A tent city has sprung up at Manfeild as Central Districts Field Days gets under way.
The three-day event, hosted in Feilding and which has begun today, is the biggest regional field days in the country, second only to the National Agricultural Fieldays at Mystery Creek near Hamilton.
Each year it provides the opportunity for agricultural businesses to showcase their products and services, meet with clients and friends, and develop new business relationships.
For farmers, it is an opportunity to view new machinery and products on the market, look at new initiatives and technology, and meet with friends and farming associates.
Event manager Cheryl Riddell said over the years, visitor and exhibitor numbers had steadily increased.
"And this year looks to be no exception, with 560 exhibitors and more than 38,000 people expected to attend," she said.
Last year there were 550 exhibitors.
"[On Thursday] genuine farmers come along and we get 8 or 9000. Friday, many people come after Feilding's stock sale. Saturday attracts the biggest crowd, the public and lifestylers from all over the south of the North Island," said Riddell.
There would be popular events that people have come to expect, including the tractor pull, wood chopping and the national excavator competition.
"The Norwood Farm Machinery Tractor Pull has become such a popular event that this year Norwood Farm Machinery and ANZ Bank have moved to that area. We completely sold out of sites there quickly and have had to shift the vintage farm machinery to a new location. They can be found midfield with their usual stationary engines, vintage tractors and farm machinery," said Riddell.
Riddell said, once again, the Taste of Central Districts would have a variety of products from the local sector.
She said there were some exciting new exhibitors on site, including Gladstone Vineyard and Artisan Vinegar, Koast Limoncello and Southern Grain Spirits.
For the first time, FoodHQ will be on site. Based in Palmerston North, it is New Zealand's international centre for collaborative food research.
Riddell said organisers were hoping for good weather, after having to close a couple of hours early last year because of the threat of Cyclone Lusi.
"What I think is great about Central Districts Field Days is we have something for everyone," Riddell said.
"Some field days don't really have things for women, so I think it's great that we have got something for every member of a rural farming family here."
Visitors will also be spoilt for choice with food zones serving up crowd favourites like whitebait fritters, gourmet burgers, hot dogs, fresh hot donuts and other tasty treats.
Riddell said visitors come from within a two-hour driving radius.
"People love coming here, as they know they are going to deal with their local dealers, people they deal with all the time. That's what they want, to be able to catch up with them, and as they say, it is the best day off the farm all year."
Gates open at 8.30am each day until 4.30pm on Thursday and Friday, closing at 4pm on Saturday. The admission cost is $12 for adults, $9 for seniors on Thursday and Friday only and Under 16s have free access when accompanied by an adult.
FOOD HQ TO INFORM
FoodHQ is showing what it is made of as an exhibitor at this week's Central Districts Field Days at Feilding.
The international centre for collaborative food research is based in Palmerston North.
"It generates value for the global food industry through innovation across the value chain, providing food and beverage companies with one-door access to work with organisations that have a proven record of undertaking remarkable research: science that is useful and innovative," said FoodHQ programme director Mark Ward.
He said that during the Central Districts Field Days "we'll be talking to people about our vision and what we're doing to help grow New Zealand's Agrifood sector".
Ward said it was a chance for people to go and talk to FoodHQ experts about the science being carried out. FoodHQ's partner organisations include Fonterra, ESR, Massey University, AgResearch, and the Riddet Institute.
Ward said FoodHQ's partners have expertise in four core areas: food for health, sustainable production, consumer insights and manufacturing.
FIELD DAYS GROWING SAYS VENUE PROVIDER
Increasing focus on agribusiness at the Central Districts Field Days at Manfeild this week is a measurement of the Feilding event's seemingly ever-growing importance, the venue provider has said.
Manfeild Park general manager Julie Keane is impressed that the three-day event, which has again attracted significant agri-tech involvement and more exhibitors.
Of specific interest is the reported association with an off-site New Zealand Agribusiness Investment Showcase, a partnership event being hosted by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise with sponsors ASB and Massey University, at which nine fresh start-ups will present in the hope of gaining investment.
Keane says this fresh initiative further emphasises that there is more growth ahead for an event that regularly draws 38,000 attendees and is acknowledged as being of huge importance to the Manawatū and the major communities of Feilding and Palmerston North.
"Central Districts Field Days has been a part of Manfeild Park since the mid-1980s and in the years since then we have seen it develop from quite humble beginnings into a spectacular showcase with focus on every aspect of rural business and livestyle," she said.
"It is supported by a huge count of businesses that recognise this as being a prime opportunity to introduce new products to a massive audience.
"Yet it seems to me that the event's reach has potential to be all the greater in 2015 - this year
s undertaking especially recognises that this is a full national event of strengthening international importance and our pride in being the host venue is fuelled by this," said Keane.
The Field Days was easily the biggest single annual event run at Manfeild.
The addition of FoodHQ at the Field Days this year, Keane said, is just one example of the innovation that now ties into the event.
"It's one of those events that, while strongly supported within our own region, also draws people from much further afield on the strength of its reputation as being an ever-growing event, that every year has something new to reinforce the organisers' contention that it is 'the best day off the farm all year'.
"It's just going to be a magnificent couple of days," said Keane.
Source: Fairfax Media and Press Release - Manfield
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