When the storm clouds gathered over Spring Plains last Thursday it didn’t just signal the chance of some long-awaited rain, it also meant Ben Watson’s bushranger-style beard might be getting the chop.

“At a New Year’s party last year I said I wouldn’t shave again until there was a flood,” said Ben.

“But then the months went on and on and on. I had to change it, the goal posts had to move.”

For the last 13 months Ben’s beard has been the envy of many hipsters but when the skies finally opened and delivered 70 millimetres of rain on his property ‘Fairfield’ last week, it was time to say goodbye to those luscious locks.

Ben said that his wife Katie was “the real winner” – not only did she get rain; she also got her clean-shaven husband back.

Ben and Katie headed into Narrabri for the momentous clipping to visit trusty barber Paul Foster who gave the sheep farmer a good shearing while the Watson children, George and Lucy watched on.

“Oh the rain was terrific,” said Ben who like all farmers in the district has been impacted by the ongoing drought and hopes the rain continues to fall far and wide.

“I think February is going to be wet.”

Fingers crossed Ben’s prediction is correct.

Spring Plains farmer Ben Watson with his bushranger-style beard. Ben decided 13 months ago that he wouldn’t shave until there was decent rainfall. He's pictured here halfway through his beard clipping in Narrabri.

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