HMFD exhibitor awards reward excellence

Cocktails, tillage machinery, education and interior design products were among the winners of the 2022 Henty Machinery Field Days Exhibitor Awards.

The awards were presented on Wednesday, September 21 at The Stump by HMFD chief executive officer Belinda Anderson to the winners of the Best Outdoor Large Commercial, Best Outdoor General and Best Indoor Exhibitor sites – Country Lifestyle and Farm Gate.

Short-line agricultural equipment distributor Muddy River Agricultural, Mooroopna, Vic, won the Best Outdoor Large Commercial, while education and research institution Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, took out the Best Outdoor General.

Premium gift company My Hygge Home won the Best Indoor site in Country Lifestyle and first-time exhibitor Tony Sanderberg, Wollongong, with his Kick Ice Cocktails was awarded Best Indoor Site at Farm Gate Produce Market.

Belinda Anderson said the field days co-operative prided itself on providing a showcase with a modern professional image, and the latest in agricultural machinery and technology.

Mrs Anderson said the exhibitor awards encouraged site holders to strive for similar ideals during the field days.

Judges Daryl Thomson and Bec Clancy covered the 14km of external shop front plus the indoor sites, assessing visual presentation, display, layout and innovation.

They inspected sites ranging in frontage from 3m to 180m.

Mrs Clancy said the Muddy River Ag site had great visual presence and presentation with eye catching white picket fencing, a defined entrance, flagpoles, marquee and good signage.

“Charles Sturt University had a large, interactive site with good signage, defined areas for the different departments, they offered information sessions to attract people to the site and face painting at the entrance,” Mrs Clancy said.

“Kick Ice Cocktails had great display of a mini bar with a neon sign, palm trees and the host was wearing an Hawaiian shirt in the theme.

“My Hygge Home had a black and white themed display with display racking and products well set out.

“We are seeing exhibitors put a lot of thought into their site design, being innovative to catch the consumer’s eye, attract them into the site and engage with them.”

Steve Robertson, Muddy River Agricultural’s NSW territory manager, said the site design was a team effort after exhibiting at many field days. 

“The owner of Muddy River wanted to make a statement at the field days this year so we went with the white picket fence and layout, and it has worked really well,” Mr Robertson said.

“Having the fence makes it feel more welcoming and everyone has appreciated it.

“The organising committee at Henty has been so helpful and friendly – we have done a lot of field days and Henty is right at the very top.”

Mr Robertson said demand was extremely strong on opening day for sprayers and tillage machinery with strong sales and follow up inquiry.

“Farmers were interested in shallow and deep tillage, high speed discs, coultors and knife points.  Most of our machinery can be delivered around Christmas or in the New Year so there is no two year wait.”

Charles Sturt University Marketing Business Partner Faculty of Science and Health, Belinda Doherty, said the site’s footprint had increased from a small shed to a larger shed with a Global Digital Farm, soil sensors, drones, dung beetle research system, Wi-Fi Hub, and undergraduate and post graduate course area.

“We have really brought research to life for the community,” Ms Doherty said.