Elmore Field Days 2019 guide

The 56th annual Elmore Machinery Field Days event is expected to draw a full house keen to inspect the 700 exhibitors on site.

ELMORE field days committee members are looking to the` future even as they work through the myriad details necessary to again stage one of Victoria’s premier annual agricultural events.

One popular longstanding feature is coming to an end, while ideas are being canvassed that will hopefully see fresh elements introduced next year and beyond.

The “House Full” sign has gone up, with more than 700 exhibitors primed to showcase the latest agricultural machinery and technology, quality livestock, farming equipment, hardware and the best in country craft and homewares.

Other attractions include a feast of children’s activities, farm fashion, live music, cooking and clothing.

ALL ROADS LEAD TO ELMORE

DATES

Tuesday, October 1

Wednesday, October 2

Thursday, October 3

TIMES

8:30am-5pm

ADMISSION

Adults: $20

Secondary Students: $10

Children under 12: Free

Dogs not permitted.

VENUE

Elmore Events Centre

48 Rosaia Road, Elmore 3558

GETTING THERE

Location map: The Elmore Field Days site is 2.4km east of Elmore, VIC.

From Elmore Railway Station: Drive 170m southwest on Northern Hwy, turn left onto Midland Hwy (A300) travel 2.4km east.

From Shepparton: Drive 74km west on Midland Hwy (A300).

From Bendigo: Drive 45.5km north on Midland Hwy, turn right towards Shepparton (A300), travel 2.4km east.

From Heathcote: Drive 50km north on Northern Hwy.

From Echuca: Drive 45km south on Northern Hwy, turn right onto Midland Hwy (A300) travel 2.4km east.

CONTACTS

Phone [phone]

Fax [phone]

[e-mail]

elmorefielddays.com.au

The first Elmore field days took place in October 1964, after a group of volunteers organised a comprehensive display of farming equipment and services alongside the Campaspe River.

The permanent 154ha Elmore Events Centre site has seen investment of almost $2.5 million and has hosted bookings ranging from music and food festivals to product launches, national club rallies and industry expos.

Field days public relations officer John Giffin said future bookings at the centre mainly focused on equestrian events, but not exclusively, with dates already reserved for a Seventh Day Adventist conference, the annual B&S Ball and a major caravan and motorhome get-together.

“We have also just secured the 2022 Australasian Scout Jamboree, which will bring more than 10,000 Scouts to the site,” Mr Giffin said.

“We hosted that event back in 2007 and it was a rip-roaring success.

“One new thing we are doing this year is supporting Dolly’s Dream, a project which works to protect people against bullying.

“We’re putting in tap points at two of our gates and inviting visitors to use their credit cards to make a donation towards that cause.”

Dolly’s Dream was set up in memory of Amy “Dolly” Everett, a 14-year-old from the Northern Territory, who took her life last year after an extended period of cyber-bullying.

Family favourites set to return at this year’s field days include the Lockington & District Heritage Centre’s display of restored and unrestored vintage tractors, Heritage Draught Horse Club with its popular clydesdale teams, the 15m-long Berkley Supertank and the general interest area, crowded with commercial goods, cottage industries, handcrafts and clothing products.

Food courts will be spread around the site, offering everything from baked potatoes, barbecues and burgers to slushies and strawberries with ice cream.

A special element of the Elmore field days is the on-site, 1000m-long airstrip, allowing patrons to fly in and walk to the gate.

Field days president Derek Shotton said one significant change this year was the winding up of the long-running Ag Art Wear competitions.

A past entrant in the Ag Art Wear parade, which is having its final appearance at Elmore Field Days this year. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

This program challenges imaginative designers to create a wearable art garment from such everyday materials found on farms as baling twine, wool packs, copper, frost cloth and irrigation pipe.

“This will be the last year of actual competitions, but we’ll go out next year with a showcase of the standout garments we’ve seen,” Mr Shotton said.

“It’s time for something a bit fresher and our development subcommittee is working on some new ideas.

“We’ve been encouraged lately as a committee with some of our younger members coming on board.

“Another achievement we’re quite proud of is that we continue to supply cranes and forklifts free of charge to exhibitors and that’s becoming increasingly difficult. However, we’ve bought a very good mobile crane to ensure we can keep offering that service and make it easier for exhibitors to attend.

“Our aim is to showcase all the latest farming equipment, as well as providing a great day out for the whole family.”

THERES PLENTY TO SEE AND DO AT ELMORE

TUESDAY

9.30am Shearing of Ewes for the future trial S

10am Shearing & Wool-Handling Demonstration S

10.30am Off-Grid Solar Presentation A

10.45am Working Together — GoGetta Kelpies S

11am Elmore National Ag Art Wear Competition Parade A

These feet ain’t made for walking — Agriculture Victoria S

11.30 Overview: Ewes for the future trial S

Noon Victoria Police Presentation A

12.15pm Spot on Vaccination Presentation S

12.30pm Shearing in the Past — Blade Shearing S

Narelle Stone — Quirky Tales A

1pm Neangar Nursery A

1.30pm Clyde Campbell — Shake it Up Foundation A

Shearing of Ewes for the future trial S

2pm Elmore National Ag Art Wear Competition Parade A

2pm Working Together — GoGetta Kelpies S

2.30pm Shearing/Wool Handling Demonstration S

WEDNESDAY

9.30am Shearing of Ewes for the future trial S

10am Shearing & Wool-Handling Demonstration S

10.30am Dr Merian Waks Skin Cancer Presentation A

10.45am Working Together — GoGetta Kelpies S

11am Elmore National Ag Art Wear Competition Parade A

These feet ain’t made for walking — Agriculture Victoria S

11.30am Overview: Ewes for the future trial S

Noon Victoria Police Presentation A

12.15pm Spot on Vaccination Presentation S

12.30pm Shearing in the Past — Blade Shearing S

Narelle Stone — Quirky Tales A

1pm Emma Kennedy of Kennedy Produce A

1.30pm Mental A-Z Network Presentation A

Shearing of Ewes for the future trial S

2pm Elmore National Ag Art Wear Competition Parade A

Working Together — GoGetta Kelpies S

2.30pm Shearing/Wool Handling Demonstration S

THURSDAY

9.30am Shearing of Ewes for the future trial S

10am Shearing & Wool-Handling Demonstration S

10.30am Off-Grid Solar Presentation A

10.45am Working Together — GoGetta Kelpies S

11am Elmore National Ag Art Wear Competition Parade A

These feet ain’t made for walking — Agriculture Victoria S

11.30am Overview: Ewes for the future trial S

Noon Victoria Police Presentation A

12.15pm Spot on Vaccination Presentation S

12.30pm Shearing in the Past — Blade Shearing S

Narelle Stone — Quirky Tales A

1pm Neangar Nursery Presentation A

1.30pm Clyde Campbell — Scott Automation & Robotics A

Shearing of Ewes for the future trial S

2pm Elmore National Ag Art Wear Competition Parade — Final A

2pm Working Together — GoGetta Kelpies S

2.30pm Shearing/Wool Handling Demonstration S