The title relates to the title of the Inaugural Lecture of the Late Professor John L Dillon, Foundation Professor of Farm Management at UNE, in whose memory this lecture series was established. The author has been involved in the farm management discipline for more than 50 years. He reflects on the nature and origins of the discipline and outlines some key aspects of its evolution. The discipline boomed in the 1960s and 70s, both internationally and at UNE. Yet it has fallen into relative decline subsequently. He suggests some of the reasons for the decline, focussing particularly on issues in Australia. He discusses the need for a revival in a world in which food security is likely to be an increasingly serious problem. He concludes with thoughts about the prospects and prerequisites for a revival of the discipline.