The three-day agricultural showcase is the biggest event on the calendar for Henty residents and it plays an important role in injecting funds back into the local community.

While the field days is about displaying and showcasing rural innovation and recognising leaders for excellence, many of the volunteers that make the field days a success live in the area.

Field days chief executive officer Belinda Anderson said she recognised the work of the many caterers, the people who help park the cars and those who volunteer their time to support schools and community groups fund raise at the event. Despite the dry conditions she said the interest at AgQuip in northern NSW recently was strong, and there was no reason it wouldn’t be the same here. 

Organisers are hoping the record prices in the livestock industry, especially the lamb market, will inject some enthusiasm among patrons. 

Mrs Anderson said the site, of more than 100 hectares, was at capacity and visitors had an opportunity to view some $120 million in exhibits. There were 3500 companies exhibiting across 1200.

And for those who planned on walking the entire site there was more than 14 kilometres to cover. Mrs Anderson said this year’s field days equalled the largest on record in terms of exhibitor area with 14km of shopfront. Aside from viewing tractors and seeders worth hundreds of thousands of dollars there was lots of interactive displays too. 

The yard dog trials and three-sheep event drew in plenty of competitors and spectators a like and there was also a reptile show to watch. Australian Competition and Consumer Commission deputy chairman Mick Keogh opened the event on Tuesday.