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TAKE THE 2012 YOUNG FARMER CHALLENGE AT THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL FIELD DAYS IN ORANGE
Do you live in rural NSW? Are you a young farmer? Are you up for a challenge? If so, then the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW (RAS) Young Farmer Challenge is the ultimate test. Entries are now open for the 2012 RAS Young Farmer Challenge Regional Competition, which will be staged at the Australian National Field Days near Orange, on Wednesday October 19th.
Teams of two young farmers, or others working in the agricultural industry, aged between 18 and 35 years are invited to put their technical skills and knowledge to the test in this actionpacked, fast-paced event. Bernie O’Sullivan, RAS General Manager Agricultural Development says the Young Farmer Challenge showcases not only the breadth of technical skills and knowledge required in farming today and but also the proactive involvement of youth in our industry. “The competition will consist of a series of skills-based challenges related to farming with a strong emphasis on technique and safety. The event will also be a lot of fun as well as a great opportunity for young men and women to network and meet new people,” said Mr O’Sullivan. “In this marathon of farming skills, more than 40 competitors will tough it out over nine events designed to test different skills. Events may include anything from milking a cow to changing a motorbike tyre, fencing to hay bale stacking,” said Mr O’Sullivan.
The winning team will walk away with a share of $2,000 in prize money and an invitation to compete at the 2012 Sydney Royal Easter Show Young Farmer Challenge, the final of which will be held on Youth in Agriculture Day - Saturday 14th April, in the Main Arena in front of a crowd of 24,000 people. The Young Farmer Challenge is an initiative of the RAS Youth Group, and was first staged at the Sydney Royal Easter Show in 2009. If the Young Farmer Challenge sounds like a test you’re willing to take, enter online. For further information please contact Paige Cape pcape@rasnsw.com.au or (02) 9704 1160.
Entries Close Monday 10th October
To keep up to date with the Young Farmer Challenge and other RAS Youth Group initiatives, join the Youth Group Facebook group “RAS Youth Group”.
Media inquiries, interview and high-res image requests:
Philippa Lampe – RAS Manager, Media & Public Relations
P (02) 9704 1453 M 0419 483 407 E plampe@rasnsw.com.au
2011 andrew gee mp - member for orange
“special mention made in nsw parliament"
I also mention that this week in Borenore near Orange I attended the opening of the 2011 Australian National Field Days with The Nationals Federal Leader Warren Truss. This was a memorable event as this year is the sixtieth anniversary of the field days. From its humble beginnings in the 1950s when tractors were rapidly taking the place of draughthorses, Australian national field days have grown in stature to the point where they now attract more people to Orange over the three days than any other event in the area. This event, run by volunteers, creates an economic boost for the Orange district every year. At the opening ceremony this year many of those who pioneered the field days movement were recognised, including Cliff Armstrong, who attended the inaugural event in 1951 and has not missed one in the 60 years since.
Cliff was seated in the front row at the opening ceremony on Tuesday and after the ceremony he recalled many of his early memories of the event. Cliff related how his father had insisted that he come with him to the field days to inspect the machinery that was now available to take the place of horses on their farm. The Australian National Field Days, as an event, provide a valuable economic boost to the Orange and Cabonne districts. It also plays a vital role in supporting agriculture and food security. I congratulate the current committee, led by Chairman Andrew Jaffray, and his hard working team of volunteers, on organising a wonderful event to mark the sixtieth anniversary.
From humble beginings
“celebrating 60 years”
The Australian National Field Days has come a long way since its humble beginnings as the Orange Machinery Field Days in 1952.
The first field day was held on a single day at “Kyala Park: on the Forbes Road on the property of the Dutton Family. It was an outstanding success attracting 30 exhibitors and more than 5000 visitors. The Field Days, the oldest consecutive event in Australia is now one of the feature events on the Agricultural calendar.
It started out as a day for local farmers to observe demonstrations of farm machinery and was organised by a group of local graziers and machinery agents with help from the NSW Ministry of Agriculture.
Farmers and machinery manufactures felt there was a need to following a post war expansion in agriculture for demonstrations of new machinery and farming techniques.
Buyers also wanted more than a static display of machinery, they wanted to test and compare machinery under practicable operating conditions.
The event moved to a two day format in 1954 when it became known as the Orange Machinery Field Days. Three years later it was extended to three days and has remained that way.
As the event grew it attracted overseas interest from manufactures keen to reach the Australian markets. An international flavour was introduced in 1964 when Japan was invited to be the first Guest Nation.
Prior to 1966, the field days were held on local farms close to Orange. However, things changed when the co-operative was formed to run the field days and land was purchased at the current site at Borenore. The main part of the event has been held at the Borenore site ever since, however up until 1979 a separate horticultural day was held on local orchards on the day before the field days.
ANFD Administration Manager Jayne West said a highlight of the first 60 years would be a feature of the event. “This year being our 60th event we will be having a display of photos, old articles and recently we have been donated by a local family some 8mm film footage that has been transferred on DVD of the very first field day” she said.
“We have a 60th Anniversary Committee who have conducted a lot of research and been able to track down tractors and machinery from the past 60 years to have on display. We will also combine part of the fashion parade to show case fashion from the past 60 years.”
Over the years the field days has been responsible for popularising mainly new technologies, mainly developments have received their first outing at this annual event. Trickle irrigation is a good example. It was first demonstrated at the field days in the early 1970’s. It was taken up by farmers to such a degree that Australia has now lead the world in this technology ever since.
Today the event is organised by a voluntary Committee of 28 members and 3 part time and 1 full time staff members. Many more casual employees and sub contractors are employed in the lead up and during the event and all these people contribute to a unique event that started from humble beginnings and today features 600 exhibitors and 20,000 visitors over the three days.
