Friday, 08 March 2019 14:31

Show offers something for all

Written by 
A record number of exhbitors are booked for this year’s field days. A record number of exhbitors are booked for this year’s field days.

At least 26,000 people are expected to flock to Manfeild, Feilding this month for New Zealand’s largest regional agricultural event – Central Districts Field Days.

Now in its 26th year, this event has plenty to offer farmers and foodies, tech-heads and townies.

“We’re excited about this year’s event,” says Stuff events and sponsorship director David Blackwell. 

“Record numbers of exhibitors and great new areas and activities are sure to make Central Districts Field Days a community event to remember.”

Showcasing everything from international innovators to local growers, the layout at Manfeild is rejigged to make way for 600+ exhibitors. 

Must-sees this year will include Mission Aviation Fellowship’s ZK-MAF aircraft which will be landing on site. 

And there will be local innovations like the cloud-based automatic Zeddy feeder and the futuristic Halter stock control system that uses a network of technology to revolutionise herd management.

“With a heap of special deals exclusive to the event, plus the chance to have a yarn with sellers and exhibitors, it’s a great time to get the latest trends and developments in farming and agriculture,” says Blackwell. “And there’ll be fun and freebies for the whole family.”

The National Excavator Competition will see the crowning of NZ’s 25th Operator of the Year, and there will be the ever-popular Central Districts fencing competition. 

Kiwi Freestyle Motocross (FMX) favourites Franklin Farms will bring its daredevil show to the event for the first time.

“We are practising our Supermans, Tsunami flips and a special jump that takes us 23m from ramp to landing,” says Nick Franklin, team director at Franklin Farms.

New this year, event organisers have worked with Talent Central to put on an Amazing Race-styled contest for year 11-13 students. This will show the range of employment opportunities in agribusiness and horticulture; at least 500 lower-North Island students are expected.

“This is a chance for employers to reach students in a fun, interactive way,” says Sonia Griffin, Talent Central’s AgriQuest coordinator.

To top it off, the field days will host the final in the AdTech Hackathon on the Saturday. Now in its third year, this competition presents teams of forward-thinking tech talent to create solutions for NZ’s primary industries, all in a time-based format. 

“The Hackathon suggests the sort of innovations that could transform the agricultural industry, and a chance to meet the minds that will make it happen,” says Blackwell.

The show’s premium food court will have live music, local food stalls and a bar serving beers from the award-winning Palmerston North micro-brewery Brew Union. 

The lifestyle courtyard will include wellbeing, home and garden and other specialty stalls.

A new Central Districts Field Days digital event guide will help visitors sort their itinerary. Visitors can even pin where they parked their car on the map and enter competitions offering a share of $20,000 of prizes.

CD field days highlights

- The 25th anniversary of the National Excavator Operator Competition

- Waikato company Halter presenting a groundbreaking, futuristic stock control system

- Palmerston North farming innovator Zeddy showing its cloud-based automatic feeder technology

- Talent Central’s Agriquest, a new Amazing Race-style event for year 11-13 students.

Key details

When: Thursday 14 March 2019 - Saturday 16 March 2019, 9am - 4.30pm

Where: Manfeild, South Street, Feilding

More like this

Upbeat crowd, exhibitors at field days

With an enforced absence of two years, brought about by its cancellation in 2020, the Central District Field Days at Feilding heralded the first event of its type for 2021.

Manawatu's economy bouncing back

Although the national economy is still functioning below pre-pandemic levels and the road ahead remains uncertain, the Manawatu region appears to be bearing up well.

NZ's backbone

The Central Districts field days is designed to showcase what the Manawatu region is all about – the backbone of the NZ economy.

Longest running ag field days all go

The South Island Agricultural Field Days, held in Kirwee on the outskirts of Christchurch, will celebrate its 70th year in March 2021 with a bigger demonstration area.

Featured

Better animal genetic gain system

A governance group has been formed, following extensive sector consultation, to implement the recommendations from the Industry Working Group's (IWG) final report and is said to be forming a 'road map' for improving New Zealand's animal genetic gain system.

SIDE 2025's new schedule, venue

Annual farmer gathering, the South Island Dairy Event (SIDE), is set to make history as it heads to Timaru for the first time.

Taranaki piggery goes solar

Installing 400 solar panels at their Taranaki piggery and cropping operation will have significant environmental, financial and animal welfare benefits for the Stanley family.

Editorial: Keep FTAs coming

OPINION: The dairy industry will  be a major beneficiary of a new free trade deal between NZ and the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC).

National

Food charity to hold online auction

Meat the Need, New Zealand’s dedicated charity delivering locally sourced protein meals to food-insecure communities, is launching an online National…

Machinery & Products

An ideal solution for larger farms

Designed specifically for large farms that want to drill with maximum flexibility, efficiency and power, the new Lemken Solitair ST…

Landpower increases its offering

Landpower and the Claas Harvest Centre network will launch the Claas Scorpion and Torion material handling solutions to the market…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Leaky waka

OPINION: Was the ASB Economic Weekly throwing shade on Reserve Bank governor Adrian Orr when reporting on his speech in…

Know-it-alls

OPINION: A reader recently had a shot at the various armchair critics that she judged to be more than a…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter