The 20-year-old has graduated with a Certificate Four in Agriculture, specialising in Dairy Production.

He was recently awarded Dux Gold Medal for Excellence in Course at Tocal Agricultural College at Paterson.

While there was no pressure to join his brothers and brother-in-law on the wall, his father John Crittenden said the former Nowra High School student had it in his sights. 

"I said to him, 'you don't have to achieve it' but sure enough, he said to me 'I did it Dad, I got on the wall'," John said. 

Joey started at Tocal three years ago and this year enrolled in a Bachelor of Agriculture through Charles Sturt University at Wagga Wagga, studying via correspondence.

He's studying through distance education and works full-time for Sam Graham, a dairy farmer at Numbaa.

John said balancing work and university study by correspondence will present challenges, but Joey's up to it.

"I told him 'it's up to you to learn, they offer the education and you have to grab it'," John said. 

"He's a goer though, he's worked since he was 14, and his boss, Sam, has been wonderful to him so as long as he stays on top of things, he'll be fine." 

Joey recently returned from Adelaide, where he was selected as one of five young people to receive a scholarship and participate in the Aussie Red Dairy Conference.

He's now back home and working towards his long-term goals, which John said includes becoming a teacher. 

"We've very proud of everything he's done," John said. 

"His grandparents, his sister and my wife and I were both there when he received his award and everyone was clapping and cheering. 

"He's a hell of a good kid."