After two years of heavy spring rain, the Elmore Field Days brought with them weather more welcoming to the crowds who made the trip last week.
Executive manager Derek Shotton said there was ‘quite a vibe’ among the avenues and displays for the over 30,000 confirmed visitors across the three days.
“The weather gods have finally smiled on us, so that’s a blessing,” Mr Shotton said.
“It’s very easy to get sucked into the doom and gloom these days, but the vibe of the exhibitioners and the patrons is very upbeat.”
The show’s president Scott Nichol said it felt like this year brought a good crowd and new activities for children, such as camel rides, animal balloons and face painting, had made a difference.
“They are coming back, and because of the holidays, we have plenty of activities for the kids, so that gets mum here as well,” Mr Nichol said.
“Then, if there’s something in particular, we can get the whole family here.”
Mr Nichol said there was a ‘bit of everything’ on display, ranging from local businesses, companies from interstate and larger corporate ones.
“Exhibitors are happy, there’s always people to talk to,” he said.
A new addition to the exhibition hall this year was a health hub.
“We’ve always had a little bit of health on display, but now we have put them all in one spot so you can get a hearing check or a skin check, and a new one is Fat Farmers.
“We’ve all got to look after ourselves, it doesn’t matter what industry we are in, but farmers’ health is getting more and more publicised, and it’s an important thing.”
Mr Shotton said it had been a different crowd this year due to the alignment with school holidays.
“It’s a different demographic — which is a good thing.
“And of course we like to see our city cousins come and have a look as well as our traditional market.”
Mr Shotton praised those exhibitors at the front of technology.
“People see that the autonomous and automatic equipment is no longer an idea or something you see online any more; there’s actually demonstrations on display for the doubting Thomases.
“The tech — it’s coming, it has actually come, it’s here.”
Mr Nichol commended the effort of the volunteers at the community kitchen which served a range of food vans in several of the food courts and raised money for organisations such as schools, sports clubs and Scouts.
“They come from our local community, they all volunteer and all of the profit goes back into the local community.
“It’s a very community-based organisation.”
For pictures from the field days, turn to pages 16 and 17.