15 Feb 2012

Southern field days attracts record number of exhibitors

6:33 am on 15 February 2012

The first of the year's regional agricultural field days opens at Waimumu near Gore on Wednesday.

The southern field days are run by the Eastern Southland Young Farmers' Club and are held every two years, alternating with Lincoln University's South Island field days.

Publicity officer Justine Williams says this year's event is bigger, with 640 exhibitors, well up on previous years when exhibitors have averaged around 550.

She says the organisers also hope there will be an increase in the numbers attending, with a target of 30,000 visitors.

Ms Williams says feature events include the New Zealand tractor pulldown and a young farmers fencing competition.

The annual Northland Field Days opens at Dargaville at the beginning of March, and in mid-March the Central Districts Field Days will run at Feilding, with more than 500 exhibitors from here and Australia.

In June, the national agricultural field days will be held at Mystery Creek near Hamilton.