Following Comboyne's crowning as NSW's Legendairy capital earlier this year he hopes others will consider a career in the field too.

The 33-year-old said the village's newfound Legendairy status has reminded people "what dairy does for the area" and "really brought the community together".

As it is, Comboyne is home to a cluster of 13 dairy farms, mostly run by farmers nearing retirement.

"It's a hard industry to get into if you don't have a family background to help out," Shane said.

"Unfortunately, a lot of local farmers are ready to retire.

"We've got three younger fellas that have taken over their family farms, including me, but the others don't have anyone next in line."

Shane moved back to the family farm about six years ago and in July he and his wife Nicole took over the business from his father Trevor, who has taken an early retirement.

Shane said he never wanted to leave dairying, but was forced to look for other work following deregulation.

"With deregulation, I left and worked in the Hunter Valley on beef properties, while dad cut the herd numbers and worked off farm.

"When we came back six years ago we had 30 cows, but we've built it up to 80 on 149 hectares and we'd like to grow a bit more, but not become too big," he said.

"Now the milk price is a bit better we can build it up."

Shane was born and raised on the farm and continues to love the lifestyle, as do his children Aiden (six) and Jacob (three).

"I've always wanted to do it since I was a kid," he said.

"I like the routine of dairy farming, compared to beef.

"Dairy is a challenge every day and it gets even harder when you have to push the profit button to make a living out of it."

Shane says he's also enjoying raising his children the way he was raised.

"As kids, we reared the calves, milked, explored the farm and as you get older you start using machinery," he said.

"Our kids are very keen. I might have to buy a second farm for them."

Currently, Shane has Illawarra cows.

Although he admits they aren't the most popular breed, he thinks their longevity and good production values make them the best.

"Everyone is into black and white cows, but I've always had a fascination with reds.

"I've still got 15 to 16-year-old red cows milking as well as the day they came in.

"We still milk in a walk-through dairy because I just love being around cows."

Last year, Shane showed his cows for the first time at the Wauchope Show and hopes to do it again.

"Shows are few and far between now and there's the cost of travelling too, until you get big enough to have something you could win at."

Since taking over the farm, Shane and wife Nicole have trialled different farming practices, like using organic fertilisers.

"We're trying to unlock the phosphorous we've got in the ground, but isn't available to any plants, and we're growing a lot more feed."

"That's what I think makes a good dairy farmer - someone who can multi-task and does as much for himself as he can."