Visitors come to connect, discover and experience the future of New Zealand’s primary industries.

The CD field days has been bringing NZ’s rural communities and industries together for the past 27 years. The event has grown from a collection of marquees into a significant national event.

It attracts exhibitors and attendees from across the country to the rural heartland of the North Island. From farmers, foodies to tech-heads and townies, it is now New Zealand’s largest regional field days and has something for everyone.

The event showcases, cutting edge machinery and equipment, the latest developments in rural innovation, thrilling FXM shows, lifestyle trends, top-notch regional food and local brews.

This year, the CD field days is gearing up for its 28th event.

Now well-established and the largest regional field days in New Zealand, generating over $50 million in sales revenue, its roots stretch back to 1993 when it was introduced by Don Eade as an annual event.

If you have visited CD field days during any one of its 27 years, you’re bound to find that a number of things don’t change:

Its location at Manfeild, compelling a transformation from a paddock to a mini town over a matter of days

The presence of farm machinery and tractors, hallmarks of the industry and the people who come to see them

The thousands of visitors and hundreds of exhibitors, united in their passion for a thriving agricultural community

Equally, there are many ways you can see how the three-day event has grown up over time.

Central Districts field days sales manager Cheryl Riddell says the event started with 230 sites occupied by exhibitors. It has now grown to more than 600.

Riddell says the appetite from businesses to be a part of the event has only increased as word spread about the success exhibitors were having.

“In addition to the usual crowd favorites such as, the National Excavator Operator Competition, Black Falcons flyover and the NZFC Central Districts fencing competition,” she explains.

“We now host Franklin Farm FMX crew, new mobile app technology, a forestry hub, a dedicated cuisine pavilion and a premium bar where you can kick back and relax for a yarn, with a top-notch drop from local brewing legends Brew Union.”