Henty field days ‘back with a bang’ in 2021

One of Australia’s most prominent field days on the ag events calendar, the Henty Machinery Field Days (HMFD), has announced it will be back bigger and better than ever this September 21 to 23.

The event, which attracts more than 60,000 visitors each year, was forced to cancel in 2020 due to COVID-19 – the third time the event has been cancelled in its 58-year history.

Exhibitor online applications are set to open on March 16 and online ticket sales for visitors will open in late July.

HMFD chief executive officer, Belinda Anderson, said the Cooperative board gave the green light for event planning to go ahead in February.

With the 2019 field days drawing more than 850 exhibitors on over 1200 sites, Anderson is expecting exhibitor numbers to be in excess of 850 for 2021 on the back of strong interest.

“We are back with a bang this year,” she said.

“Agriculture was recognised as an essential industry during the pandemic and we experienced an exceptional year where commodity prices and yields combined to allow a sustained recovery for the sector from the drought.”

Anderson said staff are working hard on planning a COVID-safe event this year, with the field days operating on a 2sqm per person rule under current NSW Health restrictions.

Entry for visitors will also be a bit different this year. Patrons will have to pre-purchase tickets online and scan a QR code at the entrance gates for a contactless experience, and exhibitors are also encouraged to use EFTPOS facilities where possible.

Anderson added there would be an additional level of sanitisation of amenities and COVID Marshalls to monitor social distancing in order to protect the health of patrons, exhibitors, volunteers and staff.

“Henty this year coincides with the NSW and Victorian school holidays, and 2021 marks 60 years since the field days were conceived as a one day header school at the Henty showground in 1961,” she said.

“The field days will have all 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, the Natural Fibre Fashion Awards and vintage farm machinery display.

“We will be seeking to reinvigorate the popular Agri-Innovators Award for innovative inventions from farmers, students or backyard tinkerers.”

The entries must meet the criteria of having a practical on-farm application, be based on an original idea of the entrant and not be in full-scale production at the time of entry.

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

“The year off has enabled us to sow down the field days site with a specialist pasture mix including fescue and cocksfoot varieties recommended by David Leah, technical extension agronomist with Seed Force Australia,” Anderson said.

According to the Tractor and Machinery Association of Australia, 2020 delivered the strongest year of tractor sales since the 1980s.

“We expect the strong demand for all agricultural machinery, livestock handling equipment and fencing materials to continue through 2021 and, combined with the focus on regional Australia with the public’s keenness to get out and about, will auger well for a successful 2021 Henty Machinery Field Days,” Anderson said.

The not-for-profit HMFD Cooperative raised more than $350,000 from the 2019 Henty Machinery Field Days that has gone to regional sporting clubs, community organisations and schools.