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Fieldays Exhibitor

Shepherds demonstrate skills

PHOTO: Emma WilsonYOUR MOVE: A heading dog stares down her adversaries

to his name with dogs he has trained, Strawbridge knows all about anticipation. “It is a

competition dog ready can take up to two years to get full control but a pup showing an interest

months.“A young pup will be like

anyone starting a new job, he will want to get in and rush the whole thing. He is still a good dog, just too keen.”

“Sit down, stay, stay,” comes the command. A short sharp whistle sends the black and brindle dog forward, ghosting the tightly bunched sheep.

Cambridge man Graeme Strawbridge has been competing

“I was really into it as a youngster, around 15, and competed for around 10 years.

for a while. This is only about the

Mystery Creek.”The shepherds are here all

of their dogmanship and control

returned to Fieldays this year after a break and it is hoped that next year will be bigger

lined up for next year and we

are hoping it will be a full blown competition.”

demonstrating to the public the

art of dog trialling. Strawbridge explains that the idea is to keep

action around an obstacle course. The triallists start with maximum points of 100, and lose points if the sheep turn away or double back.

“The sheep will try and break away and it is up to you to try

To keep your points you need to keep your dog balanced against the sheep so that they are always

By Briar Stobie

Page: 5

BILLYBLACK

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STYLE HAS NOTHING TO

DO WITH IT

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The Exhibitor

Contributors

Sponsors

There is more to Fieldays than tractors and muddy gumboots

according to the Out Deco exhibitors.

Co-owners Hamiltonian Rae Hooper and Aucklander Dawn Maclean have brought their quirky outdoor ornaments to the event.

Maclean says the duo specialise in New Zealand designs and have created a range of cow ornaments inspired by the Waikato and the Fieldays.

“We are moving a lot towards Kiwiana products, especially with events like the Rugby World Cup coming up.”

Along with cows, they sell kiwis, moreporks, pukekos and hedgehogs.

It’s Out Deco’s fourth year at the Fieldays and Maclean says they have had many customers from previous years coming by.

“It’s really great to see people

down here [by the Kiwi Best tent].”The creations are sold online at

www.outdeco.co.nz and at trade shows around the country.

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BLOODLINE:

“Milly the Filly” has taken out this year’s National Fieldays sculpture competition, and her creator Todd Harris is happy to convert trash to treasure for the second year running.

“A lot of it’s New Zealand history,” says Harris, whose sculpture has been a hit with families at Fieldays.

the Ngongotaha man when he saw the motorbike by Te Aroha’s Adrien Worley, and decided to see what scrap metal he could drum together in six weeks.

The authentic-looking sculpture is made mostly from tractor parts with chains, tyre spokes and rusted pipes, but he

for part of the body. “That was my wheelbarrow

and I was using it, but I had to use whatever was laying around.”

Some of the parts had been ‘laying around’ Harris’ farm for ten years, some he came across in the Rotorua scrap metal yards in the last few weeks, but all of it is precious, says Harris.

“I love turning [scraps] into art. This stuff just gets dumped. To me it’s sad I have to go down to scrap yards and get the stuff.”

If she doesn’t sell, Harris will show off Milly at an upcoming

exhibition in Rotorua, but never likes parting with his one-off pieces.

The ex-panel beater now devotes all his time to building sculptures, saying next year’s entry will be “down horse lines again”.

The 2011 Rugby World Cup is also on Harris’ mind, with ideas for a less-rustic sculpture of a rugby player outside Eden Park.

For now, he is focussed on churning out something for Equidays in November, and would love any scrap metal sent his way.

Contact harrisdesign@xtra.co.nz if you would like to donate to Harris’ next endeavour.

Picture caption: ‘Milly the Filly’ gets a snack from Hamish Dowd,

Fieldays.

MOOING ALONG:

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POSTED:

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The entire Fieldays site may soon be covered by

broadband Wi-Fi – allowing exhibitors the opportunity to develop greater live multi-media

This year Fieldays attendees and exhibitors have been able to tap in to free Wi-Fi at Mystery Creek, thanks to broadband service no.8wireless.

The rural broadband provider has established a Wi-Fi “hotspot” at the Mystery Creek Pavilion

and along the adjacent Tui Lane bar and restaurant area, so people can keep in touch and up to date during the hustle and bustle of Fieldays.

No.8 wireless is a provider of

and is run by wireless technology company Rural Link, who also have their full speed pre-paid wireless service Lightwire available at the Fieldays.

“We’ve been working with the Fieldays over the past couple of

years to investigate broadband on site. We have introduced this trial step to see what people think of it and this is an investigation with the Fieldays as to what might be capable,” said Lightwire product manager Jamie Curtis.

“This current Wi-Fi service is a casual service for things like checking your e-mail and checking Twitter and Facebook. But we’re also talking with Fieldays about doing a more structured service that is much

faster and more reliable in the future to meet exhibitors’ needs.”

A permanent broadband network at Mystery Creek would

based Eftpos system available.Mr Curtis said the response

had been very positive with well over 150 users connected to the free service at any one time, and several requests from pavilion exhibitors to join their pre-paid service for the duration of the Fieldays.

