Country music and fashion to descend upon Henty Field Days 2022

After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Henty Machinery Field Days (HMFD) will be back bigger and better this year with a few new events to look forward to, including a new concert featuring home-grown country music stars.

Country music singer and I’m a Celebrity star, Brooke McClymont, and her Golden Guitar winning husband, Adam Eckersley, will take to the stage at the Farm Gate Produce Market in a ticketed event to be held after the gates close at 5pm on Wednesday, September 21.

The couple will be supported by Walla Walla farmer, singer, songwriter and recording artist Danny Phegan and his Longreach band.

McClymont is one third of the award-winning Australian country music trio, The McClymonts, which achievements include over 200,000 in album sales, 40 million streams, two ARIA awards, 15 Golden Guitar awards and five number one ARIA Country Albums.

Eckersley has been recognised for his song writing, winning the APRA Award for Country Work in 2015 plus two Golden Guitar Awards.

In addition to the concert, a mainstay of the field days - the Henty National Fibre Fashion Awards -will have a new feature this year, which is the Business Development Award that encourages designers with business aspirations to produce garments made with natural fibres.

The new award has been sponsored by JMP Developments, Wodonga, for $500.

“Since the field days are located within a major wool and fibre producing region, it was important an event be carried on to encourage designers to showcase their creativity using the fibres allowed,’’ said awards convenor, Lyn Jacobsen said.

“This competition is free and open to all designers, but the fabric in the garment must be at least 70 per cent natural fibre, which can be wool, cotton, alpaca, silk, linen or combinations.

“Garments are judged on visual appeal, creativity and innovation.”

To be announced on the final day, the winner of the supreme garment made with natural fibres will receive $1000 in prize money plus a Bernina 325 sewing machine valued at $1499, courtesy of Bernina Australia and Sew Fab, Narrandera.

Other awards to be handed out include best knitted or crocheted garment, millinery and accessory.

On top of the brand new additions to this year’s event, the field days will still feature the usual attractions including the prestigious Henty Machine of the Year Award, the working sheep dog trials, Country Lifestyle pavilion, Farm Gate Produce Market, Baker Seeds agronomy trials, helicopter joy rides, live entertainment and vintage farm machinery display.

Also back this year will be the exhibitor awards for Best Outdoor Large Commercial, Best Outdoor General, Best Indoor (Country Lifestyle and Farm Gate).

With the 2019 event drawing more than 850 exhibitors on over 1200 sites, the field days committee is expecting exhibitor numbers to be in excess of 850 for 2022 on the back of strong interest.

“We are excited to add a new dimension of family friendly entertainment to the field days this year with Brooke McClymont and Adam Eckersley, who have released the first single from their highly anticipated second album and embarked on a national tour,” said HMFD chief executive officer, Belinda Anderson.

“With the agricultural sector experiencing record commodity prices and a strong seasonal outlook for southern NSW on the back of widespread rain, we are gearing up for a bumper event with expected strong demand for tillage and fodder machinery, livestock handling equipment, grain handling and storage, fencing materials and home and garden equipment.”

The not-for-profit HMFD Cooperative managed to raise over $350,000 in funds to regional sporting clubs, community organisations and schools from the 2019 event.

The 2022 Henty Machinery Field Days will be held from September 20 to 22.

2022 Australian farming field days calendar