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 | 28 September 2021 - 30 September 2021 |
| Next event | 26 September 2023 - 28 September 2023 |
| 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 event held every two years. It lasts for three days and takes place on a special site near Paskeville. This area is on the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia. The event is mostly about agriculture, which means farming and growing food.
It is the oldest event of its kind in Australia. It is also one of the biggest. You can see millions of dollars' worth of farm machines there.
Contents
What Happens at the Field Days?
The Field Days are organized by nine local groups. These groups are part of the Agricultural Bureau of SA. The members of these groups manage and plan the entire event. The towns involved are Arthurton, Boors Plains, Bute, Cunliffe W.A.B., Moonta, Paskeville, Petersville, Snowtown and South Hummocks.
Many businesses want to show their products at the Field Days. In fact, there was a waiting list for them to get a spot in 2006. This shows how popular the event is!
The event starts on a Tuesday in late September. It finishes on the following Thursday. Each day, it opens at 9 AM and closes at 5 PM.
Fun Activities to See
There are many exciting things to do and see. You can watch sheepdog trials, where dogs herd sheep. There are also special guest speakers. You can see displays of wool and sheep. Live shearing demonstrations show how sheep's wool is removed. There's even a fashion parade! You can also find crafts and other general products. These were first brought to the Field Days by the Cunliffe Women's Agricultural Bureau.
You need to pay a fee to get in. In 2009, a record 40,000 people visited the Field Days.
History of the Event
The Field Days started a long time ago, in 1895. Back then, it was called a "field trial." It was a way to test new tools for farming and gardening. The first groups that organized it were from Arthurton, Bute, Nantawarra (now South Hummocks), Paskeville, Pine Forest, and Port Broughton. They held the first trial in Bute. For many years, until about 1973, it was mostly just about testing harvesters.
Moving to a Permanent Home
After 1973, the event grew and lasted for more than one day. In 1975, the Field Days found their permanent home in Paskeville. They bought a large piece of land, about 67 acres, for $15,040 in 1977. The first event at the Paskeville site was in 1977. It was opened by Sir Thomas Playford, who used to be the Premier of South Australia.
Over time, permanent roads were built at the site. Some buildings and sheds were also added. The roads are named after the different groups that help run the Field Days. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, the event went ahead with strict safety rules.
Upcoming Dates
- 2021: 28–30 September
- 2023: 26–28 September
See Also
- Field days in Australia
- Copper Coast
- Yorke Peninsula
Images for kids
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A view of the Yorke Peninsula Field Days site.
