Selwyn_Times: September 21, 2022

Wednesday September 21 2022 Selwyn Times
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
NEWS 13
Agricultural field days entries pour in
• By Tim Cronshaw
NEXT YEAR’S South Island
Agricultural Field Days, in
Kirwee, have got away to a racing
start with 280 exhibitors already
on the books.
Organisers are optimistic that
entries will continue to pick up
pace before registrations close
in November for the three-day
event in March.
The biennial field days are held
every odd year between Kirwee
and Waimumu and are a drawcard
for farmers with their many
machinery demonstrations,
primary industry trade sites and
stalls.
Organising committee chairman
Hayden Dorman said
entries were coming in a lot faster
than the previous event probably
as Covid-19 uncertainty had died
down.
“A lot of the big names are
starting to roll in . . . and
especially the big machinery
operators have got their big sites
again.
“It’s been hard for them to get
stock in the past few years, but
if they have the same sites they
must have it here.”
He said they had been lucky to
run every Kirwee event without
becoming a casualty of Covid-19
and were relieved that lockdowns
appeared to be over.
Eastern Southland’s Waimumu
was less fortunate with the
February event having to be
cancelled for the first time in its
40-year history, as was the case
for many A&P shows.
“That’s one thing we don’t have
to worry about now thank God.
“Last time we were very cautious
and were lucky, so to have
280 exhibitors by now is really
pleasing and they are still rolling
in every day so that’s a good
sign.”
Dorman has been on the committee
for close to 13 years.
He has more time on his hands
after he and his business partner
sold their milking cow business
after leasing a Dorie dairy farm
the past six years.
He said community spirit was
behind the 25 committee members
volunteering their time for
the large event.
They had already carried
out several working bees at the
Kirwee site, which included
upgrades to tracks.
– Central Rural Life
OPTIMISTIC: South Island
Agricultural Field Days
organising committee
chairman Hayden Dorman
said a lot of the big names
are registering for the event.
Proud to be..
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