This is perhaps one of the biggest benefits, and the factor that keeps agriculture so interesting for Garry Armstrong.

Mr Armstrong farms with his wife Cath at “Armdale Park”, Marrar in southern NSW.

For him becoming a farmer could be considered to be in his genetic programming.

His late father Noel was known for his ability to breed some of Australia’s most influential stud Poll Dorset sheep and his grandfather Alby established a successful Dorset Horn stud.

OPPORTUNITIES: While the Armstrong family – headed up by matriarch Shirley Armstrong – is best known for its success with stud sheep the Marrar property is in fact much more diverse.

It caters for a full winter cropping program and in recent times beef cattle, predominantly Angus, were added to the mix to provide further diversification.  On Monday a pen of heifers offered by Armdale Park went under the hammer at the Wagga Livestock Marketing Centre to make a high of 356c/kg. 

And when seasonal conditions and market forces align Mr Armstrong said it was certainly a good time to be involved in agriculture. 

"Everything has lined up at once, the season, the markets and the supply,” he said. Mr Armstrong tipped that markets would stay strong into the near future and was confident about support for quality agricultural products.

THE FUTURE: In terms of talking up agriculture to the next generation he said it was certainly an industry that offered opportunities. 

Mr Armstrong’s son Sam, 20, has made a decision to work on the Marrar property and to be involved in the operation. He said the toughest aspect of entering the agricultural sector for young people was in purchasing or acquiring land.

“But if someone does have an opportunity, for a start, they should grab it with two hands,” he said. Meanwhile, breeding and promoting stud sheep will continue as a mainstay at “Armdale Park”. 

Growing up, attending sheep shows and preparing for on-property sales have generated some of Mr Armstrong’s best memories and cemented his rural interest.