Torrential rain fails to dampen spirits at Farming Expo

However, organisers have cancelled the trade exhibits, because of poor ground conditions.

Expo director Dave Martin says the two full days of seminars were set to go ahead indoors at the Wairoa A & P Showgrounds Pavilion, as well as the popular Evening Muster tomorrow night with guest speaker Neil Gardyne.

Martin says the forecast is for more heavy rain, with no improvement expected in the weather for the next 12-24 hours.

“For us, the safety of expo attendees and our exhibitors comes first and so the management team with the A & P Society have decided it is unsafe to hold the exhibit side of the expo,” says Martin.

“Our concerns are around getting people, vehicles and exhibits onsite safely and the use and protection of electronic equipment onsite. We are incredibly disappointed that we have had to do this as we realise the effort and energy exhibitors have put into planning their site at the 2017 expo.”

Martin hoped the poor weather would however encourage more farmers in the district to take a day or two off the farm to enjoy the seminar programme and evening muster.

“We have a fantastic variety of speakers set down for the two days and their presentations will be of huge value to farmers throughout Hawke’s Bay and the East Coast,” says Martin.

“Plus of course we have Neil Gardyne, the ‘drone farmer’ coming from the deep south, for the Evening Muster which will no doubt be a fabulous social event.”

For more information on the East Coast Farming Expo and to purchase tickets go to www.eastcoastexpo.co.nz. Tickets will also be available at the gate.