Sponsorships add shine A record 133,588 people came through the gates at this year’s Mystery Creek Fieldays, maintaining the event’s status as the largest annual farming and agricultural trade show in the southern hemisphere. Everything from painted cows to boxing royalty made an appearance at the Farmlands site, and many of the visitors sought advice from the friendly Farmlands staff on hand. WBO world heavyweight boxing champion Joseph Parker went toe to toe with some Farmlands shareholders via a Nintendo Wii boxing game. Joseph also got to see himself depicted in paint, thanks to street mural artist Mr G.
Mr G was in attendance as part of
after three of them confused Farmlands
the co-operative’s HeART of the
Taupo on Cambridge Street with the
Community project. In addition to his
Farmlands store in Cambridge.
painting of Joseph, he also used his
The Tractor Pull drew 75 competitors,
spray cans on three fibreglass cows.
who travelled 6.9km during the
Farmlands sponsored three
competition heats and finals.
Fieldays events at Mystery Creek
The events complemented the busiest
– the Rural Bachelor of the Year
Fieldays to date for Farmlands. The
competition, the Tractor Pull and
site was busy throughout the event,
the No. 8 Wire Art Awards.
with supplier advice, great Fieldays
The Rural Bachelor event was a
specials and the opportunity for
particular success, with over 300,000
shareholders to enter the draw
views of the contestants’ videos on
to win a new Toyota Hilux.
Facebook, and 6,672 votes cast.
Commenting after the four-day
The lads made six planned visits to
event, National Fieldays Society
Farmlands stores during their Fieldays
CEO Peter Nation said there was
road trip, and one unexpected stop
“a buzz of positivity” in the air.
| The Rural Bachelors for 2017 line up. The main prize went to Matthew McAtamney, from Fairlie.
22 | THE FARMLANDER
Farmlands Co-operative Society Limited | © August 2017. All rights reserved.
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