I am on my way to owning a cattle farm from a non farming background too.

I have always liked the idea of being on a farm. So I went to uni, and am 6 months off having a bachelor of agriculture. I majored in Production Animal Health, with elective subjects in Agribusiness. So I now have a sound knowledge of the business and livestock side of farming. I went and got a job feedlotting too. I knew how to ride horses, and needed the cattle handling experience and it has paid off 10 fold. I went from scared of cattle to more comfortable working a cow than walking down a city street.

My partner owns a small property, and we eventually would like to move to a dairy where he can pursue his dreams, and I can have a beef herd on the side (beef is my passion).

Until then I plan on getting a job in a consulting/contracting type position and working with ruminants to both get some money under the belt, and get even more hands on knowledge of farming.

I came from a city upbringing and moved to the country when I met my SO. The decision to do a course (3 years later) has been the best one. It took a long time but so worth the knowledge I now have. It's hard to get started without something behind you. If you have no experience, would recommend a course (even short ones) and working with other farmers to get a handle on the true workings of a farm.

It's nice to have those images in your mind of green pastures and cattle grazing, but until you understand the hard work, the supply chain your aiming for, the nutrition, what it's like to pull a dead calf, it will be really hard. Be a shit kicker for a while. Work for someone elses farm, learn as much as you can, and then decide if you can do it.