In March, newspapers covered an online uproar following the elimination from the reality television competition The Summit Suomi of Jari Grönlund, an agricultural entrepreneur from Loimaa, to the dismay of viewers who adored this decent and affable country lad.
The show follows 14 strangers as they take on the challenge of climbing Stetinden in Norway. Before his surprise exit, Grönlund was widely tipped as a potential winner.
“Perhaps I stood out by simply being myself and managing to find my place within the group dynamic,” he remarks, speaking in his unhurried way.
Being a television star has not changed Grönlund’s daily life. He lives with his wife on a farm in the southern Finnish municipality of Pöytyä in Loimaa, with a few sheep in the shed and a dog keeping watch over the yard.
“Our life is really quite ordinary, and maybe that helped us through all the Summit fuss. I only pop to the shop a few times a month, so people recognising me there hasn’t really affected me.”
A modern-day labourer
With a Master of Science in Agriculture and Forestry degree from the University of Helsinki, Grönlund now works across a range of ventures. Part of his working hours are spent as a diversity specialist at the company Riistasiemen, where he uses his training to help with their work in producing and selling seed mixtures.
“My area of expertise is in how plant species selection can influence the diversity of agricultural landscapes and the range of species present.”
His clients include both individual farmers and municipalities requiring seeds to diversify specific natural environments.
Despite his formal qualifications, much of his learning has come through hands-on experience.
“This topic maybe came up in a single lecture – that’s all my academic training did to prepare me for this role.”
The key takeaway from his studies was the ability to see the bigger picture. His guiding ethos became the idea that biodiversity supports several individual species and provides the best conditions for their success.
Grönlund was encouraged to apply to the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry by his guidance counsellor at general upper secondary school.
“I thought an academic agronomist could find employment in many fields. But though I hold a master’s degree, I’m not keen on spending all day sat at a computer. I’m trying to carve out a role as a modern-day labourer. I’m actively focusing on working with my hands as much as I can.”
He spends some of his working time looking after the sheep and handling repairs around the couple’s house and yard.
“I’m constantly doing physical work for no pay. Many days, I work from eight in the morning until nine at night, but the number of paid hours varies from just a few hours to eight, depending on the day.”
Pride in craftsmanship
These days Grönlund also carves wood, creating sculptures with a chainsaw. These have gained him significant praise on his Instagram account @jg_woodcrafts.
He was inspired to start sculpting during the Covid pandemic when university lectures moved online. He found that he was able to finish his compulsory tasks remotely in less time than usual.
“I’d always wanted to work with wood, but thought I’d have time when I retired. But that’s not how life works – we only have the present moment. I gave sculpting a go and was instantly hooked. Then orders started coming in, and I realised I could make some money from it too.”
Grönlund takes pride in seeing the results of his craftsmanship.
“If I just spent all day answering emails at a computer, no one would notice what I do. I need a rhythm to my day – once I’ve spent a few hours sawing wood, I’m ready to sit down and get back to the computer.”