The below-zero temperature of yesterday nor the early morning Waikato fog of today slowed down the enthusiasm of visitors thronging to the 55th annual Fieldays.
In spite of a high ticket price of $30 for a single day entry, people queued up to gain entry as the gates were opened at 8am yesterday.
Mood on both days was buoyant despite this current economic uncertainty and recession.
Fieldays- the Southern Hemisphere’s largest agricultural event, has seen a record foot traffic for the second day today after the event’s opening yesterday, 14 June which was attended among others by the Prime Minister Chris Hipkins.
Among others who visited the event included Peeni Henare, Minister for Forestry, National leader Christopher Luxon, Act’s Mark Cameron, Duncan Webb, Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Hamilton East MP, Jamie Strange was also seen alongside the prime minister.
Excited visitors have been braving the freezing morning temperatures to explore the nearly 1000 stalls exhibiting shiny new tractors, timeless classics, innovations, farming technology, forestry and sustainability hubs.
This four day event- from 14 to 17 June, is organised by the New Zealand National Fieldays Society, a charitable organisation founded in 1968 for the purpose of advancing the primary industries.
Accordingly, it is a remarkable showcase of agricultural trade, cutting-edge farming technology, innovative agricultural practices, education, and of course, entertainment at the same time. And, not to be missed food stalls.
There are exciting competitions, tracker pulling, watch the petrol heads battle it out in tractor pull, etc.
Fieldays Sustainability Hub -inaugurated by prime Minister yesterday, is set to capture attention just like the Careers Hub where you can see how VR technology is being used to train novice pruners.
As the organisers put it, “Whether you are from in town or out in the country, a Fieldays veteran or visiting for the first time, Fieldays has something for everyone”- and it turns out to be true year after year.
