SOUTHERN Downs farmers now have a new option to turn a little coin from their greatest asset.

New Southern Downs business Farmlife Farmstay has developed a program based on a popular and successful model utilised elsewhere in the state.

The program would see local farmers and hobby farmers play host to international students, offering them a slice of Australian country life.

The man behind the plan is Colin Holliday.

"We were involved in a program like this in Beaudesert and, when we moved over here in December, we planned to continue doing it but found no such program exists in this part of the state,” he said.

"It's really simple - large groups, up to 100 or 200, of mainly Japanese and some South Korean students are always coming to Australia on two-week trips. There are agencies who seek out farms in the country where two to six kids, usually between 16 and 18, can stay for 48 hours and experience life on an Aussie farm.

"We want them to be feeding the animals, helping fix fences, milking cows, mustering the sheep, whatever farm jobs need doing at the time.

"The farmstays make almost $100 per student per night.”

Mr Holliday said many of the students were from large cities.

"This kind of thing is life-changing for them, most haven't even seen the stars before. I've seen young men cry just looking at the night sky.

"We've made so many friends by doing this, and the kids keep in touch by Facebook once they returned home, it's great.”

Mr Holliday and wife Michelle are currently seeking and visiting farms to sign up to their program.

Head to www.farmlifefarmstay.com.au to find out more.