SIAFD knocks it out of the park!
While the temperature was struggling to reach about 5 degrees and the horizontal hail had enough grunt to slice cheese, the SIAFD committee knocked it out of the park by delivering another great event.
The 40ha Kirwee site was bought by SIAFD after it outgrew its leased site near Lincoln University, its home for 32 years.
Committee chair Alastair Robinson says while there is still a lot to do but they’ll get it done on time.
He says the new, rectangular block at Kirwee is a better shape than the Lincoln site and should be easier for exhibitors to work with. The previous site was a triangle, so exhibitors in the far corners were sometimes overlooked by visitors.
Entry into the event will also be easier and more logical.
SIAFD usually attracts about 25,000 visitors over the three days; the committee is hoping the larger site and new location will result in even more, Robinson says.
“We have registered 450 exhibitors, about 150 more than our previous event. There’s been heaps of positive feedback from exhibitors and they’re all looking forward to the new site. They’re happy with the layout.”
A feature of this year’s event is a half-circle centre-pivot irrigator at the front of the site. The irrigator is now running to ensure a good crop of grass for harvest equipment demonstrations.
Think Water Leeston has made a commitment to supply, install and maintain the irrigator for 20 years. The family-owned water services business has been in pumping and irrigation equipment in Canterbury for 25 years.
Committee member Daniel Schat says crops for demonstrations have been drilled and sites allocated.
“We have more room and the shape is a lot more conducive to filling up the space. The half-circle centre-pivot irrigator is located at the front, close to the big demonstrating exhibitors.”
He believes the increase in exhibitor numbers this year shows the community is continuing to support the event.
“It’s only a $15 entry fee,” Schat says. “South Island Field Days is great for checking out equipment you’re interested in buying and seeing it working.”
About 100 pieces of machinery –including tractors, headers, mowers and seed drills will be seen working.
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