THINK of farmers having a neighbourly yarn over the fence.
Then add in an extra 40,000 people and rural companies raring to do roaring trade in the south … and yes it’s Southern Field Days time in New Zealand Field Days publicity officer Justine Williams said the three-day event would be a boost for moral for farmers and a welcome relief before the flood repairs ahead.
The event at Waimumu, Gore, runs from February 12 to 14 and the main events include the Nadroga rugby team taking part in a rugby game against the Southland Invitational XV tonight, tractor pulling competitions, innovation awards, fencing competition and speed shearing.
The Southern Field Days site was used as an evacuation centre for animals and people during the widespread flooding in Southland last week. At its busiest, the Waimumu site housed 20 families and their children along with animals from the SPCA.
But it didn’t slow preparations for this week’s activities. Exhibitor numbers were also unscathed. “We’ve has the usual cancellations for family reasons, but not many,” Williams said. More than 700 exhibitors will show off their products and interact with visitors during the next three days.
Southland Farm Machinery marketing co-ordinator Hollie Cooper said it was important for the business to show its support for the local community, while also showing off its new products. This year the company would focus on precision agri technology like auto steering or measuring tools.
“It’s all the little things that your tractor can do now,” Cooper said.
“It’s an exciting time to be in agriculture,” she said. Back Country Cuisine usually sell its freeze-dried food through distributors but marketing manager Tony Caudwell, who was setting up at site on Tuesday, said the field days was a chance to speak to people who may be hunters or tramper – its target audience.
“It’s a good opportunity to talk to them directly,” he said. Allan Gallagher, from Farmtrenz, said the field days tended to attract a heap of visitors from up north.
The company doesn’t do much marketing, but Gallagher said the event was an opportunity for customers to put a face to the product and made them more comfortable asking for help if they needed it. “… 2015 was our first year [at field days] and we’ve never regretted it,” he said.
Te Awamutu dairy farmer Richard Harker sells bright yellow surveillance warning signs to help farmers deter crime.
“I’ve had many customers come back and tell me they’ve helped,” Harker said.
Te Southern Field Days committee hope to match or better the 40,000 visitors that attended the event two years ago.
