For farmers who are intensely focused on their work on the land, having the opportunity and time to meet new people can be tough.
Just ask third-generation cattle, sheep, goat and crop farmer Dustin Manwaring, from the small riverside town of Condobolin, six hours west of Sydney.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Farmers Bert and Dustin talk the new season of Farmer Wants a Wife.
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The 26-year-old, who is hoping to find love on the 2024 season of Farmer Wants a Wife, says dating in the regions is difficult — with few real opportunities to meet eligible women.
“When you’re a farmer, it’s really hard to find time to go and meet people, social events and things like that,” Farmer Dustin tells 7NEWS.com.au.
“You miss out on a lot of things, which does suck.
“It also makes it hard to find someone because that’s genuinely where farmers go to find people — a race meeting, rodeo or whatever.”
Dustin says the beauty of Channel 7’s Farmer Wants a Wife is that it allows farmers to meet women from all parts of Australia and give them a proper taste of country life.
“(The show) helps in that way because it does take the hard work out of it all,” he says.
The farmer applied for the dating show at the urging of friends.
“Then it was just like the right time and right place, and somebody reached out to me and I thought, ‘Why not?’” he says.
“Next thing you know, they’re ringing me and then the cameras roll up, and you’re like, ‘Yeah this is actually happening’.”
He recalls the “weird” moment he was first promoted for the show and his photo and name were released.
“You get a lot of attention the day that went out,” Dustin says.
“My phone was buzzing the whole time with people messaging me.”
After the farmers are confirmed for the line-up, there is little time before they congregate at the NSW Hunter Valley to shoot the first two episodes.
Each farmer meets the eight ladies he previously selected and — after a speed date with each — he has to choose five to return to their farms.
Farmer Wants a Wife premieres 7pm Sunday, 14 April on Channel 7 and 7plus.