Myriad attractions hit the Henty sweet spot

A focus on the latest advancements in agricultural technology was again the key centrepiece of the latest Henty Machinery Field Days (HMFD) from September 17 to 19, but the 55,000 visitors were also treated to a number of other drawcards.

One of those was the launch of Agtech Alley, a collaboration with NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry under the Support Regional Trade Events Program.

Farmers and visitors from every state and territory sought out the hot ticket items of hay, silage, grain storage and livestock handling equipment.

Visitors were also treated to Furphy water cart rebarrelling demonstrations, the Questacon pop-up science circus, fly-overs by a Pilatus PC-21 from the RAAF Roulettes at Sale, a reptile show, and Henty designer Headlie Shipard Taylor acknowledged thanks to the centenary of the Sunshine Auto Header.

The 2024 HMFD featured 14km of outdoor shop fronts from more than 800 exhibitors representing 3500 companies on over 1200 sites.

HMFD chief executive officer, Belinda Anderson, said the exhibition space was equal to last year’s record and showcased over $200 million in agricultural machinery.

The field days were officially opened by meteorologist Jane Bunn, who was also a guest speaker at the new Agtech Alley and Country Lifestyle.

An annual highlight, the coveted Henty Machine of the Year Award, was presented to the Ram-to-Ewe automated catching pen entered by Flinn Design, The Rock. Highly commended was the world’s widest draper platform, the Midwest Legacy, from Midwest Fabrication, Dalby, Qld.

Feedback from exhibitors were overwhelmingly positive, according to organisers, with one claiming the 2024 Henty Machinery Field Day as “one of the best Henty’s ever”.

The 2025 HMFD will be held from September 23 to 25, with planning already underway.