2015 Central Districts Field Days - still the best day off the farm!

This year’s Central Districts Field Days welcomed over 30,000 visitors through its gates over the weekend. The sun came out and so did the crowds as the event celebrated all things rural.

Now in its 22nd year, the field days - held at Manfeild in Feilding - saw visitors and exhibitors come from all over the country to compete, buy and enjoy three days of agricultural events, products and displays.

This year saw the introduction of a new programme dedicated to promoting and fostering careers in agriculture. Branded as Get Ahead and powered by NZFarmer.co.nz, this initiative allowed students to talk to champions about the jobs they do. Students were also tasked with a simple challenge in return for a free haircut - Get a haircut and get a real job! The hairdressers on site mowed through 120 haircuts over the three days.

Fairfax NZ AgriMedia brand manager Dean Williamson said exhibitors at the site were up on last year, reaching almost 560, with 111 new exhibitors.

The farmers looking to splash out were on a mission - they knew what they were after and hunted it down, he said.

The stock-handling systems, in particular, were a popular choice, with sales continuing right through until the final day of the event. And exhibitors with "big ticket" items like machinery and tractors also saw good transactions.

Among the more popular attractions was the FoodHQ site, giving farmers and visitors an insight into New Zealand's international centre for food innovation. Visitors had the opportunity to taste preservative-free brownies and ginger slice with an export shelf life of four months, and discover the potential value in broad beans as a fodder crop, a protein source, a nitrogen-fixer in our soils and a healthy snack food.

FoodHQ was also the venue for a number of events and networking functions, including presentations by the regional development task force, MP Nathan Guy, and an FMG breakfast hosted by Jamie McKay from radio's Farming Show.

ENDS

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