General News
6 March, 2024
Field Days a treat for all in the family
The Wimmera Machinery Field Days' three-day program kicks off today, and is certain to be a crowd drawcard for people of all ages.
The Wimmera Machinery Field Days' three-day program kicks off today, and is certain to be a crowd drawcard for people of all ages.
The field days, at Longerenong, began today and continue through to Thursday.
Harnessed Clydesdale teams, carriage rides, blacksmithing demonstrations, reptile displays, a tractorcade presented by Dunmunkle Sumpoilers' members, are set up alongside Laser Tag fun and an animal nursery for the kids, with most events repeated on each of the three days.
The Country Lifestyle pavilion program includes fashion parades, culinary demonstrations with Dimboola chef Cat Clarke, flower displays, and panel discussions on many topics including farmers’ health and careers in agriculture.
Outdoors, the latest in machinery, industrial equipment and accessories will be on show over 363 sites.
Manager Vanessa Lenehan said special awards will be up for grabs, including one for Machine of the Year and for Ag Business Innovation of the Year.
"There's also awards for best ag-machinery site, best outdoor site, the Alan Heard and Moore pavilion site awards, and best country lifestyle site award," she said.
Farmers, farm-related workers and community members, and enthusiasts have flocked to the three-day annual event since its inception in 1962.
Back then, the Wimmera/Southern Mallee farming population was much greater and about 30,000 attendees from across the region and Victoria, as well as from interstate, made their way to the once-bare paddocks which now form the Wimmera Events Centre.
This year is the 60th event, and organisers expect about 10,000 through the turnstiles, eager to take advantage of the favourable weather and an opportunity to view the latest in farming and industrial machinery and equipment.
Manager Vanessa Lenehan said site numbers were also up this year from the past few years.
She is expecting many program items to prove popular, such as the Market Square showcasing locally grown and produced food and wine.
Wimmera Field Days president Tim Rethus said much has changed in the past six decades since the first Field Days.
"Of course the machinery has changed, and there may be fewer farmers doing more," he said.
"But we now grow a greater diversity of crops, and have adapted new farming systems to be more climate resilient and sustainable."