Farmer Joe was left shocked and heartbroken by a conversation at the Country Ball on Sunday night’s episode of Farmer Wants a Wife.
Joe had formed an instant connection with one of his latecomers, 34-year-old emergency nurse Susie.
The pair had an instant attraction and chemistry — but there was just one problem.
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Susie was smitten with Joe, but questioned whether she could really deal with life on a farm.
Deep into the evening’s festivities, Susie pulled Joe aside for a chat — and he instantly knew something was wrong.
“This is really hard,” she began, looking nervous.
“Our first date, our speed date, we had really electric chemistry. You are such a kind person, you’ve been so gracious and so funny, and I have seen how much you love what you do.
“You love your horses, you love your farm and you love where you are.”
“Yeah …” he said, as Susie dragged out what she wanted to say.
“You deserve someone who is sure about that lifestyle,” she said, beginning to cry. “It would be really disingenuous of me to stay, having tried and realised I don’t like it.”
Joe looked totally shattered, and at first was unable to speak.
“Oh … that’s disappointing,” he said, appearing to be on the verge of tears.
“Like, I came into this just like you did, really wanting to find love, and love in the way that makes sense for me,” Susie continued.
“And I thought, if I fall in love with this person, then I’ll fall in love with this lifestyle, but when I got there I couldn’t change how I felt about being there.
“That sounds incredibly selfish but I needed to try for me and now I need to leave for you.
“I’m so sorry.”
The pair then gave each other a tearful hug, with Joe looking deflated.
“I wish I was what you wanted,” he said.
In a separate to-camera interview, Joe said Susie leaving was a “bitter pill to swallow.”
“I did not see it coming,” he admitted. “I’ve always struggled with meeting people who want to live the same way I do.
“I didn’t know Susie for a long amount of time but I really did have a good feeling about her.”
As he saw Susie off, her told her: “I feel like I miss you already.”
“She liked me, but just couldn’t see herself in that environment,” he added. “So that … that hurts.”
After Susie left, Joe pulled his other ladies aside and explained what had happened.
“I want everyone here to really think about that as well, if it’s something that you truly want, because the farm is an extension of me,” he said.
“It’s my life, it’s ultimately where I want to be, it’s where I’ve loved, where I’ve grown up, my whole life.
“And that won’t change about me, at all. I really hope that everyone here is honest with themselves and how they feel — that’s what I’m looking for in a partnership.”
Farmer Wants a Wife continues Monday at 7.30pm on Channel 7 and 7plus.