Henty Machinery Field Days has confirmed the annual field days will be held only once in 2022 but the option of an alternative event next March remains viable.

HMFD chief executive officer Belinda Anderson said the field days would run on September 20-22 2022 and the HMFD Board was evaluating options for an event on March 12-13 2022.

“After surveying the exhibitors booked for the 2021 field days, it was clear a replication of the field days in March followed by our annual event in September was not the way forward,” Mrs Anderson said.

“There were still many exhibitors keen on an event but the nature of their business has the HMFD management looking at a different style of event on March 12-13 2022.

“As this new event is still in the development phase with a few more logistics to be locked in, no further details are available at this stage.”

A body-hugging cream hand crocheted dress with detached hood stole the limelight on the catwalk at the Henty Natural Fibre Fashion Awards winning the best crocheted and knitted for long time entrant Judy Bond.

The outfit made from superfine Merino wool was designed and entered by Mrs Bond, of Buronga, and capably modelled by Riverina Anglican College, Wagga Wagga, Year 9 student Mabel Meckiff.

Mrs Bond had four garments in the finals for the best knitted or crocheted category and was on hand to receive a $500 cash prize.

The 17^th Henty Natural Fibre Fashion Awards were a highlight of the Country Lifestyle program at the Henty Machinery Field Days on September 20-22 with the winners announced on Thursday. 

Fashion designers vied for the chance to win a Bernina 325 sewing machine valued at $1499 plus $1000 cash prize money courtesy of Bernina Australia and Sew Fab, Narrandera, for the Best Garment in Natural Fibre. 

Open to amateurs and professionals, the awards recognise the innovative use of natural fibres – from paddock to catwalk – in creative but wearable clothing.

The judging emphasis was on visual appeal, creative and innovative use of natural fibres.

This year’s judges were Beryl Brain, Grong Grong, Leanne O’Toole, Wodonga, and Leanne Bensley, Albury.

Awards organiser Lyn Jacobsen said the natural fibres could include wool, alpaca, angora, mohair, cashmere, cotton, silk and linen.

Mrs Jacobsen said the awards had attracted entries from around the nation, as well as from repeat New Zealand designer Laurel Judd.

She paid tribute to the models from Riverina Anglican College, Wagga Wagga, for stepping in at late notice to assist, and doing their own hair and makeup.

“This year COVID hit everybody with so many designers unable to get themselves organised for the Awards. Two weeks out I put out an SOS plea for them to get busy and our entries doubled in number,” Mrs Jacobsen said.

“It’s been a year of trials and tribulations and we do thank the sponsors, judges and all those helpers out the back.”

The best garment designed by a student was won by Angela Saunders, Eldorado, Vic, with khaki pants and shift in russet tones and black.

Laurel Judd, New Zealand, won the accessories category with a magnificent rust coloured cape with a feather detail modelled by year 10 student Caitlin Cumberlege. 

Laurel also picked up the Best Garment in Natural Fibre, winning a $1000 cash prize and Bernina 325 sewing machine, a cerise and grey pant suit, skirt and poncho.

Harriet Barton, 15, modelled a striking red beret to win the millinery section for Karen Hyde, Wagga Wagga, notching up back-to-back wins on 2019. 

This year’s inaugural Business Development Award: Australian Made Fibre, sponsored by JMP Developments, Wodonga, and winning $500 was Jo Woods, Anabranch Creative, Albury, for a dress created from linen tea towels by seamstress Teresa O’Reilly, Albury. Each tea towel was printed with sketches of Riverina towns.

Judy Bond said her superfine Merino wool dress was designed as a bridal outfit with the hood or could be worn as an evening gown.

“I thread the pearls on to the yarn before I start and work them into the fabric until I have created my own fabric,” she said.

“I had five gowns in the competition and had to finish some and alter others quickly but got there in the end.”

Judy, 77, has battled ill health and molecular degeneration over the past few years but uses a large magnifying glass to complete her spectacular designs.

The Henty Machinery Field Days Board regrets to announce the 2021 event will not proceed this year due to COVID-19 but is investigating the option of rescheduling to March 2022.

The Henty Machinery Field Days is the nation’s largest field days and outdoor agricultural event, with an economic value of more than $92 million and were due to be held on September 21-23.

