Village boy Roy Smets' dream of becoming a farmer came true. In addition, his self-employment grew in the world of oxygen-producing microorganisms. 'Adding something to everything that lives, grows and flourishes is the most beautiful thing for me.'
Farmers' livelihoods are under pressure. That's why Smets drove his New Holland TM115 along with his daughter and son in the nitrogen protest procession through the Venray region. 'With farmer pride and goosebumps moments.'
At a stall selling yellow onions in net bags in Veulen, Limburg, Roy Smets lives with his partner Moniek and their two children. His office in the implement shed is neat, homey and transparent. The cabinet with miniature tractors and various Bioaktiv products immediately catches the eye. Smets sits relaxed at the computer with the phone to his ear, first finishing his business correctly. But then he takes a good seat.
"I always read this column with great interest, but I never expected to end up on the pig bench myself one day.
Farming and depositing yellow onions has become a professional hobby for me
- Roy Smets, Kiemers and co-owner Topturn Special Products
Smets was born and raised in Veulen, except for a few years of "living in rooms. 'I really had to leave this environment to focus on studying business administration at HAS University of Applied Sciences in Den Bosch,' he says. 'From a young age, my life revolved around working at the arable and pig farm of the Clephas-Jacobs family. Tractors, machinery and farm life fascinated me as a middle-class boy much more than schooling. I wanted to be a farmer.
Smets ignored the havo advice. He dove into engineering at secondary vocational school. "I benefited a lot from that in reading drawings and knowing materials. He then took the secondary horticultural course at AOC Horst. A working sabbatical followed.
'Because I was involved in everything at Clephas-Jacobs, my interest in pig farming and achieving good technical and economic results grew. The realization also sunk in that I didn't want to spend my life on a tractor or between four barn walls.'
Therefore, Smets was highly motivated to successfully complete his HAS education. A special experience became his internship at Vitelia Feed. 'Many pig farmers I came to at the time for conducting feed trials have stayed with me. After Accon avm consultants and accountants and the manufacturer of air scrubbers, heat recovery and cooling systems Inno+, I still do business with them with Bioaktiv.'
Working for various companies provided Smets with a wealth of knowledge and work experience. Among other things, he learned how to administer, sell, design, quote, set up an organization and manage personnel. Meanwhile, his network grew both at home and abroad. 'I also learned a lot from building my house myself together with my father who was a lifelong bricklayer,' he adds. 'I put in a lot of hours, the work fascinated me and I have a broad interest which pushed away my farming dream.'
After the house was finished, Smets decided to travel around Malaysia with Moniek, whom he had met while studying in Den Bosch. As they spent a few days on a bounty beach at the end of the trip, his life passed in his mind. 'Actually, I had everything going for me, but something was gnawing at me. I hadn't even tried to become a farmer.'
After returning, Smets quietly went after his dream. An opportunity presented itself with lightning speed. Within a week he was already sitting down with an arable farmer and a takeover process was set in motion. 'Unfortunately, but by then I was within a hair's breadth of realizing my farming dream.' A car accident during working hours in 2015 became a gamechanger for him. 'After that, I started looking at life differently. I wanted to be on the buckboard myself and realize my dream.
The knob was turned and by mutual agreement, Smets rapidly phased out his employment with Inno+. He climbed on his motorcycle and toured France to clear his head. He returned and, in order to earn a living, he supported a company with 20 employees on a self-employed basis. At that time he leased 6 acres of land and started growing "Kiemers" yellow onions as a farmer. He also became a father for the first time.
Bioaktiv, known from his air scrubber days, came his way again. The flying start and pleasant cooperation with Jos Hendriks of Topturn Special Products resulted in shared ownership. Meanwhile, his onion empire grew to 34 hectares and Smets is firmly in control of sales. 'Farming has become a professional hobby for me.'
