But Woolsthorpe's Matthew Roach has travelled north to learn more about his land.

"University has been great to get a deeper understanding of issues and to realise I can't rely all the information out there. It has allowed me to become more informed and see through nonsense," he said.

"I spoke to student vets at the Warrnambool Vets who were positive about it. I'd also heard a lot of good things about Wagga Wagga and I had a few friends from school up there so leaving wasn't a hard decision."

Three years ago Mr Roach travelled the 700 kilometres from Woolsthorpe to Wagga Wagga to not only gain independence, but to learn a few more tricks of the trade.

Currently in his third and final year of a Bachelor of Agricultural Sciences at Charles Sturt University, Mr Roach knows dairying is his future.

"Dairying is great because you can see results everyday," he said.

"You always have to keep your finger on the pulse and there's always something you can do better. University has been a nice break away from home and it's definitely a different climate up here; a world away from what I'm used too. I'd love to eventually come back home to dairying and move into pasture and cropping in the south-west."

A Gardiner Dairy Foundation tertiary scholarship made the move up north viable.

"The scholarship allows me to pay rent, get the necessities and get on with my studies," he said. "It's a big leap to go so far away from home, but once you're here it's worth it. This is a great way to do something positive for your future and make friends for life. Without the scholarship I wouldn't have been able to stay on campus and get home on holidays."

The foundation has opened applications for its 2020 tertiary scholarships, with seven scholars from Victorian dairy regions to receive $10,000 annually over three years. For more information head to gardinerfoundation.com.au