From Farm to Forever is the tagline of the Australian TV show Farmer Wants a Wife, encapsulating the enduring love, friendship, and connection each farmer hopes to find.
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For Kyabram farmer Harry Lloyd, who appeared on the twelfth season in 2022, finding that forever person became a reality after ending the season declaring his love for Melbourne girl Tess Brookman.
Finding love on national television is a leap few are willing to take, but for Harry, it was a risk worth embracing.
His family and friends had always joked about him joining the show, and when the opportunity arose, he decided to go for it.
Tess, who at that time was a student on the Gold Coast with dreams of becoming a psychologist, was intrigued by Harry’s profile and decided to apply.
The producers made the match, Harry gave his approval, and before they knew it, filming had begun.
Now, nearly three fun-filled years later — after spending time together in sunny Queensland — they’ve returned to Harry’s family farm to embark on their next chapter.
With smiles from ear to ear, radiating a warmth that feels angelic, their connection is stronger than ever.
What started on a reality TV show has blossomed into a love story neither of them could have imagined, and one thing is certain, farmer Harry has found his forever love in Tess.
“It was the best thing I’ve ever done and was really fun,” Harry said.
“Everyone on the crew was really great to work with and was really kind, and they really cared about you. It was a really positive experience.”
Tess agreed with Harry, adding how wonderful the opportunity was.
“We were living on a beautiful dairy property, all us girls got to go out and learn how to farm and Harry was awesome from the get-go,” Tess said.
“But it was three months, three intense months of living together and filming from 5am to 1am.
“You learn a lot about yourself, I think in that experience. Being under stress and not sure what’s going to be put on TV.
“On our farm we said friends first and be respectful, and we just had a lot of fun, and I think I just stuck to my own lane a little for self-preservation, probably.”
Right from the start, Harry openly said that he really liked Tess. In fact, it was from day one.
“There was always something I really liked about Tess right from day one and that just kept growing and growing and growing,” Harry said with a smile while looking towards Tess.
“It’s kind of what you want in that kind of situation, I think.”
As the season progressed, their relationship blossomed and on the finale episode, Harry admitted he had struggled with the concept of a long-distance romance, but confessed his love for Tess.
Ecstatic and overjoyed by his heartfelt words, Tess expressed her love for Harry in return.
So, it’s no wonder that after filming wrapped, their relationship took a positive turn, with Harry moving to the Gold Coast to be closer to her.
Harry took on some farming work, while Tess continued her studies and later, the couple moved to Airlie Beach after Tess was offered a job opportunity to progress her career.
Admitting that the Gold Coast felt like a big city compared to his hometown of Kyabram, Harry said he found comfort in the familiarity of farm work and said it felt like a home away from home.
“It was a really good, and it was like having a bit of home somewhere else,” Harry said.
“I met a lot of new people up there, and it was another really positive experience.”
“I think since we’ve met, we have met so many new people, had so many new experiences and learnt a lot,” Tess said.
“We moved away from this farm and learnt two other ways of farming in two different areas.
“It broadens your understanding of farming … it was busy while I was working and studying too, but it was a great experience.”
Earlier this year, the loved-up couple left the sunny shores of Airlie Beach and returned to home soil in Victoria, where Tess now works as a college psychologist at St Augustine’s College in Kyabram.
After years of study, she is thoroughly enjoying the role, supported by a wonderful team as she settles into community life while helping Harry with the farm.
And as for Harry, it’s business as usual back on the family farm, as if he had never left.
Despite their busy work schedules, community involvement, local sport and according to the couple many visitors, Harry and Tess have found a cause close to their hearts in Farm Angels, formerly known as Drought Angels.
The pair is dedicated to raising awareness for the organisation, which supports farming individuals and families across Australia in times of need.
For Harry, the mission is personal — he vividly recalls his own family receiving help from similar organisations during his childhood.
“Farm Angels is something that is really important to both Tess and I,” Harry said.
“Growing up during the millennial drought, our family was affected pretty heavily by drought, and we received support from organisations like them.
“So, any opportunity we can help support them and get out there and help everyone across Australia, we will. And it’s just not necessarily the farmer, it can be the family and the kids too.
“I still remember one Christmas when we got all these extra gifts that were donated from strangers, and it was just amazing that people cared about us and thought of doing that … It’s really important to get out there and check on your neighbours, it's not always necessarily about money, it’s just as important to be actively checking up on people.”
As a psychologist, Tess understands the struggles and concerns surrounding mental health, which strengthens her commitment to the cause.
Noting that people may say they are okay when, in reality, they are not.
“We are happy to support an organisation that is, so values driven and are doing such good work,” Tess said.
“And something that Farm Angels offers is mental health checks of either a phone call to the farmer or even jumping in the car and visiting them and the family on the farm.
“I think in my line of work that is really important, and we are happy to support and raise awareness in whatever capacity we can to help other people know the organisation.”
In their mid-20s, Harry and Tess have already accomplished a great deal together, and their journey is just beginning, with their entire future still ahead.
Over the years, one question that has frequently come up for the couple, is whether Harry plans to ask Tess to marry him.
I mean, the TV show is called Farmer Wants a Wife, so it makes sense … Are there any wedding plans, or perhaps thoughts of starting a family? Their response ... Well, let's just say they like to keep everyone guessing.
“We are enjoying where we are now, and we are just going to keep going,” Harry said.
“Life’s good now.
“We have our dreams of owning a farm and hopefully a family and all those things, and I think it is a question we are asked often,” Tess said with a smile while adoringly looking at Harry.
“But hopefully together forever and all that fun stuff to look forward too.”
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