Agfest preview: Sea of colours to flood field days

TASMANIA’S biggest rural event is just weeks away and almost 700 exhibitors are getting ready.

Preparing: Salamanca Wool Shop owner Cheryl Attenborough with a selection of wool. Picture: Chris Kidd

TASMANIA’S biggest rural event is just weeks away and almost 700 exhibitors are getting ready.

Held over three days from May 3 to 5 at Carrick in the state’s North, Agfest will once again feature all things rural, from livestock to big machinery and craft items.

The field days attract a total crowd of tens of thousands from the city and the country.

Salamanca Wool Shop looks likely to be among the most colourful exhibitors with its range of yarns and knitware.

Cheryl Attenborough and her husband, Kim, will be looking after the shop’s site in the craft pavilions.

“There is nothing quite like wool. At the Salamanca Wool Shop you will find wool in many forms, from raw fleece to commercial fabric that has been made into garments.

“Because of the range I often say the shop has a split personality,” Mrs Attenborough said.

“Walking into the shop you are greeted with a sea of colour. The question is often ‘where do I look’,” she said.

Mrs Attenborough said when choosing what she buys for the shop she follows some simple guidelines: the product must have at least 75 per cent wool or natural fibres; she favours Tasmanian-made over first Australian and New Zealand products and over the rest of the world;
the supplier must be ethical in how they conduct their business; handmade garments or hand-spun yarn must be made by local fibre artisans.

Agfest is run entirely by Rural Youth volunteers, who gain valuable experience and leadership skills from working at the field days.

The field days also showcase Tasmanian produce with a wide range of food and beverages as well as a full daily line-up of entertainment and demonstrations.

Visit www.agfest.com.au for details.