"Quite often, particularly during lambing, calving and shearing time, you are working from dawn until dusk which does give one much of an opportunity to socialise and meet girls which in many ways is very much to a rural man's detriment," Mr Peden told the Goulburn Post.

But all of this might change over coming weeks when Mr Peden, and five other eligible bachelors, star in the new season, The Farmer Wants a Wife series due to premier on WIN TV tonight.

The son of Robert and Maree Peden of Bullamalita Merino Stud, Michael (24) is already a veteran of the rural world, having won from childhood countless rural competitions including the junior judging competition at Sydney Royal last decade and the prestigious NSW sheep judging championship in several years ago.

For the full story, please see Monday's Goulburn Post, available from our front office in Auburn St, or at all leading newsagencies across the Goulburn area.