Fieldays could return to old ways

WAIKATO TIMES

COMING BACK TO FIELDAYS? Walsh Motors parts manager Alan Cottington demonstrates John Deere machinery at the dealer's demonstration day in September.

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Farmers could, again, be offered a chance to try agricultural machinery before they buy at the National Agricultural Fieldays.

Barry Quayle, general manager of Mystery Creek Event Centre which hosts the southern hemisphere's biggest agricultural trade show, said a comprehensive review of the event was under way with organisers seeking feedback from the more than 1000 exhibitors who fill 1300 sites each June.

John Deere dealers boycotted Fieldays this year, because they were restricted to static displays and Cambridge dealer Walsh Motors organised its own demonstration day at which farmers could sit behind the wheel of its tractors.

In recent years the increased size of the event, and health and safety regulations, have made demonstration of large farm machinery and vehicles difficult, but Mr Quayle said organisers were looking at ways of giving exhibitors their own demonstration areas where farmers could get hands-on experience.

Mr Quayle denied any link between the boycott and the review in which exhibitors are being asked to share their hopes for the show in the next decade.

Some suggestions would be incorporated in next year's show, while others would have to wait until 2011, Mr Quayle said.

Ken Walsh, of Walsh Motors, welcomed the review and said he would consider exhibiting again if there was room for demonstrations.

Mr Walsh said the 250 farmers who attended his demonstration days at Monavale Sand Quarry, near Cambridge, in September, had enjoyed the event because they could get behind the wheel and drive. He said the ability to try machinery was "just what the people are asking for".

Ken Fotheringhame, who attended the demonstration days, said at the time: "Fieldays used to be like this when it was at Te Rapa."

Mr Walsh said he was also in discussions with the John Deere group over more demonstration days.

Fieldays organisers are also reintroducing dedicated exhibitor parking, which was dropped for the first time last year.

Organisers are also moving the innovation centre, where farmers show off on-farm developments, to just outside the Mystery Creek Pavilion which will host the Premier Feature entitled Innovation.

The review is also looking at the range of competitions, and the value they add to the event.

Next year's event will be held June 16 to 19.

- © Fairfax NZ News