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Spectators watched in awe

the Golden Pliers fencing championships spent six and a half hours producing a fence of the best quality on Thursday.

The Golden Pliers, one of three events that make up the Fieldays NZ Wire/Wiremark Fencing

produce the best fence in quality, appearance and mechanical components as quickly as possible.

from heats, and this year for the

Bouskill and 21-year-old son

with each other. Both then went on to compete

in the Silver Spades, the doubles round on Friday, although

competition history. The required fence for the

Silver Spades competition differs each year to keep up with the most recent developments in fencing.

First prize for the Golden Pliers

Spades is $2000.On Wednesday, the Bill

Schuler round ran for up and coming fencers where Jared

contenders.14 judges from a variety of

backgrounds judge the three events, specializing in different aspects of technique, appearance and mechanical quality.

One judge and former champion Owen Peterson said

second place can come down to only a millimetre.

“You’ve got to keep your wits about you, because every minute detail of your fence-building technique is being examined.”

“It’s the most prestigious event in the world that showcases a farmer’s fence-building knowledge and physical endurance at the same time.

The setup of the event allows observers to get pretty close, so they can watch and learn.”

Andrew Holman, visiting Fieldays from Victoria, was watching the fencing keenly

and said he really enjoyed the competition.

“The whole idea of it is really

good. Just seeing how quick they whack it up on the terrain and the wire dimension and watching the staple go in is really good.

Over the week, 50 kilometers of wire was used in the competitions and all the material for the fencing was recycled.

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Fieldays is not just for adults

T

PHOTO: Cheryl Ward

By

By

UP, UP AND AWAY

PHOTO: Cheryl Ward

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W

PHOTO: Cheryl Ward

PHOTO: Danni Winmill

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PHOTO: Emma Wilson

Lonely Dog captivates farmersAn artist hitting the big

screen in Hollywood with a

only the second day and we

By Emma Edwards

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DOGGONE GOOD: Ron Epskamp displays the art

By Libby Kissick

By Monica Tischler

Tours popularWwhere are they to go?

Brazil and anywhere Eastern

“the average age of our clients for this

year is 63”

“It’s just been fantastic and it’s only

the second day”

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Eleven-year-old Logan Turner has been demonstrating how

to properly Karaka Whip for his parents’ exhibit at the Fieldays.

The young whippersnapper from Masterton began cracking whips when he was four and now has the technique down pat.

“Let it drop and almost touch the

you’re hitting a target.”Logan is on hand to share

his knowledge with visitors in a cordoned ring beside the exhibit and says while

naturally, for many the skills take practice.

Keeping it in the family, brothers Sean, 14, and Callum, 13, are also dab hands having been taught how to do it early by their father who also learned when he was a kid.

Father Ashley Turner developed Karaka Whips 15 years ago as a low-maintenance, synthetic alternative to whips made from leather that need to be dressed after each use and often require mending.

Karaka Whips can be washed in water and won’t be ruined in the rain.

Iconic clothing manufacturer Swanndri is plugging a new

casual men’s range at Fieldays – and its traditional chequered design dress shirts are proving popular with younger men.

year’s Fieldays, the new range is up against more traditional Swanndri items.

Swanndri business development manager Lisa Whyte is happy with the new men’s range.

“Our traditional garments are

still really really popular but we are supplementing that range with a whole lot of casual wear pieces.”

Chris Mooney of Auckland is a proud owner of Swanndri clothing and has a collection of their garments.

“You can see the difference in quality, the quality of the garments are good and the buttons don’t fall off. Products are warm, they keep you dry and break the wind.”

“The buttons don’t fall off”

FLICK THAT WHIP BOY!

By Rhiann Keightley

By Ethan Donnell

PHOTO: Rhiann Keightley

PHOTO: Jenna Jamieson

CHEQUERED: Chris Mooney sports his Swanndri

CRACKER: Logan Turner has a go

Mother Carol Turner called Karaka Whips “the working man’s whip” and recommended farm use for herding cattle or as defence if an animal turns nasty.

The Karaka Whips exhibit can be found at C12.

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By Jonathan Carson

FARMER FASHION: Kevin Thompson

PHOTO: Tracey Smith

Saturday, June 18, 2011 Fieldays Exhibitor 9

PHOTO: Heather MeyrickDETERMIND: Hugh Edward wants gold

PHOTO: James IrelandHOT STUFF: Yariv Ederley displays solar heater

By Kasia Jillings

A Waikato farmer thinks he has what it takes to beat

out the rest of New Zealand in this year’s Young Farmer Contest.

This is Hugh Edward’s third

determined to bring home the gold this time.

The 22-year-old Tokoroa dairy farmer said he has been doing a variety of training for

“You have to be a jack of all trades. I’m a dairy farmer but

and even chain sawing.”He used to be a tractor

driver but said dairy farming

“You don’t learn much from

teaching me a lot more.”Hugh is one of seven

Masterton from June 29 to July 2.

