Te Awamutu Courier

Fieldays unveils new rural advocacy hub

Uniting farmers' voices with collaborat­ive support

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Fieldays, New Zealand’s premier agricultur­al event, has announced the establishm­ent of a dedicated Fieldays Rural Advocacy Hub in partnershi­p with Federated Farmers.

The Advocacy Hub will bring together the various rural organisati­ons which are advocating for farmers and championin­g their interests as one team, under one roof, for the first time.

It will also serve as a central platform for discussion­s, announceme­nts and initiative­s to amplify the voices and concerns of the country’s farmers and rural communitie­s.

With almost a dozen exhibitors in its inaugural year, there will be strong representa­tion for farmers and diversity of representa­tion. Exhibitors include Federated Farmers, Young Farmers, Groundswel­l, Rural Women, Future Farmers NZ and Farmers Weekly.

The Rural Advocacy Hub will be a must-visit new addition to Fieldays, where farmers are encouraged to come and discuss the issues affecting the future of farming in New Zealand.

New Zealand National Fieldays Society chief executive Peter Nation says it’s great to be able to work alongside Federated Farmers to deliver a dedicated advocacy space like this.

“This new hub delivers on Fieldays’ purpose of advancing agricultur­e through both education and collaborat­ion,” Nation says. “We know it’s incredibly tough out there this year. It’s never been more important for farmers to be heard and to have advocates amplifying their voices.

“Federated Farmers are New Zealand’s leading rural advocacy organisati­on, so they were a natural fit for us to partner with to bring the hub to life.

“Fieldays provides the opportunit­y for connection and collaborat­ion, and this hub will live those values”.

Federated Farmer president Wayne Langford says the hub builds on Federated Farmers’ vision to unite rural advocacy groups as one team.

“Farmers want to see the different advocacy groups who represent them working together constructi­vely to get the best outcomes we can for our rural communitie­s,” Langford says.

“If we work as a team, with everyone playing in the right position, we can achieve a lot more for farmers than any one organisati­on can working alone.”

Located at site D70, in the Gallagher Building, the hub is the newest edition to the suite of Fieldays hubs that are key focus areas for visitors to explore during the event. Other hubs include the Fieldays Innovation Hub, Fieldays Careers & Education Hub, Fieldays Hauora Taiwhenua Health & Wellbeing Hub, Fieldays Forestry Hub, Fieldays Digital Futures and the Fieldays Sustainabi­lity Hub.

Full details of the exhibitors in the hub and the activities can be viewed in the coming weeks at www.fieldays. co.nz or by downloadin­g the official Fieldays app before the event.

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