Despite the return of traditional Small Farm Field Days wet weather, this weekend’s event will offer visitors more exhibitors than ever, with the three-year old founders’ pavilion packed to its 450-stall capacity for the first time.
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Over the event’s two days, the Bureau of Meteorology predicts rain at times on Friday, lightening to partly cloudy conditions on Saturday.
AREC chair John Warre said exhibitor numbers were up by 10 or 15 per cent this year, and showed a greater emphasis on lifestyle and leisure, reflecting changing use of small properties.
General manager Steve Garland agreed, noting that the focus of the Field Days had shifted from small-scale agriculture such as olive oil and emus to recreational activities such as pools, boats, motor homes and horses.
He said serious agricultural requirements such as machinery, fencing and pumps were also represented.
Mr Garland felt that part of the Field Days’ appeal was the access to experts it enabled, providing a wealth of opportunities to talk face-to-face with experienced people in many fields.
He said word of mouth had given the Mudgee Small Farm Field Days an excellent reputation for being friendly, good value and based in a great town.
Mr Garland said exhibitors coming from as far away as Western Australia and New Zealand obviously considered a trip to the Field Days a worthwhile investment, as did the patrons coming from outside the local area, who last year made up around 40 per cent of the Field Days’ crowd.
Mr Warre said the Cudgegong Valley Antique Machinery Club had returned as usual, as the club prepared to host the National Historical Machinery Rally at AREC in 2013.
Equestrian exhibitors are particularly strong this year, with the Mudgee Pony Club appearing for the first time, along with police horses, a working donkey, studs and saddlers.
Mr Warre also commended the quality of the Department of Primary Industries’ ag plots at AREC, which exhibited a range of experiments in innovative farming techniques.
A free shuttle bus will run from Mudgee to AREC all day, picking up passengers from Mudgee swimming pool, Mudgee South Shopping Plaza, Mudgee scout hall, Mudgee High School, Jubilee Sports Ground, Mudgee Valley Tourist Park and the Mudgee Tourist Information Centre.
The Mudgee Small Farm Field Days will be held at AREC from 8.30am till 5pm Friday, July 13, and Saturday, July 14.
