PREPARATIONS for the field days begin months before the actual event.
Each year a designated site on the outskirts of the small Mallee town of Speed comes to life with more than 300 exhibitors.
It’s a huge task for the 26 members of the Speed Lions Club who work tirelessly year-round to bring the event to fruition.
Mallee Machinery Field Days secretary Matt Brady took over the role in October.
“Coordinating the field days is a massive job within itself,” he said.
“Each member of the Speed Lions Club is responsible for every aspect of coordinating the event.”
Liaising with exhibitors, organising catering and ensuring the upkeep of the site are some of the many jobs involved with organising the field days.
“We have a number of working bees in the lead-up to the event and each exhibitor site is individually marked out by one of our members,” Mr Brady said.
It’s a similar story for each exhibitor, and they too work behind the scenes to coordinate the logistics of displaying equipment at the event.
Mr Brady said there’s been strong demand for larger sites this year, as farming machinery continues to increase in size.
“We have exhibitors coming from all over Australia, including new exhibitors from Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia,” Mr Brady said.
Queensland-based Gessner will be exhibiting at the field days for the first time this year.
Sales director Michael O’Connor said while they’ve been involved with trade shows and field days in most regions throughout Australia, this was the first time exhibiting in the Mallee.
“The one main agricultural region where we have not displayed our equipment or sought out an equipment dealer is the broadacre plains of western Victoria,” Mr O’Connor said.
“We have a very broad range of deep tillage, cultivation and sowing equipment which will be ideal for farmers in this region. The feedback we received from a recent customer who purchased our 24m Patriot planter in Hopetoun made me think that there are plenty more farmers who will benefit from knowing more about Gessner equipment.”
Mr O’Connor said the logistics involved with sending equipment to field days was significant.
“AgQuip at Gunnedah usually requires at least four semi or b-double loads of equipment and can cost up to $25k just for freight,” Mr O’Connor said.
“This year at Speed, we thought it best to showcase one or two of our deep tillage machines.”
Mr O’Connor said he was looking forward to exhibiting at this year’s Mallee Machinery Field Days for the first time.
“As the sales director I think it is important to get out of the office,” Mr O’Connor said.
He will travel from South East Queensland to Speed, meeting with farmers along the way.
“I’m just looking forward to meeting lots of local Victorian farmers and getting to know and understand what the market requires in the region,” Mr O’Connor said.
“We have more than 40 implements for all different cropping applications and unlike many equipment suppliers, Gessner designs and manufactures all of our equipment in-house.”
Mr O’Connor said Gessner had a small team of engineers and drafting people constantly coming up with new products in consultation with farmers.
“I have no doubt over the two days I will meet plenty of interesting characters and some incredibly knowledgeable farmers,” Mr O’Connor said.
“To be the best agricultural equipment manufacturer you need to spend time out in the field. This is a great opportunity to get in front of as many faces as possible over two days.”
