Mallee Machinery Field Days: Sheds are all the rage

THE Mallee Machinery Field Days has grown over the past 39 years, but what it offers the community and visitors is based on a tried-and-true formula — lots of local exhibitors, a dash of arts and crafts, and plenty of equipment and machinery.

Going round: The field days is again expected to attract strong crowds with sheds a trend this year. Pictures: Andy Rogers

THE Mallee Machinery Field Days has grown over the past 39 years, but what it offers the community and visitors is based on a tried-and-true formula — lots of local exhibitors, a dash of arts and crafts, and plenty of equipment and machinery.

“We have always had a focus on agricultural equipment and machinery, and that hasn’t really altered,” field days secretary Andrew McLean said.

“The first field days had only a small number of exhibitors and it’s just gotten bigger and bigger.

“The emphasis just changes slightly each year. We went through a phase a while back when a lot of the exhibits were solar panel businesses.

“This year it seems to be sheds, so I’m not sure if there is some shed trend out there.”

Mr McLean said he had also booked sites to businesses selling on-farm cameras used to detect thieves stealing livestock.

“We have mainly cropping around these parts, but I have heard of livestock thefts happening elsewhere,” he said.

This year’s event, from August 2-3, is expected to attract about 8500 people across the two days.

Mr McLean said the 225 sites in the outer ring were fully booked, and there were also 54 undercover sites that were full.

Growers and producers will be coming from as far afield as South Australia and Swan Hill to check out equipment and take in demonstrations.

The field days is an important occasion in the Mallee social calendar. Depending on the season, it can either be a much-needed break from the farm or a chance to cash in on a solid run and buy some machinery.

“It’s a real social event for the locals,” said field days committee president Terry “Jacko” Kiley.

“We’re quite isolated out here, so you can go a while without seeing a lot of people, so it’s a good chance to reconnect.”

This year has not been a bad one, although the mice remain a right pain.

“We’ve had a pretty good season locally, although an inch of rain between now and the field days would be ideal,” Mr Kiley said.

He said a defining feature of the Mallee Machinery Field Days was its circular design.

“It basically means that if you buy equipment you don’t need to travel very far to transport it back to your car,” he said.

“The circular design is much more efficient in that way.”

The field days not only injects money directly into the local community, but it also helps raise money for the Lions Club of Speed, which, in turn, helps those in the community in need.

In addition to the range of dealer displays and grain storage and handling equipment, will be a Crafts and Interests area, which includes fashion parades, local food producers and craft tables.

“Farmers also come with their wives, so we like to make sure we cater to the ladies as well,” Mr McLean added.

While most organisers of large outdoor events hope for clear skies, Mr McLean said they could be a blessing or a curse at Mallee Field Days.

“Some years you will get clear skies and the farmers will stay home and do some work,” he said.

“If it rains, it can sometimes mean they come to the field days because they have nothing else they can do.

“You never know.”

GET UP TO SPEED

Organiser: Lions Club of Speed

Location: 2km south of Speed, on the Sunraysia Highway

Dates: Wednesday, August 2 and Thursday, August 3

Times: 9am-5pm

Admission: $15, adults; students and children, free

Website: mmfd.com.au