Farms & Farm Machinery #401

Events
Visitors to AgQuip in 2019
The 2021 AgQuip Field Days have been
rescheduled due to ongoing concerns over
the impact of COVID-19 outbreaks, though
planning for others is proceeding as planned
November
AgQuip
Event organisers have postponed the 2021 AgQuip
Field Days to November due to increasing and
ongoing concerns in relation to the impact of
COVID-19 throughout New South Wales.
AgQuip was initially scheduled to take place from
August 17 to 19 in Gunnedah, NSW, but following an
outbreak of COVID-19, which has caused extended
lockdowns throughout much of the state, organiser
ACM Rural Events has postponed the event to
November 16-18.
ACM Rural Events group manager Kate Nugent
says organisers had made the decision to hold an
event this year after consulting with exhibitors and
key stakeholders.
“We all understand no timing will be ideal for us
at the end of this year, however, every effort and
emphasis will be placed on marketing AgQuip 2021
to a broader regional audience,” she says.
“Whilst AgQuip will be in the midst of harvest, we
are hopeful the timing maximises our opportunity
to offer all a super-charged attendance feeling
confident and safe – and incentivising purchases on
the field in a conducive rural environment over the
days of this special event.”
Planning for the Henty Machinery Field Days, due
to take place on September 21–23, and the Australian
National Field Days, outside Orange on October 21–
23, is continuing, though organisers of both events
said they are continuing to monitor the situation.
HMFD chief executive officer Belinda Anderson
says the 2021 field days will proceed as scheduled
unless otherwise advised by NSW Health, with
attendees encouraged to pre-purchase their tickets
online and contactless spending encouraged.
“Agriculture is an important and essential
industry and farmers and agri-businesses need
to be networking, researching, and buying,”
says Anderson.
“Henty Machinery Field Days will provide a safe
environment for that to occur.”
ANFD organisers say that planning is continuing for
their event.
“The Committee believes that by October we will
be able to bring you a great COVID-Safe event for all
to enjoy,” say organisers.
“The Australian National Field Days Committee
are constantly monitoring the advice of Health
and government departments in relation to the
Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.”
All three events had previously been cancelled in
2020 as a result of the pandemic.
FUNDING
Funding for farmer challenges helps
promote Australian agriculture
Quids in
Thirteen agricultural shows and related youth
groups across Australia have received grant funding
via the new Australian Young Farmer Challenge
(AYFC) Regional Grant Program.
An initiative of the peak body for the 580
agricultural shows across the nation, Agricultural
Shows Australia, the grant program helps shows
invest in the spectacle of a ‘young farmer challenge’,
which is a showcase of young people in Australian
agriculture competing in diverse and colourful
challenges testing skill, technique, knowledge
and safety practices.
Held at agricultural shows across the country,
young farmer challenges can involve changing tyres,
driving tractors, handling alpacas, identifying cattle
breeds, putting out fires, tourniqueting faux snake
bites, erecting fences and myriad other farming tasks
in teams, against the clock and in front of a crowd.
Agricultural Shows Australia executive officer
Katie Stanley said the Australian Young Farmer
Challenge Regional Grant Program required successful
recipients to outline their plans for a sustainable
competition in their local area or state.
“These competitions allow young rural people
to take centre stage with their mates in front of the
crowds at agricultural shows, while demonstrating
the diverse skills needed to be a modern farmer,”
she says.
“Shows use this competition to entertain crowds
whilst being an educational showcase of young
people in agriculture.”
The 2020/21 grant program awarded over
$75,000 in sponsorship, benefitting over 40
competitions at different shows over the next
18 months.
“These competitions provide entertainment
and crowd engagement as well education for the
broader community about agriculture, food and,
more specifically, the role of farmers and farm
safety,” says Stanley.
“The purpose of the program is to support the
sharing of knowledge, encourage community
initiatives and promote community leadership.
“We encourage all those interested in
participating in any of these young farmer
challenges, or shows planning on hosting a
competition to reach out to their state ag show
body or Agricultural Shows Australia.”
The project is jointly funded by Agricultural
Shows Australia and the Australian government
Department of Agriculture, Water and the
Environment’s Building Landcare Community
and Capacity component of the National
Landcare Program.
To find your local challenge, visit
agshowsaustralia.org.au
24 Farms & Farm Machinery