It took almost 90 years for unity among Victoria's farmers to become a reality.

As early as 1890, during the shearing turmoil, the Pastoralists Union of Victoria and Southern Riverina was formed. The main concern at that time appeared to be the strength of the Amalgamated Shearers' Union and it became apparent that pastoralists had to unite and show strength.

In 1907 the Southern Riverina formed its own Pastoral Association and some 18 years later the Pastoral Association of Victoria became known as the Graziers' Association of Victoria.

In 1927 dairyfarmers throughout the state banded together to form the Victorian Dairyfarmers Association.

At the 1928 Annual Conference of the Country Progressive Party, the Victorian Wheatgrowers Association was formed to secure unity among wheatgrowers. This was born out of the concern and discontent against depressed conditions and the urgent need for orderly wheat marketing.

Following approaches by Euroa woolgrowers in 1939, the Victorian Wheatgrowers Association expanded and became known as the Victorian Wheat and Woolgrowers' Association.

In the early 1940's the Victorian division of the Australian Primary Producers' Union was formed following a meeting in Warrnambool.

And so, for some years to come, Victorian farmers were represented by a number of farmer organisations. Each had a similar aim: to achieve a better go for their members.

In 1966 grower unity began to play a prominent role in the thinking of Victorian Wheat and Woolgrowers' Association members when it was announced that the Association would continue to press for the greatest possible unity of Victorian farm organisations.

This was despite a walkout from two grazier representatives from four-party talks, which included the Victorian Wheat and Woolgrowers' Association, the Australian Primary Producers' Union, the Victorian Dairyfarmers Association and the Graziers' Association of Victoria.

In February 1966 the state executive of the Australian Primary Producers' Union unanimously declared that its unity team be authorised to examine prospects of an amalgamation between the Victorian division of the Australian Primary Producers' Union and Victorian Wheat and Woolgrowers' Association.

The official signing ceremony between the two parties took place at the Windsor Hotel, Melbourne, on July 12 1968 and this amalgamation spawned the beginning of the Victorian Farmers' Union.

It became apparent to the Victorian Farmers' Union that effective lobbying could not be achieved with two farmers' organisations as government could play one off against the other.

With this in mind, a joint meeting of the Graziers' Association of Victoria and the Victorian Farmers' Union was held in Beaufort in August 1975, to discuss farm unity with a view to complete amalgamation of primary producer organisations.

In 1976 the two dairy organisations, the Victorian Dairyfarmers' Association and the dairy section of the Victorian Dairyfarmers Union amalgamated to form a united dairy body known as the United Dairyfarmers' of Victoria.

It was at this stage that a working group was formed in relation to the amalgamating of the Victorian Farmers' Union, the Graziers' Association of Victoria and the United Dairyfarmers' of Victoria.

July 7, 1979 saw the formation of the Victorian Farmers' and Graziers' Association, the result of the amalgamation of the three farming organisations.

The first president of this unified body was Mr Miles Bourke who remained at the helm until his untimely death in 1983.

Mr Des Crowe took over the Presidency in 1983 where he remained until his retirement in 1986. It was at this time that history was made with the election of Mrs Heather Mitchell as President - the first woman leader of a farming organisation.

In 1986 the Victorian Farmers' and Graziers' Association changed its name to the Victorian Farmers Federation to align it with other states and the national farming organisation, the National Farmers Federation.

Perhaps the most significant factor in cementing unification was the Farmer Rally held in June 1985. The unity and determination displayed by the rural sector re-established a firm base from which to lobby governments and helped bridge the gap between the city, the farm and rural Victoria.

In 1989 Mr Alex Arbuthnot became the first dairyfarmer to become President of the VFF.

In 1992 MR Bill Bodman was elected President, followed by Mr Wally Shaw in 1995 and Mr Peter Walsh in 1998.

After four successful years at the helm, Peter retired from the Presidency in 2002 to enter State Parliament and is now the Deputy Leader of the Victorian National Party,Minister for Agriculture and Food Security and Minister for Water.

At the July 2002 Annual Conference of the VFF, Lockington dairyfarmer Paul Weller was elected the eighth President of the VFGA/VFF.

In July 2005, Birregurra wool producer, Simon Ramsay, was elected ninth President of the VFF.

Bringing about a generational change within the organisation, Bridgewater grain and livestock farmer Andrew Broad was elected the youngest VFF President in June 2009, at the age of 33.