Nigel Scheetz, deputy chairman, and his wife Kerryn produce cereal crops, run trade cattle and 1900 Merino and prime lamb ewes on their 690ha Culcairn property.
He has been involved with the field days from a young age with his father Max, and in turn, Nigel’s sons, Lachy, Austin and Tim, are all involved.
A board member since 2005, Nigel helps with logistics and the VIP area.
Daryl Thomson, deputy chairman, is a second-generation director with his father Andrew having a 30-year involvement with the field days.
Daryl and his wife Christie farm in partnership with Andrew a 630ha property at Culcairn, producing cereal and oilseed crops, and 250 beef breeders.
A board member for over eight years, Daryl helps out with the site location and ‘as a general rouseabout’.
“Henty is one of the biggest and best field days in Australia and they happen to be our local field days,’’ he said.
Mixed farmer John Maher, director, has been involved with the field days since 1972.
Back then, John lent a hand as a community volunteer but his involvement has grown to the point where he has a portfolio covering exhibitor security and catering.
Away from Henty, John and wife Cynthia farm at Cookardinia with his brother David.
The family runs 2500 Tara Park blood Merino ewes, with 1000 classed-out ewes joined to White Suffolk rams.
Mark Hasler, director, has a life long connection with the Henty Machinery Field Days both as a visitor and co-operative member.
For many exhibitors in recent years, he has been a familiar face on the entry gates or on a forklift unloading machinery.
Mark was appointed to the HMFD Board last year and brings 16 years experience of working at the coalface of the field days with him.
He grew up at Pleasant Hills and made the annual trip to the field days each year with his parents.
Mark believes the survival of the field days lies with being proactive.
Raised on a farm at West Wyalong, Matthew Noll, director, was encouraged to work at the field days in 2007 by a mate while attending St Paul’s College, Walla Walla.
When he started full-time work in 2010, he began going out each Saturday in September to help at the field days with pegging out sites, stacking hay bales and stump grinding.
These days, Matthew takes a week of annual leave to work out at the site during the field days.
Appointed to the HMFD Board last year, he works as an accountant at Trinity Anglican College at Thurgoona, and also helps out on his family’s small holding at Burrumbuttock.
He brings financial, analytical and corporate governance skills to the boardroom.
Rohan Bahr, director, is a second-generation director and has had a lifelong involvement as a visitor, co-operative member and volunteer.
His father Neil was involved with the field days for more than 40 years as a volunteer and director.
Rohan and his wife Kellie volunteer with the Henty Public School catering team each year at the field days.
The couple farm 1550ha near Cookardinia, comprising 850ha of cereal and oilseed crops, and run a self-replacing flock of 2800 Merino ewes.
Dealing with the public over hot dogs and steak sandwiches instilled a pride and passion in the field days, encouraging Rohan to become a board director.
He said the field days have a positive future, but must remain relevant.