Over three days the young

technical tasks like budget

The final will be televised live on July 2 on TVNZ 7. Visit www.youngfarmercontest.

Tokoroa farmer wants to bring home gold

“You have to be a jack of all trades. I’m a dairy farmer

but I’ve had to learn about sheep and

even chain sawing.”

Solar heating could save moneyBy James Ireland

Embracing new solar technology could mean

your hot water energy bill.Solahart’s systems say they

Solar Consultant Yariv

farm in Rotorua recently installed a Solahart system on their cow sheds.

need one litre of hot water

is transferred to a hot water

which will heat the water

said Mr Ederly.

We worked out that through

back the costs of installation in less than three years.”

Solahart have recently introduced a monitoring system for their commercial

Via the internet the customer can see how much solar energy is available and the

system.

can see exactly where it is and an email alert is sent to Solahart who send out

This technology will be available to residential clients within six months.

bent around an object on the

resilient to UV which makes

climates. We have extruded

Ederly.

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The New Zealand Young Farmers took out the Jubilee Award for their laidback farm-style exhibit, complete with barbie and tug of war rope.

Vice President of Te Kawa

Young Farmers Gareth Welch describes the site as: “Pretty homely. It’s encapsulating the rural people and the Young Farmer’s spirit.”

He says a lot of thought

and preparation went into the setup and they have had a few thousand people come through since Wednesday.

“We’re ecstatic, absolutely bloody top dog, yeah loved it,” says Welch.

AgResearch’s giant bug and

the Merit Award for a Premier Feature.

Mike Trolove from AgResearch says the site design was very topical to their theme Partnerships for Better Pastures and this helped to attract big numbers.

The exhibition featured interactive displays and a one-and-half metre long black beetle designed by WETA workshop in Wellington.

Trolove says a lot of time and money had gone into the design and layout so the team was thrilled to be recognised.

“It was really good, certainly being in the premier area, it meant quite a lot to us from that aspect, so yeah we are really happy.”

of Agriculture and Forestry, who have been at Fieldays for many years.

Communications Adviser, Lisa Gibbison, said it took a lot of work from many different people to pull the site together and is happy to see all the hard work being recognised.

“It took a number of months and a team of designers to get this site up and it is really great for it to be acknowledged.”

Rory MacLellan, Maf Bio Security, said they won because of the friendly people manning the stand.

“Absolutely bloody top dog, yeah”

Merit Award Premier Feature

Best Mystery Creek Pavillion Site

PHOTO: Emma WilsonCHUFFED: Daniel Anderson and Hugh Edward hold up the top award

Bob Johnston and Chris Stead

Nicola Roderick, Lisa Gibbison and Blake Dearsly

Nicola Stewart

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Honda Motorcycles New Zealand took out the award this year for best large outdoor site and the team were all very happy with the achievement.

Events co-ordinator for Blue Wing Honda Peter Finlay said the effort behind the scenes has been acknowledged with the award.

“A lot of hard work goes in behind the scenes so it’s really good to be acknowledged. We have got a smart layout here,” he said.

“We want to thank the judges and everybody involved for being smart enough to pick us,” he said.

The best medium outdoor site went to Gallagher animal management.

Regional sales manager

were stoked with the award.“We have put a lot of effort in

and it’s a big thing for us. We have won a few other awards

one for the outdoor site in 10 years,” he said.

The site has seen major changes with a canopy being removed after 20 years and now there is a large dome outside.

“We just tried to make it look different. The site feels so much bigger now and everyone has said that there is so much more space.”

Australian based Seasol has taken out the award for Best International Site at Fieldays.

The company who specialises in manufacturing high quality kelp,

shown at Fieldays once before and believes greater preparation has led to their award.

“We are all very excited about winning and it really helps to create a greater presence in the New Zealand market,” sales manager Rick Keene said. “We can’t rest on our laurels and will be back again next year to try win again.”

Mobile Surgical Services is thrilled to win the award for ‘Best Premier Feature Site.’

Steve Smith, rural health development manager, said, “It is such an important opportunity to be here and we are extremely pleased to get an award.”

The MSS team spent nine months planning for the site.

Mr Smith believes the uniqueness of their site won them the award.

Best Large Outdoor Site

Best International Exhibitor SiteBest Premier Feature Site

Best Small Outdoor Site

Best rural living area site Best Food site

Best Indoor SiteBest Medium Outdoor Site

Lending his eye-catching truck to sit centre- stage of the ARB 4x4 Accessories display paid off for Distributor Tim Crawley after his site won the best small outdoor site award last night.

“It was a great surprise. We put a bit of thought into it but you’ve always got to revise on the day,”he said.

An enticing bowl of giant jaffas is proving just as successful at bringing in the parents as the youngsters for best indoor site award winners, stock feed suppliers, SourceNZ.

Erin Stables, the mastermind behind the site design, is keen to get more space next year, offer coffee alongside the jaffas and take out the title again

The Waikato and Bay of Plenty Division of the Cancer Society had a giant walk-through tunnel

show people the progression of colo-rectal cancer.

