WITH nearly 800 exhibitors showing their products and produce, visitors to Henty Machinery Field Days will be spoilt for choice.
One thing is certain about this year's Henty Machinery Field Days: everyone will come away with something.
- HENTY MACHINERY FIELD DAYS
- When: Tuesday 20 to Thursday 22
- Where: 8km east of Henty on the Henty Cookardinia Rd
- Parking: Free parking next to the entry gates (follow signs and instructions)
- Hours: 8am to 5pm
- Entry fees: Adults $17. 12-16 years: $5. Under 12 free if accompanied. No concessions.
- Information: www.hmfd.com.au
- Phone: (02) 6929 3305
Whether it's knowledge gained or equipment purchased, ideas shared or friends reacquainted, Henty is set to deliver in spades.
About 800 exhibitors will display everything from hoses to helicopters, hay rakes to hair pieces.
The challenge will be to navigate every stand - whether it is part of the indoor exhibits featuring fashions and furnishings or the outdoor with its latest farm equipment, innovations and services.
The good seasonal conditions will add sheen to the field days, with recent rains bringing through winter crops and an improved production outlook.
The promise of an average spring and summer may add to already healthy livestock demand and prices.
While mice have wreaked havoc in some regions, necessitating re-sowing, and some other later sown crops are patchy, things look pretty good.
The thought of an average season will restore some faith in the farming game and some certainty for farmers to work with after a decade of drought and the opposite extreme of flooding rains.
It might also mean good order books for exhibitors.
Henty field days chairman, Ross Edwards said farming conditions in the region would add to the field days' success.
"Recent rains around the region at Henty but also north to Wagga and to the west means it is looking very good," he said.
"There is an air of positiveness around here now, and we only need a couple more rains from here on in and hopefully it will be a good year.
"The field days continue to grow and we are very happy with not only the quantity of exhibitors, but the quality.
"It's a credit to those people who have stuck in the industry through those dry years that we've had over the past seven or eight years.
"Machinery inquiries are now very positive and people realise they have to keep their plant up to date as much as they can and there are some pretty good deals around. I think people will be at the field days to buy this year - I'm certain of that," Ross said.
He said while much of the success of the field days is a result of the volunteers and contributors, it is also a result of its co-operative structure.
"Everything, including the services and the food outlets, are all run by local organisations; whether it is a parents committee, a football club or a church group.
"It's a not-for-profit organisation and all the money goes back into the local community and the wider area as far as Wagga and Albury, and I believe therein lies the success," Ross said.
From the exhibitor's perspective, much of the success is a result of good understanding by the organisers, he said.
"You've got that personal contact - the people running it are farmers and graziers, and they want to make their field days the best field days around.
"There's also the nature of the diversification in agriculture throughout this area from irrigation, dairying, grape growing, cereals - whatever it might be," Ross said.
"If we get another few falls of rain before the field days, I think attendances will be up to normal levels, if not better. On the wool side, things are positive. Lamb has been good this year and beef cattle has been good.
"I'm very happy with the way things are going and the farming outlook is very positive," Ross said.
After drawing Governor-General Quentin Bryce to open proceedings at last year's field days, organisers have opted for a more down-to-earth approach this year with adventurer, businessman and self-proclaimed patriot Dick Smith conducting the official ceremony.
Like many farmers and producers, Dick is concerned about the erosion of Australia's competitive advantage in quality food production and the consistent rise in demand for often subsidised imported products at the cost of local jobs.
He is also putting his money where his mouth is and is set to re-launch his Australian-made-and-grown jam brand.
Fashion is worlds apart from the mechanical, but Henty this year includes the Natural Fibre Fashion Award. Now in its eighth year, the award celebrates the use of natural fibres - wool, cotton, silk, cashmere and combinations thereof - in garments, hats and accessories.
It is open to designers and hobby sewers alike.
This year's Henty also includes an area devoted to a farmers-style market designed to promote local produce and provide visitors with fresh food to take home.
The aim is to showcase the quality and diversity of locally produced food, and organisers have engaged stallholders who grow, sell or make bread, fruit and vegetables, cheeses, wine, coffee, organic foods, dairy products, jams and preserves, chocolate and smallgoods.
The food will generally be produced or sourced in the Riverina and North East Victoria.
Attendees will also note the return of the theme song. After struggling to obtain copyright on the original version for last year, and commissioning a modern version, the organisers have come up trumps this year and the much-loved tune is back on the charts.
