Yorke Peninsula Field Days will harvest rural feel-good factor

WHEN the gates to the 2013 Yorke Peninsula Field Days open at 9am Tuesday, it will set the scene for a celebration of the state's $6 billion agricultural sector.

WHEN the gates to the 2013 Yorke Peninsula Field Days open at 9am on Tuesday, it will set the scene for a celebration of the state's $6 billion agricultural sector.

Buoyed by outstanding prospects for this year's grain crop, optimistic farmers from across the state are expected to attend the big event.

Organisers of the state's largest country event predict farmers will spend millions of dollars on essential machinery and equipment during the three-day event.

Field Days administrator Elaine Bussenschutt said the event's committee was confident that it would be a success for spectators and a record 750-plus exhibitors.

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"The broad representation of major agricultural companies is complemented by a wide variety of exhibitors from the agricultural industry who are exhibiting for the first time," she said.

Exhibitors were rolling in quickly yesterday and the outlook for the field days was exceptional, Field Days president Paul Browning said.

"A lot of the exhibitors are excited to be here," he said.

Mr Browning said the optimism has been helped by the good prospects for the state's grain crops this year. "Most farmers are confident of a good year and they are fantastic everywhere you look on the Yorke Peninsula," he said.

Mr Browning said about $200 million worth of machinery and equipment is expected to be on display and for sale at the event which he hoped would be attended by about 35,000 people.

Highlights at the Field Days include new technology in harvesting equipment, sheep dog trials, blade shearing demonstrated by the Australian champion, fashion parades and a range of new exhibitors,

Sam Bussenschutt, 38, the fourth generation of the Bussenschutt family to be involved in the field days, is heavily involved as president of the Paskeville Sporting Bodies, comprising the Paskeville cricket, football, tennis, bowls, netball and basketball clubs.

It runs three canteens at the field days and also the Community Centre in Paskeville, a caravan park for field days participants that puts on evening meals and runs a licensed bar as a service for about 200 people in 70 to 100 caravans.

Mr Bussenschutt is married to Jane and they have three children Gus, 4, Ella, 6 and Lucy, 8.

Gates open from 9am to 5pm each day and entry is $15 for adults and $3 for school-age children.

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