For the love of agriculture
• Estelle Smith and Ben Fulton with sons Brooklyn (15) and Callum (13) in their dairy on Legerwood Lane.
Taylor Clyne
May 20, 2020
Watching their two boys grow up eating Weet-Bix covered in milk straight out of the dairy vat is just one of Ben Fulton and Estelle Smith’s fondest memories of raising kids on the farm.
The first-generation Legerwood farmers are no strangers to the country life with Ben growing up on a farm in Talawa and completing his first apprenticeship with Theo and Cheryl McCartie in Ringarooma.
“I grew up on a hobby farm in Bishopsbourne and often helped my uncle tail lambs, shear sheep and pick peas,” Estelle said.
Before purchasing their own farm in 2008 the couple did a stint of share farming with Jeremy and Veronica Carins on the farm next door.
“Ben and I brought what we call ‘mums’ farm in 2008 which is named Garthowen on Legerwood Lane, it's 430 acres all up.”
The mixed dairy and cropping operation is fully run to benefit their dairy herd, growing crops like turnips, pea and oat silage and maize to feed the cows.
A lot has changed since in the past twelve years starting in a 15 swing over milking just 120 cows to now a fully automatic 50 rotary.
“The swing overs were taking way too long in the end so in 2018 we decided to build a fully automatic 50 rotary, so it is now a one-person operation.
“I just love the animals and miss the interaction with the cows now we have rotary, but the girls are much happier spending more time in the paddock,” Estelle said.
Estelle’s love for animals is certainly evident with one of her cows even letting her ride it like a horse!
The variety of work changes every day for the family of four with the boys, Brooklyn (15) and Callum (13) both opting for the machinery side of farming over the milking.
“They are a good help, there is always a laugh or two.
“They are always in the tractors when we are doing the hay or silage and they both like to rake, disc, mow, cart bales and drive the excavator – basically all the machinery,” she laughed.
Over the next few weeks the couple will be working on getting their maize crops harvested into silage pits and then planning to dry off most of their herd for winter.
“We but are going to milk about 60 through the winter as well as build a new calf shed and putting in water lines for water troughs.
“We are currently building new laneways and changing the paddocks to accommodate for the larger herd size now too,” Estelle said.
Looking to the future the pair will be installing a new pivot on the home farm and navigating home life with teenage boys.
In the immediate outlook we hear Ben will be celebrating his 37th birthday today!
The Fulton-Smith family have nominated Herrick’s Danny and Bec Fenton to feature in the next instalment of the Advertiser’s Farming Families Feature.
The continuous feature will aim to spotlight our special agriculture sector through the next generation’s eyes.