Yorke Peninsula Field Days facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yorke Peninsula Field Days |
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| Genre | Agricultural field day |
| Begins | Last Tuesday in September |
| Ends | Following Thursday |
| Frequency | Biennial |
| Location(s) | Bute (1895–1972) Paskeville (from 1973) |
| Years active | 1895–1972 in single-day format, 1973–2019, 2021- in present 3-day format |
| Inaugurated | 1895 |
| Previous event | 26 September 2023 - 28 September 2023 |
| Next event | 30 September 2025 - 2 October 2025 |
| Attendance | 30,000–40,000 |
| Organised by | Yorke Peninsula Field Days Incorporated |
| Attendance of 40,000 in 2009 was reported by the Stock Journal. The organising body, Yorke Peninsula Field Days Incorporated, claims typical attendance of "up to 30,000." | |
The Yorke Peninsula Field Days is a huge, three-day event all about farming. It happens every two years in a special place near Paskeville on the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia. This event is super important for showing off new farm machines and ideas. It's actually the oldest and one of the biggest farming events in all of Australia! You can see millions of dollars' worth of cool farm equipment here.
Contents
What Happens at the Field Days?
The Yorke Peninsula Field Days are run by nine local groups from the Agricultural Bureau of SA. These groups include people from Arthurton, Boors Plains, Bute, Cunliffe W.A.B., Moonta, Paskeville, Petersville, Snowtown, and South Hummocks. These members are fully in charge of planning and managing the whole event.
Lots of businesses want to show their products at the Field Days. As of 2006, there was even a waiting list for companies to get a spot!
The event starts on a Tuesday in late September and finishes on the following Thursday. It opens at 9 AM and closes at 5 PM each day. There are many exciting things to see and do.
Fun Activities and Displays
You can watch amazing sheepdog trials, where dogs herd sheep. There are also interesting talks from guest speakers. You can see displays about wool and sheep, including live animals and exhibits. Don't miss the shearing demonstrations, where you can watch sheep get their wool clipped!
The Cunliffe Women's Agricultural Bureau helped bring in new parts of the event. Now, you can also enjoy a fashion parade, check out crafts, and find all sorts of general products. You need to pay an entrance fee to get in. In 2009, a record 40,000 people visited the Field Days!
History of the Event
The Field Days started way back in 1895. Back then, it was called a "Field Trial" and focused on testing farm tools and garden equipment. The first groups that organized it were from Arthurton, Bute, Nantawarra (now South Hummocks), Paskeville, Pine Forest, and Port Broughton. They held the very first trial in Bute. For many years, until about 1973, it was mostly just about "Harvester Trials."
Moving to a Permanent Home
From 1973, the Field Trials grew and became a multi-day event. In 1975, they found a permanent home in Paskeville. They bought about 67 acres of land for $15,040 in 1977. The first Field Days held at this new Paskeville site was in 1977. It was officially opened by Sir Thomas Playford, who used to be the Premier of South Australia.
Since then, permanent roads, buildings, and sheds have been built at the site. The roads are even named after the different local groups that help run the Yorke Peninsula Field Days. In 2021, special rules were put in place to keep everyone safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
When Do the Field Days Happen?
The Yorke Peninsula Field Days happen every two years. Here are some recent and upcoming dates:
- 2021: September 28–30
- 2023: September 26–28
- 2025: September 30–October 2
See also
- Field days in Australia
- Copper Coast
- Yorke Peninsula
