Matthew Noll is the youngest and first non-primary producer to lead the Henty Machinery Field Days. Photo: Supplied.
He’s the youngest and first non-primary producer to take the reins at the Henty Machinery Field Days.
But 34-year-old Matthew Noll has a nearly two-decade-long connection to southern Australia’s largest agricultural event, starting as a high school student tagging along with a mate in 2007.
What began as going out each Saturday in September to help peg out sites and distribute hay bales would evolve into taking a week of leave each year to work at the event itself.
Mr Noll, who works as a management accountant at Lawson Grains, Albury, and runs sheep on his family’s small holding at Burrumbuttock, was appointed to the Henty Machinery Field Days (HMFD) board in 2017.
As deputy chairman, he was appointed to the top job this month when Culcairn farmer Nigel Scheetz stepped down as chair after six years at the helm.
It is expected that Mr Noll will bring financial, analytical and corporate governance skills to the boardroom.
He said he would continue to focus on the event’s core philosophy of showcasing the latest advancements in technology and innovation to farmers.
But he acknowledged the event attracted a diverse customer base and that “the younger generation without a farming connection needed to also be catered for”.
“There will always be a place for field days – people may do their research online, but they can come out to Henty and see the size of the machinery or sample the results of the agricultural process at Farm Gate and Country Lifestyle,” Mr Noll said.
“Henty is also an important place for maintaining cohesive social connections, with people able to look, see and catch up. HMFD has a great group of members who get together each year to put on a world-class event.”
Mr Scheetz – who took on the chairman’s role on 12 February, 2019, with the retirement of Ross Edwards – helped oversee the largest field days on record in 2022 and weather the particularly challenging conditions of COVID.
Like so many before him, Mr Scheetz was involved with the field days from a young age, and all his sons are now involved as members. He was involved with traffic control during the event itself and assisted with the logistics and VIP area.
“The field days have always played an important role providing our exhibitors with the opportunity to be at the forefront and display new information, techniques and technology for agriculture,’’ Mr Scheetz has previously stated.
HMFD chief executive officer Belinda Anderson said Mr Scheetz led the field days out of difficult financial circumstances after COVID and would now leave the role of chair with the co-operative in a strong financial position.
He will remain as a director, while Daryl Thomson and Corey Lieschke are both deputy chairs, joined by remaining directors Mark Hasler, Brenten Meyer and Jordan Muller.
Despite challenging seasonal conditions, Mr Noll said commodity prices were strong and confidence among exhibitors was high for the event, scheduled for 23 – 25 September.
“This year, our visitors will be able to enjoy the launch of the world’s biggest production tractor, the John Deere 9RX, and celebrate 100 years of Ford and Caterpillar,” he said.
“Henty is also the only field day to host the return of Agtech Alley following the success of last year.”