This fun and visual way to educate people has proved successful with a lot of people stopping by for a look.

“Kids are particularly curious and bring the parents in too, which is great,” said on-site nurse Vicki Donderwinkel.

Nomad Coffee stalls have taken out the prize for best food site, a

manning the 22 stalls dotted all over Fieldays.

The quick, friendly service has made for thousands of happy customers in need of a good dose of caffeine or a winter warm up.

Gavin Hurring, Andrew Panckhurst and Jimmy Wilson

Vicki Donderwinkel and Jenny AndrewsBrendon Nicholson, Rick Keene and Samantha Gelsi

Nomad Coffee team

Honda teamTim Crawley and Evan Jamieson Gallagher Sue Rhind, Erin Stables and Linda Goodhew

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Kiwi dairy farmers in search of greener pastures

should jump the ditch, according to Australian dairy giant Murray Goulbourn.

The cooperative is at Fieldays this week attempting to attract New Zealand farmers with competitive milk prices and lower land costs.

Field services manager Scott Wells says Australia is an attractive option for farmers looking to relocate or work overseas.

dairy industry and varied production systems depending on which region of Australia

School groups from all over the country have spent the last

few days perusing the exhibitions at Fieldays and learning more about New Zealand’s rural sector.

used the trip to teach their kids more about innovation and had set challenges from tasting food in the Kiwi’s Best area to looking at the Ag Art Wear and asking questions of innovators.

Teacher Tash Martin said she was impressed with the kids’ level of engagement.

“They are sparking off the ideas and what’s going on. These kids are the future generation. They are the innovators of the future; they are the

you go to. We can offer competitive milk prices, land prices are less and wages for workers are a little bit higher.”

year Murray Goulbourn farmers received an estimated

milk solids. Fonterra farmers

Kiwi Malcolm Sellen made the move to Victoria with his

Zealand and we knew we had a long way to go before we would be able to become farm owners in New Zealand.”

Mr Sellen says they recognised there was more opportunity for them in Australia and they now own

Nambrok, a rural town close to the coast.

here, there’s very good farm land and very good people.”

He is surprised more New Zealanders are not making the jump and says it is not expensive to come back a few times a year to visit family.

between the North and South

island – except when there’s an ash cloud!”

The Sellens were scheduled to come to the Fieldays this week to talk to other dairy farmers about Australian

cancelled because of the volcanic ash.

Australia accounts for

world dairy trade, ranking it third behind New Zealand

Murray Goulburn is Australia’s largest dairy company and is a farmer

By Nicola Stewart

By Kashka Tunstall

Aussie dairy giant tempts farmers

PHOTOS: Heather Meyrick

CHECK!: Edward Howell displays his Fieldays frenzy challenge SCHOOL’S OUT: Caleb Young enjoyed his time at the Fieldays

ALL SMILES: Tia Kendall and Jess Bishop

technologists of the future.”Students Tia Kendall and

Jess Bishop helped organize the trip by sorting out tickets and highlighting the day’s route on maps.

there’s been lots of things to see and a lot of free things,” Jess said.

The two racked up a bag of freebies each and had a thrill when they spotted Don Brash in the crowds.

experiencing Fieldays for the

wanted to come back next year.

interesting seeing how farms are evolving so rapidly.”

teachers along for the trip.

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By Rachel Thomas

PHOTO Rachel Thomas

PHOTO Hamish Forsman

Naturally stoked on beer

Beer goes down wellAustralian-owned brewing

company Coopers is proving popular at the Fieldays again with their DIY beer kit.

The home brew initiative from Coopers has recently expanded its

and has doubled in growth over the past two years.

Coopers importer Brian Phillimore said the resurgence in the brand can be put down to Coopers’ new approach to home brewing which has made the product much more user-friendly, as well as introducing

“We introduced a product that is much simpler and brought in new

Canadian Blonde, along with the traditional lagers and draughts.”

The DIY kit is sold with a simple brewing fermenter and an easy to

made for beer, and also has an instructional DVD.

“Once people buy the brewing kit they can then buy the concentrate from most major supermarkets and the concentrate makes the ongoing cost of the beer at 35-40 cents per

The kit makes 23 litres of beer at a time and produces beer from naturally home grown ingredients with no additives or preservatives.

delighted with the publicity they

“We sold 75 kits at Fieldays last year and expect to sell the same this year, that’s 75 new brewers so it is a great marketing tool for us.”

The Coopers Brewery exhibit is on site RL28 in the Rural Living

Nobody likes remembering the dark ages of beer.

father-in law, Terry, for starting “the craft beer resolution in New Zealand”, and the Stoke beer on show at Fieldays shuns the residue of bland, sugary beer of times gone by.

Stoke beer, brewed by the

launched in September last year and has been popular in the Kiwi’s Best tent this Fieldays.

With the Gold, Amber and Dark varieties, the focus is on

breweries today, and Emma says it’s important to stand out from the rest.

She says craft beer tends to be

has been likened to English ale. “We tried to create a beer that

focuses on the malt instead of the hops.”

