Henty Machinery Field Days a team effort

With a wealth of experience behind them, these seven people are passionate about putting on a smooth running event.

Nigel and his wife Kerryn produce cereal crops, run trade cattle and Merino and prime lamb ewes on their 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 Tom, all involved.

A board member since 2004, Nigel helps with logistics and the VIP area.

"The field days has always played an important role providing our exhibitors with the opportunity to be at the forefront and display new information, techniques and technology for agriculture," he said.

"We have a great group of young people involved with the field days - around 15 young farmers aged under 25 and all sharing a passion for agriculture."

Daryl 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 at Culcairn, producing cereal and oilseed crops, and cattle.

A board member for nine years, Daryl helps out with the site location and as a general rouseabout.

"Henty is one of the best field days in Australia and they happen to be our local field days," he said.

"I am proud of the way local exhibitors and the community has supported it in the long term - Henty is part of the family."

As a member of the Pleasant Hills Rural Youth, Ross Edwards was roped into a job as a car-parking attendant at the Henty Field Days in 1966.

The mixed farmer from Yerong Creek has retired from the chairman role after 11 years at the helm.

Ross and his wife Heather, farm with son Phillip and daughter-in-law Nicole. Whilst Ross is still involved with the farm, the everyday running and management is carried out by Phillip and Nicole.

"HMFD is the envy of many organisations with its large involvement of youth," Ross said.

"There is such a camaraderie within the co-operative and everyone gets on well.

"We have a wonderful association with the exhibitors, Roads and Maritime Services, and emergency services.

"The event is not only recognised Australia wide, but world wide as well."

Mixed farmer John Maher 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 a flock of Tara Park blood Merino ewes, with the classed-out ewes joined to White Suffolk rams.

The Mahers also crop canola, wheat and triticale.

"The field days are a passion - a community activity and a showcase for displaying agricultural machinery," John said.

Mark 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 brings with him 16 years experience of working at the coalface of the field days.

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, innovative and promoting new products and ideas.

"We've still got to have that practical, physical display but also take advantage of the digital technology and social media," he said.

Raised on a farm at West Wyalong, Matthew was encouraged to work at the field days in 2007 by a mate while attending high school.

What began as going out each Saturday in September to help at the field days with pegging out the sites and distributing hay bales, Matt's role evolved into taking a week of annual leave each year to work on site during the field days.

Appointed to the HMFD board in 2017, he works as Business Services Manager at St Paul's College, Walla Walla, and also helps out on his family's small holding at Burrumbuttock.

He brings financial, analytical and corporate governance skills to the boardroom table at Henty.

Matthew said the field days drew a diverse customer base and the younger generation without a farming connection needed to also be catered for.

Rohan 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 near Cookardinia, comprising cereal and oilseed crops, and run a self-replacing flock of 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 to a rapidly changing agricultural industry.