More than 16000 visitors enjoyed the 41st annual Murrumbateman Field Days last weekend and while that number is slightly down on last year, it is still an impressive figure for such a small town.
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A windy first day is believed to have prevented numbers exceeding last year's figures but according to Murrumbateman Progress Association president Greg Weekes, those who did go through the gates had a good time.
"We have received a lot of positive feedback from both visitors and exhibitors alike," he said.
"This year we had 461 exhibitors showing their products and some of them came to us saying they had a very good field days.
"The people selling ride-on lawnmowers had a very good weekend."
The Murrumbateman Field Days are a special event for the Yass Valley community with local organisations benefiting from it.
"We provide a venue where all the other community groups in our catchment area can do their annual fundraising," Mr Weekes said.
"We had 14 different Rural Fire Service brigades on the ground doing everything from the huge food stall, to rubbish collection, to directing parking.
"For their efforts, we make them a donation for their services.
"It means they don't have to go out and have 10 sausage sizzles trying to raise funds.
"There are between 20 to 30 different groups including churches, schools, Scouts, Lions Club and Rotary who we all support.
"It is an event by the community, for the community.
"All the money we get goes straight back into the community."
Mr Weekes said that while there were many fun attractions, two in particular stood out.
"This year was the second woodchop we have held and it grew in interest again," he said.
"The Yass Antique Machinery display was very popular again.
"They had a 'Sheep-to-Shoulder' demonstration where visitors could see how clothes were once made - all the way from shearing a sheep to a finished shawl someone could wear on their shoulders."
This year's field days were the first in more than three decades to hold a Rural Talks Tent.
Talks included presentations on bees, poultry, livestock problems specific to the area, weed management, plants, hobby winegrowing and fire prevention.
"It is a free attraction which is very informative and contextual for the area," Rural Talks Tent coordinator Brett Lello said.
"It served varying interests but was focused predominantly on hobby to smaller farms which a lot of properties in this area are."