Amber and Gold are best sellers, but Emma says Dark has surprised with sales so far.

“There seems to be a real following for dark beer.”

Fieldays”.The team are working on a lager

and plan to bring out an Indian pale ale nearer to Christmas.

Ardern said besides the stand in the Kiwi’s Best tent, the beer can be found on a guest tap at House bar in town.

G’DAY: Gary Anstiss and Brian Phillimore

CHEERS: Brent Arden and Emma McCashin toast the Fieldays

By Hamish Forsman

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By Kashka Tunstall

Fieldays has stepped up its coverage in the equine

sector this year with events running in the EquiDays Arena.

EquiDays event that is scheduled to run at Mystery Creek later this year.

The arena is showcasing

a herd and then selecting a

horse.Other events in the

arena include side saddle demonstrations by the New Zealand Side Saddle Association and the Horse

competition.EquiDays, run by the

National Fieldays Society, will be held at Mystery Creek in November and will run demonstrations,

up clinics.

How much do you weigh?Let Gallagher show you the benefits of weighing more... often.Visit us at the Fieldays®

For more information phone 0800 731 500 or visit www.gallagher.co.nz

National Fieldays® 2011

PHOTO: SuppliedPERFORMANCE: NZ Cutting Horse Association demonstration is at 11.30 today

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Police are using the Fieldays to educate the public about the

dangers of methamphetamine use.With a mock set up of a real

methamphetamine lab on site, police are informing farmers about the possibility of cottages and rental properties being actively used as ‘P’ labs.

While the display may seem controversial, Andrew McAlley of Hamilton police believes the display is an effective tool for informing the public about the growing issue.

“What we’re trying to do is get

people about the risk without going overboard and teaching people how to make meth.”

The set up is based on a real lab which was raided by police. It features ingredients used to manufacture methamphetamine, ingredients which a lot of people probably have in their homes.

“This stuff is made from regular everyday items that anyone can buy.

What we’re trying to do is get

people about the risk without going overboard and teaching people how to make meth,” said McAlley.

With 18-21 labs being busted nationally each year, McAlley encourages the public to look out for key indicators that suggest a ‘P’ lab might be active.

“We are trying to educate people and get them thinking and the feedback we’ve been getting is ‘oh I seen such and such and I’ve seen so and so;’ the biggest key message is never presume we know about them.”

Seven to 10 kilograms of toxic waste is produced for every one kilogram of ‘P’ and farmers are encouraged to keep an eye out for this waste.

A range of feminine workwear and products made their

debut this year at Fieldays.There is no excuse these days

for women working on the land

Police build mock P lab

By Sue Russell

to look less feminine in boring greens and greys, according to Celeste Wills. Her business called ‘My Farm Lady’ is aimed at giving women working on the land the opportunity to wear colourful and attractive farm wear.

“I used to hate being on the farm with my husband when unexpected visitors would show up and I was dressed in a pair

overalls. I just kept thinking to myself someone should design

says Celeste.She set to and sourced ethically

produced materials from overseas and employed the skills of a top garment maker to help bring the range of workwear to life.

Overalls are made from 100 percent cotton drill, and feature stirrups so they stay in gumboots.

Celeste is working on a range of women’s wet weather gear and a big style overall.

The bright and colourful range is on show at site RL14.

By Rhiann Keightley

PRETTY IN PINK: Michelle BluettPHOTO: Sue Russell

PHOTO: Heather MeyrickBUBBLE BUBBLE: P lab equipment

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Editor’s picsHEY! Batchelor Tony Buckingham

WHEN I GROW UP: Michael Taylor BEEF! Champion Bull Sars Gold with Leigh Needham

DIG’N IT: NZ Contractors Federation, driver - Craig Bartz CHIPS! David Bolstad

NUTS! Chestnut Man William Beauchamp TEETH: Woodchoper Luke van Veen PHOTO: Emma Wilson PHOTO: Sue Russell PHOTO: Tracey Smith

PHOTO: Kasia Jillings PHOTO: Kasia Jillings

PHOTO: Chris Lord PHOTO: Gabrielle Oliver

Saturday, June 18, 2011 Fieldays Exhibitor 17

VOX POP

NAME: Ernest Sanders, 64Fruit growerFROM: GordontonHOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU ATTENDED THE FIELDAYS? Countless times, a number of years.ARE YOU LOOKING FOR ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR? An exercise apparatus to do with trampolines.WHAT IS THE MOST INTERESTING THING YOU HAVE COME ACROSS? The zero turning mower, probably quite expensive, but it looks good.

NAME: Shaneel Kashyap, 30Salesman for Pirtex FROM: AucklandHOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU ATTENDED THE FIELDAYS?ARE YOU LOOKING FOR ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR? Not in particular but I’ve got a couple

WHAT IS THE MOST INTERESTING THING YOU HAVE COME ACROSS? I’m off to see a client now who sells fertiliser spreaders and he has a helicopter on top of his truck.

