At the beginning of October, Šmrika will have its very own representative in Ilok. Susanne Lucić, owner of the family farm OPG “SUZI”, known to many simply as Suzi from the Donkey Farm in Šmrika, will represent Primorje-Gorski Kotar County at the 26th Croatian Rural Woman of the Year Competition, taking place on 3 October 2026.

The story of the Lucić family and their farm began fifteen years ago with the aim of preserving the native Primorje-Dinaric donkey. Over time, the family farm grew around the donkeys and today brings together agriculture, education and rural tourism, while also working to preserve and pass on a part of the tradition and identity of their local area.

The farm is particularly well known for its work with children and families. Through visits to the farm, educational programmes, workshops and guided walks with donkeys, children have the opportunity to learn about animals, nature and life on a farm, as well as the heritage and unique characteristics of the area where they grow up.

From a family farm to an active part of the community

For years, OPG “SUZI” has been building its story beyond the farm itself, taking part in projects, events and collaborations that bring together agriculture, tourism, gastronomy, education and local heritage.

The farm is a partner in the Kvarner – European Region of Gastronomy 2026 project, based on a signed cooperation agreement, and participates in joint presentations and the promotion of Kvarner’s gastronomic and rural identity.

One such presentation was this year’s “Kvarner Flavour Mosaic – Kvarner at the Table” event at Exportdrvo in Rijeka, where Kraljevica presented its traditional dishes and local products, including donkey milk from the Donkey Farm in Šmrika. The farm is also part of the “Flavour Mosaic of Rijeka and the Rijeka Ring” initiative, which brings together local gastronomy, tradition, nature and authentic experiences of the area.

Through such collaborations, the Farm strives to be more than just a place to visit – it aims to be an active part of the community and of the joint promotion of the region, connecting its own agricultural and tourism story with other people, products and the heritage of Kraljevica, the Rijeka Ring and Kvarner.

The work of the family farm has also gained recognition beyond the local community in recent years.

OPG “SUZI” received the 2025 Golden Charter of the Sunflower of Rural Tourism Awards, while in 2026 Susanne Lucić won first place in the first competition for preparing the traditional Šmrika almond cake, mendulača. This year, the farm was also selected to represent Primorje-Gorski Kotar County in the national “Zlata vrijedan” project, which celebrates Croatia’s best family farms.

A family story with a future

What gives this story particular value is that it continues into the next generation. Susanne’s children grew up alongside the family farm, and her sons are now taking on an increasingly important role in the everyday work on the farm, developing new activities and experiences together with the rest of the family.

The opportunity for young people to stay, work and build their future on a family farm is one of the most important messages Susanne wants to take with her to Ilok. And she will not be bringing only the story of her own farm.

Through her exhibition space, she also hopes to present rural Kvarner by the sea – life and work among stone, the strong bora wind and Mediterranean vegetation, traces of tradition, heritage and the flavours of Kraljevica, the Rijeka Ring and Kvarner.

It will be a small mosaic of the region she comes from, made up of products, stories and collaborations with people who work together to preserve and shape its identity – all with the support of the Kraljevica Tourist Board.

This year, the public gets to choose too

As part of this year’s competition, the Croatian news portal 24sata is presenting 21 candidates through the project “The Quiet Heroines of the Croatian Countryside”, and this year the public can take part in the selection as well.

We invite our fellow citizens, friends of Kraljevica and Kvarner, and everyone who knows and follows this family story from Šmrika to support Susanne Lucić with your vote, as the representative of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County.

Vote for Susanne here.