Mr Farrell is at the head of the Burrumbuttock Hay Runners organisation and he is busily planning the next adventure. 

After another successful hay run to Queensland earlier this year, Mr Farrell has now turned his attention to Victoria’s dairy farmers. 

The next run is scheduled to take place early in the New Year. 

Organiser Brendan Farrell said it was un-Australian that dairy farmers were expected to wake up each morning just to lose $800 an hour when they go to work to milk their cows.

“We’ll probably end up doing down to Warrnambool, Geelong way for the dairy industry because they can’t afford hay, they can’t afford food.

“We’ve got plenty of hamper packs and plenty of hay coming on board so we’ll fire the trucks down there.”

Mr Farrell expected the dairy support run would be held in either January or February – when he finished his harvest and trucks become available after summer grain deliveries.

Last week, Mr Farrell, who has also been nominated as Australian of the Year, launched his latest fundraising initiative at the Henty Machinery Field Days. 

That project is to donate bulls and rams to drought-affected farmers.

Mr Farrell said stock agents were inspecting herd bulls in Queensland for the “Buy-a- Bull” program.

“If we can buy bulls at $3000 to $4000, we will donate them to farmers who want to rebuild their herds,’’ he said.

“There will be a category on the application form so producers can nominate what type of bull they require.

“The bulls will be delivered to Blackall saleyards and distributed into a 500 kilometres radius of Longreach, taking in Hughenden, Winton and Cunnamulla.

“It all depends where the farmers are – if we have four or five farmers in Cunnamulla, we will truck some down to them.’’

Mr Farrell said the next phase of the hay runners was to look to the future, despite drought-breaking rains in western Queensland.

“We need to start this program to get mouths to eat all that grass that is growing,’’ he said.

“The grass is good but it only needs to be dry for six months and they are back to where they started.’

“We have triple road trains and stock crates ready to rock and roll – blokes are over the moon to do whatever part they can.”

During his time at the field days, Mr Farrell donated the use of the Burrumbuttock Hay Runners courtesy bus in the field days car park and sold merchandise from the BHR trailer to raise money for drought-affected farmers.

“It’s an absolute pleasure to be here and hopefully we can keep doing it,’’ he said.

“The Hay Runners look after drought, fire and flood – we will tackle the dairy industry now to keep the dream alive for them.”

The hay runners have completed 12 hay runs in the past three years to Bourke, Weimoringal, Brewarrina, Tilpa, Louth and Lightening Ridge in NSW.

In January, 167 trucks crossed the Queensland border carrying donated hay to Ilfracombe.

This was followed in April by a world record 160km long convoy of 252 prime movers pulling 405 trailers of hay to Queensland.

This equated to 14,000 big squares transported from Darlington Point to Ilfracombe in 48 hours.

“When you see someone down, just give them a hand up,’’ Mr Farrell said.

“The Australian of the Year award nomination is all good and well, but they would have to chop it up into about 700 pieces, as that is how many truck drivers, wives and kids come along on the hay runs.’’

To date, Burrumbuttock Hay Runners have donated 60,000 square and round bales to more than 7500 farmers.

Leeton residents wanting to lend their support and help should get in touch with Mr Farrell.