Henty Machinery Field Days chief executive officer Belinda Anderson said the decision to look into rescheduling was based on the recommendations from NSW Health around the current challenge faced by NSW and the possibility of the virus being transmitted into regional areas.

“HMFD has been advised we are able to operate under the 4sqm rule, however, NSW Health has strongly recommended the event be rescheduled,” Mrs Anderson said.

“We have also considered the possibility of introducing the Delta strain of COVID-19 to the area and the impact this would have on our community. This was a risk we were not prepared to take.”

Mrs Anderson said border restrictions had also played a significant part in the decision to cancel the September event, with 50 per cent of exhibitors booked in from interstate. 

“Six weeks from the event seems like a long time but an event of this size does not happen overnight and we owe it to those businesses committed to the 2021 event to give them fair warning,” she said.

“The majority of visitors come from within a three hour drive of Henty signifying there is a great representation from Victoria.

“Snap lock downs will still be possible in September and HMFD cannot risk a repeat of what was seen in Victoria or Queensland on the eve of major agricultural events.

“HMFD management is investigating options of rescheduling the field days to March 15-17 2022 and will be contacting exhibitors and key stakeholders regarding this option.”

Mrs Anderson appealed to exhibitors to be patient as management determines options for refunds or the rollover of fees to the 2022 event.

Planning for the 2021 Henty Machinery Field Days is continuing while the team continually monitor the COVID-19 situation and NSW restrictions for outdoor events.

HMFD chief executive officer Belinda Anderson said the 2021 field days would proceed on September 21-23 unless otherwise advised by NSW Health. 

“Agriculture is an important and essential industry and farmers and agri-businesses need to be networking, researching, and buying,” Mrs Anderson said.

“Henty Machinery Field Days will provide a safe environment for that to occur.”

She said public entry would operate predominantly on a contactless system with patrons strongly encouraged to pre-purchase tickets on-line and will be required to scan a QR code at the entrance gates, while exhibitors would be encouraged to provide EFTPOS facilities for their customers.

Mrs Anderson said there would be an additional level of sanitisation of amenities and COVID Marshalls to monitor social distancing in order to protect the health of patrons, exhibitors, volunteers and staff.

An award to encourage designers with business aspirations to produce garments made with natural fibres will be a new feature of this year’s Henty Natural Fibre Fashion Awards.

The Business Development Award: Australian Made Fibre is a new award already creating excitement among designers and will be showcased at the 18^thannual Henty Natural Fibre Awards at the 2021 Henty Machinery Field Days.

Boasting prizes valued at around $5500, the fashion awards have grown into a prestigious event attracting high profile designers, with the 2021 entries to be paraded in the Country Lifestyle pavilion on September 21-23 at 1pm each day.

Awards convenor Lyn Jacobsen said the Business Development Award was creating excitement among designers with new entrants planning on participating.

The new award has been sponsored by JMP Developments, Wodonga, for $500.

 “Since the field days are located within a major wool and fibre producing region, it was important an event be carried on to encourage designers to showcase their creativity using the fibres allowed,’’ Mrs Jacobsen said.

“This competition is free and open to all designers, but the fabric in the garment must be at least 70 per cent natural fibre, which can be wool, cotton, alpaca, silk, linen or combinations.

“Garments are judged on visual appeal, creativity and innovation.’’

To be announced on the final day, the winner of the supreme garment made with natural fibres will receive $1000 in prize money plus a Bernina 325 sewing machine valued at $1599, courtesy of Bernina Australia and Sew Fab, Narrandera.

The winners of the best knitted or crocheted garment, millinery and accessory will receive $500 each.

Bernina Australia and Sew Fab are donating a Bernina Overlocker L450 valued at $1099 as an encouragement award for the best garment by a student designer.

“Designers may supply their own models, however, we do have Year 10 students from Billabong High School who are given modelling tuition leading up to this event,’’ Mrs Jacobsen said.

People interested in entering the awards can contact Lyn Jacobsen on 0428 690 222, email naturalfibre@hmfd.com.auor phone the HMFD office on (02) 6929 3305.

Southern Australia’s single biggest agricultural event, the Henty Machinery Field Days, is back in 2021 with a bang after last year’s forced hiatus.