Humble start to 50th Fieldays

The 50th Fieldays has begun and I wonder if there are a few people still around who can recall a two-day Fieldays Special held on Waikeria Prison Farm about 1965.

The Waipa¯ Young Farmers Club members contacted local farming firms and persuaded them to show off their implements, such as mowers, sweeps, rakes and ploughs.

A highlight for many farmers was watching Guy Robinson, a pilot who worked for James Aviation.

He showed farmers how to spread manure from a special Fletcher Aircraft, a most popular and impressive event.

The days were far better attended than expected.

The committee underestimated the parking area allotted, the number of toilets available and the amount of food ordered for hungry patrons.

Jack Price, the local agriculture officer, as well as the superintendent of Waikeria Prison, were chief organisers.

Helping them were members of the local Young Farmers clubs.

Is it possible that the National Ploughing Competition and present Fieldays Events evolved from this beginning?

I think enough funds were raised to hold these Fieldays twice more before they were taken over by Waikato Young Farmers Club at Te Rapa.

What a long way today’s Fieldays has come!

PETER HARKER