NAME: Laura Collins, 15StudentFROM: HamiltonHOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU ATTENDED THE FIELDAYS? First timeARE YOU LOOKING FOR ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR? Just having a look aroundWHAT IS THE MOST INTERESTING THING YOU HAVE COME ACROSS? Have just got here, day’s just begun.

NAME: Kathleen Cederman, 50Self-employedFROM: OtorohangaHOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU ATTENDED THE FIELDAYS? Most yearsARE YOU LOOKING FOR ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR? Horticulture and horse gear.WHAT IS THE MOST INTERESTING THING YOU HAVE COME ACROSS? Nothing yet, I have just arrived.

NAME: Eunice Hay, 54Vet receptionistFROM: Te KuitiHOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU ATTENDED THE FIELDAYS? Forever, every year.ARE YOU LOOKING FOR ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR?time without the kids so I am free to roam.WHAT IS THE MOST INTERESTING THING YOU HAVE COME ACROSS? Haven’t got very far yet, I’m still exploring.

NAME: Jack Kelly, 16StudentFROM: HamiltonHOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU ATTENDED THE FIELDAYS? Five or so.ARE YOU LOOKING FOR ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR? I’m just here to have a look around really.WHAT IS THE MOST INTERESTING THING YOU HAVE COME ACROSS? Not much, I haven’t been here long.

By Rhiann Keightley Photos By Rhiann Keightley

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Backyard start-up exhibits

NZTA goggles replicate drink drivingBy Nicola Stewart

By Rebecca Smith

Custom trailers: Johnathan Burtt and Aaron Schreurs PHOTO: Martina Deacon

Pirongia engineers Custom

exhibitors just four years after a

Owners Aaron Schreurs and Johnathan Burtt started in Mr Schreurs’ backyard shed, but in two years the two soon knew they were going to need a bigger

started we would just work on

started asking more and more

originally just made MotoX and

became established we began to

stretching out into things like

the odd bit of solo work in his

Custom Built Trailers

means constant trialing of new materials on the market that

anything better than the materials

making trailers out of the same

DOUBLE VISION: Michael O’Neil from NZ Transport Agency demonstrates the wheel of death PHOTO: Cheryl Ward

Trealistic look at the dangers of

understand how your body reacts to the effects of alcohol,

altered judgement after just a few drinks and many would be under

says she found it hard to focus on

in control at all and my judgement

Constable Gordon Grant says the test brings road safety to the

alcohol affects their balance and their judgement and it shows how dangerous it is to get behind the

the rural areas because there are quite a few issues on rural roads that are quite a risk factor for the

Saturday, June 18, 2011 Fieldays Exhibitor 19

With more than 75 world championships under

his belt, it’s no surprise lumberjack Dave Bolstad is selling saws.

Best known for his wood chopping with a customised ‘Hot saw’, Bolstad has impressive achievements.

“I won nine world championships at the Royal Easter show in Sydney which is one of the hardest events in the world.”

The world champ is this year selling saws at the Lucas Saw mill site, a business which led him into the saw milling discipline, which has claimed him a number of world titles over the past 10 years.

Chocolate “moo-poos” are a big mover in the Kiwi’s

Best marquee at Fieldays this year.

The Sweetest Little Chocolate Shop can hardly keep up with demand as the coconut-

The Hamilton-based company

themed chocolate on show, including milk chocolate cows and white chocolate sheep.

Dave and Merrin Watts

Awa seven weeks ago and Mrs Watts says the Fieldays

new businesses to get their name out there.

The handmade chocolates are all 100 per cent New

World champ sells saws

Chocolate moo-poos delight

By Rhiann Keightley

“It’s great to be able to sell products that come straight out

Another product proving

to be popular is the chocolate

“Everyone smiles when they’re around chocolate.”

By Nicola Stewart

PHOTO: Cheryl WardCOWPATS: Merrin Watts is selling handmade chocolates

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CAFFINE HIT: Grant pours another masterpeice

A TEAM: Stephanie Numan, Charles Riddle, Larissa Maggs, Catherine Bourke, Harkanwal Hothi, Hayley Archer and Georgie Gaddum

PROUD : Wayne and Maureen Startup stand by their oil

PHOTO: Hayley ArcherPHOTO: Hayley Archer

PHOTO: Kasia Jillings

PHOTO: Jenna Jamieson

Dora’s coffee powers Exhibitor design team

It started as four olive trees in the garden, now Village

Press is the largest olive oil press in New Zealand.

time, owners of Village Press Maureen and Wayne Startup said it has been a successful debut and they will be back next year.

“I think farmers are drawn in by the healthy, nutritious factor and they also want to support community growers,” said Wayne.

Village Press produces a range of biologically grown

infused olive oils.Wayne said the new

has been one of the most popular at Fieldays.

The inspiration for Village Press came while the couple

their Hawke’s Bay home 12 years ago admiring their small cluster of olive trees, over a glass of wine.

After a series of olive growing experiments they hit a “cross roads”, said Wayne.

