Crowds pour in as John Key visits Fieldays

The third instalment of 2012 New Zealand National Agricultural Fieldays started with mild rain but the spirits of visitors and exhibitors were not dampened. Throughout the day crowds streamed into Mystery Creek Events Centre, resulting in a bumper attendance of 40,244, up 10.4% on the same day last year. With one day of the popular event remaining, total visitors to Fieldays have reached 97,979.

Prime Minister John Key, also paid a visit to Fieldays today. Accompanied by Fieldays Society CEO, Jon Calder, and President, Lloyd Downing, Key worked his way through the assembly visitors keen to see some examples of the 1000 businesses exhibiting at Fieldays 2012.

Some of those that met with the Prime Minister include Jasmine Creighton, Fieldays Young Inventor of the Year and staff at the Swanndri stand who persuaded him to try on a fetching All Blacks Swanndri.

In a prize draw, held courtesy of Suzuki on E Street, Ross and Debbie Good from Silverdale were the excited winners of not one but two quad bikes. Online purchasers of Fieldays tickets went into a draw for the Suzuki prize package of one Ozark 250 and one Quadsport Z50.

Ross said it took a while for the fact he had won to sink in, “This is amazing, a great surprise and the timing is great as we were looking for quad bike anyway.”  

Announced at Mystery Creek Events Centre today were Ag Art Wear award winners. This exciting and very popular garment design competition at Fieldays has generated a visual feast of creativity and innovation inspired by all things rural. Details of winners can be found in this accompanying media release.

New Zealand National Agricultural Fieldays is on now until Saturday 16 June 2012 at Mystery Creek Events Centre, 10 minutes south of Hamilton. Tickets can be purchased online or at the gate, visit http://www.fieldays.co.nz  for more details. Fieldays is proudly supported by strategic partners - ANZ and the University of Waikato.