Why self-taught farmer Paige is chasing love on reality TV

Brisbane girl turned self-taught sheep and cattle farmer, Paige Marsh, loves everything about her life in Cassilis, NSW, except the dating pool.

Living in a town of 300, Paige Marsh knew she wouldn’t meet anyone on Tinder that she hadn’t already at the local pub.

The 28-year-old from Brisbane is a self-taught sheep and cattle farmer, who relocated to the tiny town of Cassilis, in central West NSW, to live her country dreams.

Now, the only trouble is finding someone to share it with.

“I don’t have Tinder but from what I’ve heard from the younger folk in our area, you don’t really find anything,” Marsh told The Daily Telegraph.

“People are either much older or younger than me.”

Paige Marsh, 28, is looking for love on Farmer Wants A Wife. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Over the past 11 seasons, Farmer Wants A Wife Australia has only featured three female farmers.

With Sunday night’s premiere, Marsh makes the fourth for the series as a whole, and is the first female farmer since Channel 7 rebooted the franchise in 2019.

She’s also a rarity because she wasn’t born (and obviously hasn’t married) into the farm life. She chose it, setting her heart on agriculture at the age of 15.

“Living in a city, I wasn’t sure if it was something I could get into. Like most people, I presumed you had to be raised on the land.”

But in 2017, Marsh seized an opportunity to move to a farm for work experience and never looked back.

This year’s farmers include Farmer Will, 26, from Berriwillock, Victoria; Farmer Paige, 28, from Cassilis, NSW; Farmer Ben, 27, from Wingham, NSW; Farmer Benjamin, 33, from Guyra, NSW; and Farmer Harry, 23, from Kyabram, Victoria.

“There’s a feeling on the farm. I’ve found a place that I belong,” she said.

However, the intensity of the lifestyle has proved to be a romantic roadblock.

“It’s not just a job. It becomes part of us, and it can sometimes be all encompassing. You don’t have to be a farmer to date me. But you need to understand things will pop up at 7pm on Friday night, and you have to fix the fence because otherwise the cows will get out.”

Paige Marsh says her three main criteria for a future partner are “kindness, someone that’s open, and genuine laughter”.

Four days after Marsh’s last exam, the casting call went out, and she figured why not?

“I’ve been working and studying full time for the last two years, which didn’t leave much time for anything else,” Marsh said.

“When I did have time, I was going to camp drafts or rodeos with friends. I’m the only single one in the group. Then not having a selection — or anyone — in town to date … it’s definitely limiting.”

She admits not thinking much about the actual TV show, until now.

“I was only thinking about the opportunity to meet people. It’s still very surreal.”

Nine eligible singles are vying for Marsh’s heart on Farmer Wants A Wife.

The franchise is actually the world’s most successful dating show, with the Australian version alone producing nine marriages, two long-term relationships and 25 babies.

So we reckon she’s got a pretty good shot.