president's message
The Wimmera Machinery Field Days is the leading agriculture event in Western Victoria to showcase your product. Our event, being the first major broadacre field days on the calendar, will again give your business a prime opportunity to interact directly with the public and patrons and provide them with the latest ideas and innovations to expand and add to their business for the coming year.
It is accepted that this region is known for broadacre cropping and grazing with a diversity in viticulture, manufacturing and tourism, but we are also finding an increase in hobby farming and intensive livestock practices.
We as a committee are proud that we are now offering a modern purpose-built, major events facility where
exhibitors and the public can interact in a combined business and social atmosphere. The focus of the
committee is to continually strive to improve our facilities keeping them current and modern for
our exhibitors and patrons alike.
Ian Schmidt
President
Wimmera Machinery Field Days
how it began
Members of the Wimmera-based Agricultural Society launched the Wimmera Machinery Field Days in 1963 after visiting field days in New South Wales. The initial concept was for farmers to have an opportunity to see a variety of machinery and agricultural equipment at one central Wimmera location.
The Wimmera Machinery Field Days has expanded to accommodate growth of an event which boasts recognition as one of the major agricultural field days in Australasia. The event stretches across 23 hectares and each year attracts over 650 exhibitors and up to 25,000 patrons.
| The Wimmera Machinery Field Days is a not-for-profit community-based organisation managed by 34 volunteer members.
President Ian Schmidt Senior Vice President Bryan Matuschka Junior Vice President Andrew Bell Chief Steward Paul Petering Site Steward Peter Moore |
regional impact
The Wimmera Machinery Field Days provides significant economic benefit to the Wimmera. This important event injects in excess of $2.5 million directly into the Wimmera economy each year, however, the potential economic contribution to the region is significantly higher. Economic benefits continue well beyond the three-day event in sales enquiries and business.
The Wimmera Machinery Field Days places Horsham and the Wimmera on the national and international stage. More than $200 million in machinery, equipment and materials find a home at the Field Days site. Conservative estimates suggest the three days generate well over $50 million in trade.
The number of Field Days patrons without direct farming links is also growing, continuing an important evolution of the tradeshow side of the event. The success of the inaugural ‘Country Gourmet’ Pavilion in 2009 and the revamped ‘Country Lifestyle’ Square and Marquee provide another incentive for people from various backgrounds to use the Field Days as a family activity and an important ‘must see’ event in their social calendar.