Proud ag advocate will be there!
A strong supporter of CD Field Days is Federated Farmers Manawatu/Rangitikei provincial president, Murray Holdaway.
Last year the event had to be cancelled because of Covid. However, Paul says they have been running the event for almost 30 years and they are well practiced at changing plans and building the event back up.
“It’s businesses as usual and it’s been positive to see business engaging and their keenness and willingness to get back in front of an audience and the community,” he told Rural News. “We have been really pleased with the inquiries coming through from exhibitors and hearing how excited they are to get to Feilding and meet customers.”
CD Field Days attracts close to 30,000 people over the three days and is a much anticipated event and a highlight of the year for the rural sector. Feilding, the town where the event is based, is one of the significant agricultural hubs in NZ – where companies ranging from the machinery, finance, agricultural consultancy, the livestock sector and a raft of other ag organisations are based. The local saleyards service the whole of the lower North Island.
The 33 hectare Manfeild site is normally a motor racing track, but for three days it is transformed into a significant and well laid out field day.
Paul says the event acts as a connector for communities in the central region and is designed to cater for all interests and tastes. A feature this year will be the RNZAF flying in one of their helicopters from the nearby Ohakea airbase and this will be a popular static display.
“The event showcases cutting-edge machinery and equipment, the latest developments in rural innovation, thrilling FMX shows, lifestyle trends, top-notch regional food and local brews,” he adds. “You can score yourself a heap of exclusive event deals and have the chance to yarn with sellers and exhibitors. It’s a great time to stock up, plus there’s fun and freebies for the whole family.”
As well as catering for farmers and townies alike, a special aspect to the CD Field Days is the attention paid to young people to get them interested and inspired to potentially take up a career in the primary sector.
“We offer free tickets for students, and we know that a lot of schools take advantage of that and come along on the Friday especially to get around the exhibitors,” Paul says. “The civil contractors will have a special marquee there to highlight the career opportunities in that sector as well.”
Paul says the great thing about the event is that it brings everyone together in one place and allows people to connect, gain knowledge and experience the NZ primary industries.
