Sport
23 June, 2023
Seeking Footy's Favourite Farmer
Wycheproof's Ricky Allan was Footy's Favourite Farmer in 2022 – now the hunt is on again and there's nothing to stop the Wimmera nabbing the title this year. Mr Allan's service to Wycheproof Narraport Football Netball Club made him the inaugural...
Wycheproof's Ricky Allan was Footy's Favourite Farmer in 2022 – now the hunt is on again and there's nothing to stop the Wimmera nabbing the title this year.
Mr Allan's service to Wycheproof Narraport Football Netball Club made him the inaugural winner last season.
The former teacher and father of three young children balances mixed farming alongside his younger brother, with supporting his family, and their community's tennis and footy clubs as a playing president.
"To be a finalist was extremely surprising," Mr Allan said.
"It was humbling and I was very proud of the honour."
On being told of his victory in the statewide competition, he joked: "I'm not even sure if I'm my family's favourite farmer – that could be my brother, the uncle."
Mr Allan said the club was "everything" to the community of Wycheproof Narraport.
"We're not big on numbers in terms of participation," he said.
"It's a small town, but it's a quality town.
"We go for quality over quantity, and everyone involved in the club is quality."
The Allans produce predominantly wheat and sheep in an operation where safety is front-of-mind.
"You're dealing with powerful machinery and livestock, and you don't know how they're going to act or react, so you do have to take a lot of precautionary steps," Mr Allan said.
"If you're unable, because of injury, to perform your task, your farming income's going to suffer.
"If you can't be there running your operation because you're injured due to an incident, then ultimately it's going to hurt you, so spending that little bit of money, making sure you're being safe, is actually an investment in not only your health, but also back into the money that's coming in.
"We also have young kids around the farm so we have to be on our toes.
"Once the kids see that you're working safely you're starting to educate the future on how to farm as well."
Now, with nominations open for this year's award, can western Victoria score back-to-back wins?
The competition has been developed by WorkSafe in partnership with AFL Victoria to promote safety both on-farm and within community footy, with $20,000 to be shared equally between the successful farmer and his or her local club.
Last year, Wycheproof Narraport Football Netball Club's priority was installing new accessible toilets at the ground.
There are also monthly prizes including workwear, GPS personal locator beacons, and sports equipment.
In its inaugural year, Footy's Favourite Farmer attracted 155 entries.
Nominations are open now and can be lodged online at countryclubhub.com.auuntil July 26.