There’s nothing better than a delicious Sunday Roast and who better to recommend the best recipe than a lamb farmer themselves?
Meet Scott Young, a third-generation livestock and cropping farmer from Ballan, located roughly halfway between Ballarat and Melbourne.
Q: Why did you become a farmer?
A: Scott:
Growing up as a third-generation farmer I always loved spending time outdoors and helping on the family farm learning from my Father and Grandfather. Every day was different and presented new challenges and there is ALWAYS something to do. Depending on the weather, a breakdown, a look around the sheep or even a phone call, can change the days plan in an instant! I think this is one of the things I love about farming.
Q: If you weren’t a farmer what would you be?
A: Scott
Being a livestock and cropping farmer there’s lots of variety and challenges. As you wear many, many hats on the farm, a list of some typical jobs you will do on a daily basis include;
• Agronomist
• Vet
• Mechanic
• Shearer
• Engineer
• Data specialist
• GPS Auto steer specialist
• Fencer
• Livestock Handler
• Machinery driver
• Record keeper
• Accountant
• Plus, many, many more
And although I am not fully qualified in these, I am required to have a good understanding to ensure my business runs smoothly and my costs do not blow out.
Ultimately, I love what I do and get up every day excited as to what lays ahead.
Q: Is it a family affair?
A: Scott
Together with my wife Lisa and two daughters Rachel and Annalese, we farm approximately
900ha near Ballan in Victoria.
I wouldn’t be able to do everything without my employee Summer Dehnert, she loves the livestock and is better with the latest technology than I!
Q: How do you utilise technology on the farm?
A: Scott
We have been breeding prime lambs for over 15 years now and are always looking to improve, genetics, eating quality, animal health and welfare. We use pain relief for all invasive procedures and are constantly monitoring stock health.
There have been some great improvements in livestock technology in recent years. Electronic Identification (EID) ear tags means we can track an animals’ health treatments and weight life. This is an important tool for improving the flock and for biosecurity and traceability of the national sheep herd.
Our automatic sheep handler catches weighs and drafts. This combined with EID and WiFi drench gun allows for accurate drenching and recording for sheep health treatments.
Our tractors also have GPS steering, paddock recording and electronic implement control.
Q: What’s your farm doing to combat climate change?
A: Scott:
I consider myself a soil farmer, everything that happens on farm depends on the condition of my soil. Improving the soil for my benefit helps not only us, but the environment as well.
Over the past 25 years we have planted over 40,000 native trees, fenced off 3.5km of river frontage and are part of a group of farmers creating a native wildlife corridor along the Moorabool River.
We host part of the Moorabool North Windfarm renewable energy project.
Q: Give us your best Sunday Roast recipe
A: Scott:
Scotty’s Sunday Lamb Roast
–Leg of lamb (Fernleigh Park Pastoral of course)
–3 cloves garlic
–Bunch Rosemary
–3-4 cups stock or water and ½ cup of some nice red wine
–Olive oil
–S & P
–Pearce leg with knife in spots and put garlic into meat
–Rub with olive oil S & P
–Put in roasting dish on top of Rosemary
–Add liquid, cover and cook in oven @ 170C for 4-5 hours depending on size of leg.
–Rest 30 minutes
Enjoy