Early rain dampens Fieldays crowds

Fieldays chief executive Peter Nation claims it is proof of success of holding the event even though final numbers would not be known till after Saturday. However, Nation reckons having 1000 exhibitors on site is a good result. On Wednesday morning there were some heavy showers, but gumboots and umbrellas were the simple answer. And there were plenty of indoor sites to visit as well.

Nation told Rural News that organisers of similar events world-wide are facing challenges with supply chain disruptions forcing exhibitors to pull out or downsize. “It’s hard if you don’t have product,” he says.

But Nation adds that there has been an excellent response from overseas visitors.

“One company flew in 200 delegates to the event and many others flew in smaller numbers.”

He’s hopeful that more freedoms around travel will see future numbers increase.

As for the somewhat controversial decision to stage the event at this time of the year, Nation claims that farmers are still coming along as are key exhibitors – such as Fonterra and DairyNZ. He says Fieldays is mindful that it’s a busy time of the year.

“But as one farmer put it to me – this is the secondbest date you could have chosen.”