Tens of thousands of visitors voted with their feet and wallets yesterday to help create one of the biggest single days in field day history at Henty. Car parks filled to capacity today, while exhibitors reported buoyant sales from collectible toys through to the largest of tillage and agricultural equipment. Widespread falls of 20mm or more over Monday and Tuesday prompted farmers to travel to Henty from as far as central NSW and southern Victoria, armed with their shopping lists. HMFD chairman Ross Edwards said the rain, election result and promising crop yields had resulted in such a large crowd to cap off the 50th anniversary field days. Mr Edwards said a huge crowd on the final day had counteracted the rain-affected gate of Tuesday and Wednesday. Tractor and Machinery Association of Australia director Greg Crawford said finance companies had reported the strongest field day in years for documenting customer loans for equipment, from tractors and headers down to four wheel motor bikes. Hutcheon and Pearce group sales manager Andrew Sands helped launch a limited edition John Deere 150hp tractor on the opening day. Mr Sands said 36 tractors had been sold by Thursday morning alone while toys and merchandising proved to be winners. “The wet weather added to it and the field days were very positive for us,’’ he said. Seednet territory sales agronomist Robert Gill agreed the rain had buoyed confidence enabling canola and cereal crops to finish. “The whole three days has been magnificent, with strong inquiry on field peas, chick peas and the new fabas, PBA Orana, and new germplasm,’’ Mr Gill said. “There is a real positive spin on markets with crops looking fantastic from Griffith to Grenfell and south of Dubbo.’’ Geronimo Farm Equipment national sales manager David Fagan did a roaring trade, selling 10 large grain augers up to 110 feet long, half a dozen grain silos and chaser bins up to 27 tonnes. “This equates to a very successful show – in fact as good a show for the last seven to eight years,’’ Mr Fagan said. He said strong inquiry had come from grain growers in the Murray Valley, western and central Riverina. “We have a lot of confidence in the field days and the Henty area – I enjoy going to Henty and Toowoomba the most out all the field days.’’ Kotzur Silo sales representative Malcolm Bruce reported good general inquiry on augers, silos and field bins. Henty first time exhibitor Brett Hoy, B & N Trailers, Campbeltown, was surprised by the strong inquiry and enthusiastic crowd. “People told me Henty was the show to go to,’’ he said. NSW Farmers Region 10 manager David Banham spent the three days signing up new members who had let their membership slip during the drought. Down at the Farm Gate Market Produce, Masterchef finalists Jimmy Seervai and Michael Weldon, used fresh and value added regional food and wines from the exhibitors to cook up a storm. “We were given a list of ingredients - it was like a mystery box shopping tour and the local produce we have selected was absolutely amazing,’’ Mr Seervai said. With the surrounding canola crops in full bloom, visitors took advantage of the helicopter joy rides. Wagga Air Service co-principal Jenny Cabot said her pilot husband Chris Cabot worked non-stop all day ferrying visitors on 10 minute flights.
Posted on: Fri, 20 Sep 2013 04:41:45 +0000