“We had to decide whether to keep it as a hobby or go commercial ... It’s been hard work but we’re very proud

By Kasia Jillings of our product.” Wayne and Maureen spend

a lot of time travelling around New Zealand promoting their product at food and wine shows.

Village Press is exported to 14 countries, and is available New Zealand wide in most supermarkets and gourmet food stores.

“It’s important to us that it is really high quality but

people aren’t scared to use it,” Wayne said.

Wayne and Maureen are in the Kiwis Best tent with free samples of their olive oils during Fieldays.

Saturday, June 18, 2011 Fieldays Exhibitor 21

BOOM BOX: David Tipple has sold more than 100 guns PHOTO: Geoff Ridder

which has been operating since 1978, has an impressive display of historical war equipment ranging from World War II to over 300 years ago.

“We have a German army helmet from WWII that we bought over from Finland. Our oldest piece of equipment is a 350 year old Arabic gun and it is $12, 000,” Mr Tipple said.

To be able to hold the exhibition, security and safety had to be well planned.

“We had to get permission to sell guns here and to have the approved facility, which is lockable racks for the guns,” Mr Tipple said.

“We also needed a dealer’s licence. So all up it was a $25,000 exercise.”

Mystery Creek’s operations manager Roger Bailey said Gun City’s professionalism made it an easy decision to

at the Fieldays. “Gun City has done an

exceptional job in meeting

the criteria we have given and are leading the way

temporary event.”Police development

manager Kate Gabriel said the rules around guns, ammunition, machetes and knives at the Fieldays were tight.

“The exhibitors cannot give people guns to take

from their sites. The arms are couriered to a safe location by Gate Two, where they can be picked up off site.”

The truck which displays the guns carries a GPS tracking unit and is taken off site after each day.

The guns on display range

to shotguns and are used for deer, rabbit, target or clay-bird shooting.

Gun City has exhibited its collection overseas, and can now add the Waikato to its list.

The display at the Fieldays has been a success for Gun City, which sold more than 100 guns in three days exhibiting.

“This exhibition has been more popular than the shows that we have participated in over in America and Germany,” Mr Tipple said.

Fieldays is a success for gun trader

By Monica Tischler

“There is a huge waiting list for

guns like these – about two and a

half years,”

A handcrafted shotgun worth $60,000 has

captivated visitors at a display by a Christchurch gun company which is the

The 45-year-old Purdey 20 gauge, single trigger has generated a lot interest, especially from one visitor.

“I’m pretty sure we’ve sold it. We have a potential buyer who’s very interested,” Gun City’s owner and managing director, David Tipple, said.

Made in London and from the Queens Gun Market,

across. “There is a huge waiting list for guns like these – about two and a half years,” Mr Tipple said.

Along with an array of 500 different arms, Gun City,

22

Biodynamics alive and well

SPIN: Peter Bacchus shows the water vortex system

TAGGED: Nancy and Malcolm Smith were tracked

PHOTO: Cheryl Ward

PHOTO: Annie French

The great-nephew of a New Zealand biodynamic farming

pioneer has been spreading the word to a new generation at Fieldays.

The principles of biodynamics

the freedom of the farmer to

their farm practice.Peter Bacchus, from the

Biodynamic Association of New Zealand, stresses this issue of freedom before all else as he explains the basics of biodynamic practice.

“The key responsibility we have as biodynamic practitioners when approached for help is to teach farmers how to make observations to enable them to become free. By that I mean free from the need to rely on consultants or other experts to tell them what they (the farmer) need,” says Mr Bacchus.

“Our aim is to create the conditions on the farm, using what exists on the farm, to enhance the life-forces which present in the soil, so that this energy will be transferred into the plants that grow from the soil.”

He says it begins with the farmer observing the soil and the growth and nature of plants that grow on the farm.

“If we are asked to give advice, and we always wait to be asked, the advice begins with observation. We can then

provide information about a group of ‘starters’, known as preparations. Those made in the cows horns are well known to most people these days,” says Mr Bacchus.

Biodynamic farming has been practised in New Zealand since 1928, when Peter’s great-uncle began working biodynamically on a farmlet in Havelock North. In 1933 Peter’s father, George Bacchus, went to Europe to study biodynamic principles formally.

The Biodynamic Association

Big Brother is watching a group of farmers during

Fieldays to track their routes and stops around the event.

Vodafone is providing GPS trackers to 200 farmers visiting the event to provide data to the Fieldays Society, allowing them to improve the event in future.

Fieldays regular Malcolm Smith and his wife Nancy said it wasn’t a big deal for him to be tracked by the GPS devices.

“We always come here anyway to stay with my sister and she was the one that emailed me and said I should go for it [Vodafone Fieldays Footprints]. It doesn’t bother me and there is no trouble in doing it,” he said.

formed in New Zealand in 1940 and now has a membership of nearly 1000 farmers and gardeners.

On biodynamic farms liquid manure is stirred in such a way that a vortex is created which adds oxygen to it before being sprayed out over pasture.

“When this is done regularly and consistently over the farm it can match any other form of agricultural input that would otherwise be applied, without any negative impact on animal health,” says Mr Bacchus.

