The country's oldest 4-H farm forced to close down when the municipality saves

vallentuna's 4-H farm includes a number of red-painted stables and houses are surrounded by frosty fields. The early afternoon when the DN is on a visit it is even quiet on the farm, so when in a couple of grunting pigs. But when a bunch of three - to five-year-olds in this afternoon's first ridgrupp arrive, it becomes life and motion.

To the farm each week hundreds of children to take learn how to care for animals, ride, and get homework help. The participants are three years old and upwards. Most of them are girls and many stay long in the business to subsequently become the leader.

is Hedda Sandelius, the 4H club's 17-year-old president, who participated in the business since she was three years old.

" I grew up on the farm, most of my friends are from here. Here, I have learned to take responsibility. It is like my whole life. I refuse to believe that we shall lay down, "she says from a sofa, kitchen in the farm's heated living room," she says.

She is not alone in turning against the decision. In a short time has over 2.300 signatures collected in protest against the farm's closure, far more than the club's 250 members.

in Vallentuna, sweden, is Sweden's oldest, but has suffered from economic worries as long as they are active in the active can remember.

Amanda Nyrén, 6 years, participating in Mini 4H, the farm's activities for the smallest. Photo: Lisa Mattisson

4H:s länsförbund in Stockholm, it is estimated that a 4H-farm costs about 700,000 euros each year, which is also the municipal support farms in Stockholm. In Vallentuna, sweden has the basic payment from the municipality fritidsnämnd remained at about 140,000 per year. With various kinds of extra support from the administration has reached up to around 450.000 dollars a year.

"a Lot of this has long needed to be refurbished, but we usually only had to patch and mend," says Ellen Wik, one of the farm's permanent staff.

with the municipality expired in the summer, hoped the club on a more long-term solution and dialogue with the recreation was at first cautiously promising. The farm stated that they needed about 650,000 sek to cope with the business.

But when the municipal budget was on 12 november, the recreation department with financial in a million. Any room for enhanced contribution to the 4H was not – the about 140,000 crowns was fixed.

4H:s länsförbund in Stockholm saw no other way than to liquidate the business and on 26 november it was definitely.

many say they still have a hard time to digest the news of the closure.

Many took it very hard, for many, this is a part of everyday life. When I heard that, I stood and cried for an hour, " says Hedda Sandelius.

Ellen Wik, one of the farm's employees, and Hedda Sandelius, president of the 4H club, along with the pigs Little the old man and Pippi. Photo: Lisa Mattisson

the Club will remain on the farm, but the staff have been made redundant and the participants notified. The animals will remain for a while, but at the end of the year, they need to be gone. Then replace the home, but most of them stay in the 4H's hands, in the hope of a future reboot.

It is hard to take in, as well, I believe that it is only when the animals are gone and the farm is empty, you have time to think.

– It is hard to take in, as well, I believe that it is only when the animals are gone and the farm is empty, you have time to think, " says Carola Lillieqvist.

on the farm since 2014. First as job training and later as an employee. Now she is unemployed.

Carola Lillieqvist tells us that the most difficult thing has been to tell what happens for the kids.

– How pepper, the children as well? We try to talk about it, they have got to write letters and draw what they feel. But there are a lot of questions about why and few have understood, " says Carola Lillieqvist.

Since the decision became known, the support for the farm was great. The indignant protests in the social media and a rapidly growing collection followed the closest immediately.

outside the main cabin is dissatisfaction widespread. Here huttrar a dozen parents, with the associated kringspringande children. Three - to-six year olds clapping animals and loaded up on a horse-drawn carriage and vinkas. The mood among the remaining parents are sammanbitet upset.

"I feel the most otryckbara words, but trying to restrain myself," says Daniel Nygren, while he waves of the children of Amanda and Samuel.

that is a big plus when the family decided to move to the municipality 18 months ago.

" It becomes a poverty of supply of the municipality and the inhabitants. Not least for all the girls who get to grow up here and learn to take responsibility, " he says.

Horse Morgan in one of the farm's stables. Photo: Lisa Mattisson

He is joined by Denise Adolfsson Augustsson, here with the kids Milea and Novalie and the children's grandfather, Leif Adolfsson.

" I myself grew up at the farm and I want to be able to bring my children here. There has been an outcry and I do not think that the municipality had anticipated it, " says Denise Adolfsson Augustsson.

still have what they describe as a good dialogue with the municipality. The hope is to find some kind of solution forward, but no promises or decisions are not. In the present, it offered aid to 140,000 kronor, the club also offers to run the business rental and arrendefritt with föreningsstöd.

" We are looking at the question and continues the dialogue with the länsförbundet. Leisure provides a continuation of basic payment of 140,000. In general, I refer the contact to the mayor Parisa Liljestrand, says Lars Carlsson (C), chairman of the leisure committee of the city.

Parisa Liljestrand notes in an email to the DN, since the summer is no agreement between the municipality and 4H:

”Within the alliance, we are looking now at the demand and visitor frequency current visningsverksamheten. It is all I can say at present,” she writes.

Read more: the Pig Brian is no longer alone