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Fieldays chief executive Peter Nation.
What downturn? Asks National Fieldays chief executive Peter Nation.
About 95% of sites at Mystery Creek were pre-sold by November last year; there is a waiting list of businesses keen to exhibit at the 2016 Fieldays.
Nation says the Fieldays has longstanding exhibitors, most turning up every year since its inception 48 years ago.
"They take the long term view; we all see downturns," he told Dairy News.
"They come here to to realign themselves with existing customers, and they come to show off their brands and show all their new innovation and products.
"We have 300-400 media people attending, so the exhibitors get great exposure.
"Our exhibitors also come to entertain their guests, inviting them to their marquees to entertain them and thank them for their business.
"There is a whole lot of stuff going on here that is not visible; it's not just people standing a stand and doing a brand."
To meet the growing demand from exhibitors, the National Fieldays Society spent $8 million last year, filling a lake and creating 174 new sites.
Nation says the Fieldays remains a melting pot for urban and rural dwellers -- the objective of its founders.
"We are focussed on keeping it real to its roots. When six people founded this organisation 48 years ago the founding objective was to bring town and country together and advance agriculture. We are careful to maintain focus on that."
Nation took over as chief executive this year, after 11 years as a board member. One of his first official tasks was to launch the Fieldays at a breakfast in April.
"For the last 47 years we have reached June and opened the gates after sending out a few media releases. This year we decided on a launch, to get people talking about it."
About 100 Waikato agribusiness leaders attended a breakfast with Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy.
The four-day event opens on June 15.
Nation expects 120,000-140,000 visitors through the gates, including about 3000 overseas visitors.
Mystery Creek will be transformed into "a little city" for four days, he says.
About 10,000 staff will work at exhibition sites and the venue.
Tale of the tape
• 1100 exhibition sites, 95% sold by November last year
• The four-day event pumps $370 million into the national economy and $140m into Waikato
• 3000 international visitors
• 120,000-140,000 visitors expected
• 10,000 exhibitor staff
• 300 media registrations expected
• During the event Mystery Creek's daily power usage is the same as Te Awamutu's
• Mystery Creek also hosts Equidays, conferences, weddings and scout jamborees.
This year’s Fieldays will feature a Rural Advocacy Hub - bringing together various rural organisations who are advocating for farmers and championing their interests as one team, under one roof, for the first time.
OPINION: The Hound notes that the Taxpayers’ Union recently revealed that the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) spent more than $125,000 for its presence at this year’s Mystery Creek Fieldays.
Once again, the sharp minds at St Paul’s Collegiate School in Hamilton were the 2023 Young Innovators of the Year Winners at this year’s Fieldays.
Once again, the sharp minds at St Paul’s Collegiate School in Hamilton were the 2023 Young Innovator of the Year Winner at Fieldays.
OPINION: The future of agricultural innovation is reliant on the sector being more open with its data.
Fonterra has cemented its position as the country’s number one cheesemaker by picking up nine NZ Champion of Cheese trophies this year.
New Zealand dairy processors are welcoming the Government’s commitment to continuing to push for Canada to honour its trade commitments.
An educational programme, set up by Beef + Land New Zealand, to connect farmers virtually with primary and intermediate school students has reported the successful completion of its second year.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has welcomed a resolution adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to declare 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer.
Waikato herd health veterinarian Katrina Roberts is the 2024 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year.
Horticulture NZ chief executive Nadine Tunley will step down in August.
