increase font size
A volunteer driving visitors around with a vintage Massey Ferguson tractor.
The story of your family and farm matters in the big scheme of things; tell it while you can.
That's the message from Fieldays Ag Heritage Village co-ordinator Alan Reilly.
"The land we live, work and farm on holds the stories of our history, and these shape who we are today, whether we realise it or not. Opening our heritage buildings during Fieldays will help us to share some of these stories with our community," says Reilly.
Visitors to the village can travel back in time on an interactive scavenger hunt and see views of farming life as it was for the pioneering families of New Zealand.
Educating youth about their agricultural heritage is the focus of the village, emphasised by the recently refurbished barn; heritage co-ordinator Alan Reilly is putting together pieces of the past for younger generations.
He wants to tell the stories in a way that will educate and encourage children to look closer at everyday items and think more about their history. "All these stories will soon be lost, which is why it's important to share and record them.
"During Fieldays we'll have hands-on challenges, puzzles and ag heritage activities in all our heritage buildings."
This year the vintage tractor parade has had a revamp and will be bigger and louder than ever.
Tractors from the Waikato Village Tractor and Machinery Club will park around the heritage village lake and complete a vintage tractor parade twice daily at 10am and 2pm.
Signalling the Fieldays society's commitment to the heritage village, the barn got a facelift earlier this year and now houses a collection of items that illuminate Waikato's rural past.
The next village project will be to create a space where people can record and share their own stories about the artefacts on display, eventually integrating these stories into the education experiences on offer.
For more info, Waikato Village Tractor and Machinery Club tel. 07 883 1103.
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.
