Judith Bysouth brought the only known header simulator to the show from Natimuk in the Wimmera. The game proved popular for some competitive would-be grain farmers. “It’s for bridging the gap between city and country, and we’ve had some kids from Melbourne who have thought it was wonderful,” Ms Bysouth said. The simulator also travelled to the Boort Show on October 12 and Charlton Show on October 19.
After two years of heavy spring rain, the Elmore Field Days brought weather more welcoming to the crowds who made the trip to to October 1-3 event.
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Executive manager Derek Shotton said there was “quite a vibe” among the avenues and displays for the more than 30,000 confirmed visitors across the three days.
“The weather gods have finally smiled on us, so that’s a blessing,” Derek 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.”
Derek 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.”
Derek 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.”
The Elmore Field Days team was thrilled to see so many faces at the site, seeing growth from previous years.
“We had exceptional crowds,” public relations officer John Giffin said.
“We’re extremely happy.
“Probably the best crowds we’ve seen in five, six years. We had three COVID years, then a flood year and then a very wet year.”
The 61st edition of the event welcomed attendees of all ages speaking with stallholders about their offerings, watching demonstrations and presentations, sampling products and enjoying the food options on offer.
While businesses with bigger ticket items, like tractors, had more conversations than sales, smaller equipment and general interest stallholders were impressed with the reception.
“They were probably getting more inquiries rather than sales,” John said.
“People are just tightening their belt at the moment because of frost-affected crops ... they’re still buying the small gear, but the bigger items are just on hold just for the moment to see how the year pans out.
“For (businesses with smaller products), it was a ripper field days.”
Seasoned pros and newbies alike were welcomed into all the agricultural action.
Genesis Industries’ Noel Forrest and Marlin Walsh at their respective final and first Elmore Field Days. Photo: Aidan Briggs
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
Among them were animal health business Genesis Industries’ Marlin Walsh and Noel Forrest, who attended for their first and 25th and final time respectively.
Sales representative for Victoria, Tasmania and south-western NSW, Noel first came to Elmore Field Days in 2000, just weeks into his new job.
“Twenty-four years ago, no-one knew who we were,” he said.
“You’d wander in, and they’d go, ‘Genesis who?’
“We’ve developed, made a lot of new products and expanded our business. It was me, and now we’ve got three, four wandering around.”
He credits events like Elmore Field Days for building exposure for the company’s products, as well as providing insight into what customers are looking for.
“It’s made people aware of what we’ve got,” he said.
“You’ve just gotta be out there and put yourself forward. You find down the track, people will come back to you.
“You get a feel of what the market’s up to and how the season’s going.”
Noel is ready to put down the tools and hand over the field days baton to other staff as he heads into retirement.
His biggest word of wisdom to fresh faces in the industry, working at events like Elmore Field Days, is to put yourself out there.
“I’m getting probably to the age where I should stay home a bit more,” he said.
“The best advice is: if you don’t ask, you’ll never know if they want the stuff. A lot of salespeople get frightened of asking.
“(There’s a) 50 per cent chance they’ll say yes or no. If you don’t ask, you don’t know.”
Brothers Hayden, 8, and Cody Guillot, 6, on a Case II Prime-Lift at Elmore Field Days. Photo: Rechelle Zammit
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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