The world renowned rural industries expo – Fieldays – kicks off at Mystery Creek, Hamilton in just over a month on June 12, and runs through to Saturday, June 15.
Hundreds of dealers and people from the auto, transport and equipment industries go to see what’s on show at a remarkable 1200 exhibitor sites.
As if this wasn’t enough to keep industry visitors occupied, there’s a whole support programme of events – from inventions through to the quirky and the culinary.
To start with, there’s the sort of competitions to be expected at a world class rural industries expo: tractor pulling, fencing, national excavator and no. 8 wire competitions, STIHL logging skills, and seminars.
Then there’s…..
* Innovations – with a serious prize pool available for inventors from grassroots to international – plus new for 2013, the Innovation Den where selected finalists get to pitch to a panel of investors.
* Rural ‘bachelor of the year competition – with a trans-Tasman twist – in which six Kiwi and two Aussie blokes compete for an impressive $23,000 prize package (and a great opportunity to have an all-expenses paid week away at Fieldays!).
* Ag art wear – this fashion show with a twist features in daily catwalk shows – plus a glitzy ticket-only “Rural to Runway” gala dinner and awards show in Hamilton on Friday 14 June (with the ‘bachelors’ also making an appearance on the catwalk!).
* Kiwi’s best kitchen – one of the busiest marquees at Fieldays where visitors are ‘tempted to taste and toast’ New Zealand’s favourite or unique food and beverages. Celebrity chef Josh Emett will be demonstrating three times a day in the Kiwi ‘best kitchen theatre’.
* Seminars – an opportunity for visitors to hear industry leaders discussing topical issues. Guest speakers include: Tim Mackle, Dairy NZ CEO; Nathan Guy, minister for primary industries; professor Jacqueline Rowarth, professor of agribusiness, University of Waikato.
