Perhaps I’m wrong; but it seems beyond coincidental that, just as Russia is feeling the effects of Vladimir Putin’s endless war against Ukraine, and Putin himself is losing credibility and support from his own people, the Feenstra family should release a video of how wonderful life is on the farm in Nizhny Novgorod, and how grateful they are for the bounty they have received in the time they have been there.
The timing is particularly strange, in view of recent events on the farm: Arend Feenstra’s admitted concerns about the possibility of being drafted into the military; questions about the family’s progression toward permanent residency and ultimate citizenship; and their tenants, the Pulley family, being refused residency and having to return to their native Australia.
The video, posted yesterday on YouTube, was not narrated by Arend Feenstra as usual, but (I believe) by eldest daughter Cora. It was unclear who produced the video, but it seemed to be professionally filmed and scripted, and appeared to have been visually AI-enhhanced.
It was a composite of shots from earlier videos of the family’s journey, beginning with their arrival in Russia (though omitting the bureaucratic problems they initially encountered), through the construction of their home and other buildings on the acreage they were able to acquire, up to the present time . . . although some of the views were not familiar to me and may not have been included in the earlier postings. Or I might just have missed them.
There is no question that the Feenstras have created their own miracle in two and a half years, starting with a bare piece of land and turning it into a working farm. Cora speaks of the vision they had when they arrived — of creating, not just a home, but a working farm and a business that would sustain their family in the future.
She speaks of the long hours, the tremendous expenses, and the occasional difficulties they had to work through. And she repeatedly mentions their vision, and how “a dream really can become a reality if you’re willing to work for it.”
In conclusion, she says that, looking back at what they’ve accomplished, “We really couldn’t be more proud.”
And so they should be.
But it’s the timing of this release that seems odd. It could be that, with no interesting news to report at the moment, this was their way of keeping in contact with their viewers. Or, in light of the current political uncertainties, it might be their way of currying favor with the government.
Finally — and I fear this may be the most likely scenario — it could just be more Russian propaganda, produced on orders from Moscow.
It would be unrealistic to think that the upheaval caused by Putin’s war wouldn’t have had an effect on Russia’s emigre families along with the native population. And who better to help spread the fantasy that all is well than Russia’s favorite internet stars?
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The world is going through very difficult times right now, and one could reasonably argue that the Feenstras’ problems — which, after all, are the result of their own choice of Russia as their new home — are not nearly as dire as, say, the war victims of Ukraine and Gaza. But I have chosen to follow their story because of its uniqueness, because of the political implications, and because it is a cautionary tale for others who might be considering a similar move.
To be continued.
Just sayin’ . . .
Brendochka
10/14/26
