Kornevsky, for whom the current suffering is only the second as a driver. He transported over 6,000 tons of grain! Before that, he worked as a harvester for many years, so he knows well what harvesting is.

- I tried to do my job perfectly, as always, shared Alexander Nikolaevich. Worked without a weekend to use every day. There was a breather when it rained. But even then I spent all the time in the workshop repairing equipment, so that at the first opportunity to continue to work in the field in full readiness. My father also worked as a driver in the transportation of grain, since childhood he showed me a worthy example.

Among the winners of the regional competition for achieving high performance in the harvest of grain and leguminous crops in 2026 among agricultural organizations — SEC Grodno. Chairman of the agricultural cooperative Alexander Shantyr noted that such success is the result of the work of the entire team:

- Behind the harvesting season is the most important stage in our industry, and there are new tasks and concerns ahead. But the goal set by our President and the Chairman of the District Executive Committee has been achieved. Grodno district poured into the country's bins more than 250 thousand tons of grain of the new harvest. Was it easy? Nope. Weather vagaries, technology, human factor. But we managed, because in our farm gathered professionals in their field. Thanks to the observance of all technological processes and the tireless work of grain growers, it is possible from year to year to maintain a leading position in the harvest.

At the festival-fair of workers of the village "Dazhynki-2026" gathered numerous guests from all corners of Prinemanya. Grodnenko Ekaterina Sa came to her historical homeland with her husband Alexander and two daughters and shared her festival emotions:

- It is nice to see those people who work from morning to night in the fields, in such a high mood, elegant and beautiful! They bow low! She was born and raised in Korelichi, entered the Grodno State Medical University and stayed in the regional center. But whenever possible, I try to come to a lovely village where parents, friends and close relatives live. It is pleasant to see how year after year the settlement is transformed, getting better, becoming more comfortable for life. The husband, by the way, works at the Grodno bakery, so the theme of Dazhynak is not an empty sound for our family.

karnilovich@sb.by

Photo by Andrei Primachek and Belt