He said he hoped that in doing so, the committee could continue to give everyone in the region and beyond the best possible chance to be part of the event and experience what it has to offer, as well as continue to develop the concept.
“We now have more people coming out, who have commented they had not been able to attend for many years because there was simply no opportunity to get out during the day when the Field Days are open,” he said.
“The Twilight Ag Expo is offering more people an opportunity to visit the Field Days, relax, have a meal and catch up.
“We want to provide everyone with the best opportunity to attend regardless of any changing social circumstances and work and family commitments.”
To support the new format, the Wimmera Machinery Field Days committee will be bringing patrons special features and extra attractions during the twilight evening.
Mr Wilson said this would include live music, an FMX Freestyle Motocross Stunt Show, gourmet food and outdoor dining, Prickly Moses Mobile Brewery, helicopter rides, exhibitor demonstrations and plenty of other attractions for children and families.
Most notably, however, will be an inaugural Field Days Footy Club Tractor Pull.
The event, from 5pm to 7pm on the Tuesday, will see teams of Wimmera football club members competing against each other to pull a 10 to 12 tonne tractor across a pre-determined distance in the fastest time. A cash prize pool of $5000 for successful clubs will up the stakes, with the winning team taking home $2500 cash and an inaugural tractor pull ‘Champion Club’ trophy.
Mr Wilson said the event’s introduction was an opportunity for the Field Days to garner more community support, as well as provide clubs a chance to fit in a bit of pre-season training and activity.
“The Wimmera Machinery Field Days has always supported local sporting clubs at the event, and we see this as a great way to broaden the support of regional football and netball,” he said.
“It’s also a great opportunity for clubs to possibly raise some extra money while getting involved in something fun and unique at the Field Days.”
Natimuk United Football Netball Club is among those to have put its name down for the competition.
Former president and current vice-president Adam Blake said when the club found out about the introduction of the event, its members ‘jumped at the opportunity’.
“We’ve had a little bit of involvement in the Wimmera Machinery Field Days before, helping out with clean up and so forth,” he said.
“We are very happy to support this competition for many reasons.
“First off, it’s early in the season, so it’s a good team-building exercise to help bring the guys together.
“We also just enjoy a bit of competition against the other clubs in the area, and this is an opportunity for us to pit ourselves against them.”
Mr Blake said the Rams were training hard to get back in shape after the Christmas break – a hallmark, he said, of most clubs in the first few months of the year before the new season starts.
He admitted while he was unsure how his team would fare in the competition, it would be sure to give it a ‘red hot go’.
“We always do our level best to get involved in these things, so we’re going to give it a red hot go no matter what,” he said.
The entire February 26, 2020 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!
The entire February 26,, 2019 edition of AgLife is available online. READ IT HERE!
