Celebrating 70 years

The Australian National Field Days (ANFD) is indeed a significant rural event in Australia, and it’s remarkable that it’s celebrating its 70th year in 2023. The ANFD is supported by funding from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry as part of its Support Regional Trade Events Program a major agricultural exhibition that takes place annually and is sponsored by the Cabonne Council. The Australian National Field Days It serves as a platform for showcasing the latest agricultural technologies, products, and services, making it a valuable event for farmers, rural businesses, and agriculture enthusiasts.

The event is an exhibition of 500 exhibitors displaying the latest agricultural technologies to assist farmers achieve their productivity objectives. Machinery, implements, and ideas are all on display with representation from over 1000 companies. In addition, fashion and lifestyle products are exhibited in The Style Pavilion and E Street.

However, the event is more than just a large outdoor shopping experience. Exhibitors will also be conducting demonstrations on site. The Sheep and Cattle pavilions will also include demonstrations and talks in between the stud displays.

The ANFD voluntary committee and staff work throughout the year to have a range of topical, interesting, and entertaining activities across the site over the three days. Walter Whip and The Flames will be putting on two shows a day performing fire stunts, cutting roses from a lady’s mouth and entertaining visitors with a whip cracking display.

The Education Committee at the Australian National Field Days (ANFD) has organized a series of informative talks and demonstrations that are sure to be of interest to attendees. Weeds of the Region and Their Control will focus on identifying common weeds in the region and discussing effective control and management strategies. Cultural burning is a traditional land management practice used by Indigenous communities to reduce bushfire risk and promote ecosystem health.

Regenerative farming is an agricultural approach that seeks to improve soil health, biodiversity, and overall sustainability. Representatives from the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) will be on-site to assist farmers in understanding how to use BOM data for property management.

Administration Manager of the Australian National Field Days, Jayne West, said the 2023 event is shaping up to be extremely strong, with a positive start to the season and the number of new exhibitors has been significant.

“We are very pleased with the number of exhibitors booking sites and the number of new companies keen to display with us for the first time. With the spring arriving early, the ANFD site is a picture with grassed sites, sealed roads, permanent facilities, and a wide range of catering facilities.”

Australian National Field Days found in a survey last year that fifty-five per cent of people who attend the Borenore event don’t go to another field day in the state.

The same survey found seventy-five per cent of visitors came to either purchase a product or make enquiries about products or services which were displayed at the field days.

This year the Feature Exhibit is TAFE NSW. TAFE NSW Executive Director for Education & Skills, Adam Bennett, said TAFE NSW is thrilled to be this year’s Feature Exhibitor at the Australian National Field Days.

“Agriculture is the second largest employment industry in the Central West, with jobs increasing by 5,600 in the last five years alone.”

“TAFE NSW offers a variety of agriculture courses for those looking to find a job, change careers or start a business in the sector. We also offer short courses that cater to land holders who don’t have a background in agriculture but wish to upskill to better manage and maintain their properties.

The popular fashion parade will return this year with Wendy Henry from Booful will serve as the compare for the fashion parade, adding her expertise and flair to the event The parade will feature a display of clothing from exhibitors at the ANFD. This offers attendees the chance to see the latest fashion trends and products related to agriculture and rural lifestyles.

A special section of the fashion parade will focus on garments made from natural fibres. These may include clothing items made from materials like cotton, hemp, wool, and alpaca. Natural fibres are often prized for their comfort, durability, and sustainability.

The CWA cooking demonstrations will feature hemp as the product of the day. Hemp is a versatile and nutritious ingredient that has gained popularity for its health benefits and sustainability. In addition to the cooking demonstrations, the CWA will offer tea, coffee, and scones for sale. This provides a chance for attendees to enjoy some delicious refreshments while at the event.

The official opening will be held on Friday and the NAB Award of Excellence, The Land Machine of the Year and Cabonne Council Best Local Exhibitor and Best Agriculture Exhibitor will be announced.

The Dogpro Sheep dog trails will run daily with 60 dogs competing in the open and novice trials wit the final 10 dogs fighting it out for first place on the Saturday.

Sam Connell, Chairman of the Australian National Field Days, said “this showed the value to exhibitors in displaying their products at the Australian National Field Days”.

“Exhibitors have a truly focused target audience to market their products and services to, with exhibitors leaving the 2022 Field Days satisfied with inquires and sales,” Mr Connell said.

“The whole region benefits from the event, with many accommodation and restaurant venues around the Central West showing strong bookings. Millions of dollars will be pumped into the economy during the three-day event,” Sam Connell said.

The ANFD is not only a great shopping experience for attendees but also a hub of education, entertainment, and networking for those involved in the agriculture industry. It provides a valuable opportunity for exhibitors to connect with a focused target audience and contributes significantly to the local economy in the Central West region.

The event will occur from Thursday 26 through to Saturday 28 of October at the Borenore site, 15 km’s west of Orange. Gates open 8.30am to 5pm daily. Tickets are currently on sale through 123 Tix or at the gate.