Young Garvoc employee, Isaac Hose, is confident that despite the negativity about his industry, the dairy industry is his future.
He was recently recognised when judged the Great South West Dairy Awards employee of the year.
The 27-year-old said that while the industry received some bad press, he was passionate about dairying.
He even finds a positive in the current coronavirus pandemic and restrictions on social gatherings that means no sport - but time to focus on work instead.
After leaving the area on completion of school to start a degree in sports management, he decided dairy farming was what he wanted to do.
As a self-confessed late starter in the industry - he started milking cows at 18 "coming back to milk on the weekends" - but lacked any experience in other farm activities until 2014 when he was employed by his sister Lilli and brother-in-law Josh Philp.
Despite the family connection, the job offer was not guaranteed and there was no free ride.
He started as a general farmhand doing "all the jobs I had no idea about".
Today he has responsibility managing staff as well as for the operation of the farm's run-off block.
"We normally run heifers there and I'm responsible for their feeding and management of the rotation - making sure they're fed."
Mr Hose said one of the things he enjoys about the job is looking after the replacements.
"I like being able to see the herd develop and its progression over the years," he said.
The 755-cow herd is run as a three-way cross-bred herd.
"I'd like to be more involved in the discussions about breeding and bull selection."
Mr Hose said staff management was a key area he was learning.
"Learning the different ways that people need to get the best out of them."
Mr Hose has completed a Certificate III & IV in Agriculture and a Diploma of Agriculture.
In the long term he has aspirations to become a share farmer and one day a farm owner.
"I don't have the experience of a lot of my friends who were brought up on a farm," he said.
"Sharefarming is a way of getting my foot in the door.
"I would like to own my own farm one day - that would be my ultimate dream. That's a long way off."
Mr Hose said the most satisfying part of his job was being part of the development of the farm and watching that happen.
He said any young people considering a career in dairying shouldn't be afraid to "have a crack".
"If it's something that interests you, give it a go. If you're willing to put the work in it will definitely repay you."