One demonstration at the biodynamic stand shows water being spun in a simple vortex system. This extracts organisms from compost and other materials into the liquid and adds oxygen. It’s the invention of Steven Erickson who practices biodynamic farming near Waihi.

The Biodynamic Association also produces planting and sewing calendars to assist farmers to choose the best time to apply fertilisers, plant crops or breed stock.

“Problem is that you’re not going to get much out of me, I go to pretty much every tent!”

Travelling from Hawke’s Bay, the Smiths have been attending Fieldays since 1985.

Each year their 240 hectare farm sees many improvements inspired by exhibitors at Fieldays.

“Bowers had these troughs a couple of years ago and I needed a bridge. Mine had just broken so I made a new one from upturned feed troughs. My innovative use of a cow trough,” he said.

Information such as how people move through Fieldays, dwell time on each site, and what facilities are most used will be collected over the four days.

By Sue Russell

By Annie French

23

All day:

9am:

9am:

9.45:

11am:11.30:

12pm:

2.30: 5pm:

What’s on today

Kid of the day

MACHINE BOY: Nelson Mapp with his favourite toy PHOTO: Kristin Beale

Field on Fieldays

“Fwe ran out of whitebait,” said the lady at the only whitebait stand on the huge National Fieldays’ site.

It wasn’t surprising – Thursday was believed to be something of a record for visitor numbers, and already, within an hour of the gates opening on Friday morning, there was a small queue beginning to form for either whitebait fritter sandwiches or for the equally-tasty venison pattie sarmies.

The weather helped. There was a touch of frost smeared across the parking paddocks as the early birds arrived, and a lowering sky held the cold in and made the first few hours a rather bleak and chilly wander. Hot coffee and hot food was a

By Kingsley Field very popular idea. Most people were glad to

huddle into heavy jackets and warm beanies, with sturdy footwear and thick socks, but there was the occasional hardy soul in tee-shirt and shorts. There was even one rugged individual clad in a generous beard, long, ragged Swannie bush-shirt and rugby shorts, and sporting a pair of bare feet a rhino would have been proud to own.

Those staffing the police stand near the Fieldays’ headquarters had a very smart operation that attracted a minor tsunami of interest – they set up a rudimentary P-lab and were happy to explain at least some of the methods of P manufacture. Along with it were vivid photos of the stark, horrible and highly dangerous results, either from using the drug or from messing up the manufacture

and literally having it all blow up in your face.

Several big machinery salesmen were talking more

of days too, one saying his stand had had more serious inquiries and orders in those

in the previous two years. “It’s obvious the cockies are

“And it’s not just because of good dairy prices. Sheep and beef farmers are also getting decent payouts now, and after years of doing repairs to their farm machinery they’re now in a position to buy replacements with new gear.

“This could be a very good year for the big machinery sellers.”

And if the farmers start buying big, it’s likely they will set up a money-go-round from

FEEDING TIME

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GOING UP15:

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By the numbers

24

Farming seems to be springing back after tough times and

Fieldays this year. Maf released a report on

Tuesday that said the agricultural sector income has risen 13 per cent in the year to March 2011.

At Fieldays exhibitors have been selling their goods and services to record crowds.

Thursday saw 32, 935 people attending, a six per cent increase from last year and the best Thursday Fieldays has had since it began 43 years ago.

A total of 26,467 visitors came to Fieldays on Wednesday making it the third highest attended Wednesday.

Fieldays visitor Colin Nagel, a lamb and sheep farmer, said that the industry was going through exciting times and he was buying as he went.

“It’s just great to see the money coming into farming and the younger ones getting a better yield. It’s good, we’ve never seen anything like it before.

“It’s just amazing. We are on a bit of a high at the moment. I imagine there’d be quite a lot of spending at Fieldays across the board. You’ll see the most money ever spent at Fieldays ever, I would say.”

Fieldays general manager Barry Quayle said the visitor numbers were evidence “the

industry is looking forward and our exhibitors are reaping the rewards of this optimism.”

Fieldays Society chairman Warwick Roberts said exhibitors were doing well with selling their products this year.

“This year I think there’s a good feeling out there. The exhibitors are getting good orders. Normally

and come back the next day to get the order out. Wednesday they were getting the orders out straight away, so it’s interesting.”

Seasol sales manager Rick Keene said “The enquiry rate has really exceeded our expectations.”

“We are really impressed and excited and we are making our

presence in the market known.”ANZ managing director

Graham Turley agreed the outlook was good for the rural sector.

“The farming sector is pretty fortunate at the moment. They are riding on the back of good commodity prices and for the dairy industry they’ve been riding pretty good trends for a while.”

But not everybody is convinced and at Fieldays, farmer Steven Borland said that while things are better, it’s still not quite where Maf estimates.

“There’s no major items for purchase. Maf suddenly thinks the commodity market’s coming right but it’s not like that.”

By Kashka Tunstall

PACKED: Thursday was the biggest day in Fieldays ‘history’ PHOTO: Heather Meyrick