Brocklesby farmer and Henty Machinery Field Days stalwart Matt Bergmeier intends to spend all three days at this year’s agricultural extravaganza, which runs 23-25 September. Photo: Supplied.
Matt Bergmeier’s probably only missed one Henty Machinery Field Days since he started going as a teenager.
As a rule, the 51-year-old Brocklesby farmer likes to attend all three days of southern Australia’s biggest agricultural event, which kicks into gear this Tuesday 23 September.
The grain, sheep and cattle producer doesn’t want to miss a moment of an event that showcases more than $200 million worth of the latest in agricultural and machinery products across 14 kilometres of outdoor sites.
As a former director and Machine of the Year chairman, there’s no doubting Matt loves checking out all the tractors, trailers, seeders and balers …. headers, scrapers and big cultivators (coined from that original iconic theme song!).
He first became involved in the machinery awards after leaving high school, taken under the wing of Henty field days icon and vintage tractor enthusiast Len Schilg, who passed away earlier this year.
“I love machinery, it was my passion,” Matt says. “As a farmer it’s great to get around and see all the new technology that’s being used to stay ahead of the game. The field days brings a lot of business to the region and drags in a fair crowd from a fair distance.”
But, just as importantly, Henty is about connection, according to Matt.
“It’s about catching up with friends I’ve made along the way and people in the industry like your agronomists, bank managers and software technicians …
“It’s the face-to-face contact – that connection you don’t get on the end of a phone.”
This year’s event, now in its 62nd year, will once again offer a program full of the latest in agricultural technology plus entertainment.
HMFD CEO Belinda Anderson says Henty has become an institution on the farming calendar with an incredible 78 per cent of visitors making the trip to the field days an average of nine times.
“The event has a proud heritage and the HMFD Co-operative has never lost sight of the primary reason for its existence – to showcase the agricultural industry, and the very latest in new and emerging agricultural technology,” she says.
‘See you at the Henty Field Days; there’s nothing like it anywhere’. The annual agricultural extravaganza kicks off on Tuesday 23 September. Photo: Supplied.
This year’s field days will have all the usual attractions including working sheep dog trials, Country Lifestyle pavilion, Farm Gate, Baker Seeds agronomy trials, helicopter joy rides, live entertainment, the Natural Fibre Fashion Awards and vintage farm machinery display.
The 2025 field days will be officially opened on Tuesday by popular television presenter, wool industry ambassador and fashion designer, Catriona Rowntree, and will include the presentation of the prestigious Henty Machine of the Year Award.
In the Country Lifestyle pavilion, the stage will be the focus of fashion parades featuring garments from exhibitors and entrants in The Henty Natural Fibre Fashion Awards (showcasing designs using at least 70 per cent natural fibres) with the winners announced at 1:30 pm on Thursday.
Meanwhile Ford fans will also be able to mark 100 years of Ford in Australia with a display of vintage and classic cars alongside the latest models at the Biti Motors site.
For Walla grain and cattle producer Jason Schilg, Henty usually marks a pivotal point in where the season’s heading.
This year he says “it’s on a knife’s edge and could go either way”, with substantial rain needed to realise the season’s potential.
“When you go to Henty it’s either wet, or hot, dry and windy,” says Jason who’s been going to the Henty field days “since I could walk”.
“It would certainly be nice to have a rainy Henty field days.”
Gates open from 8 am to 5 pm each day, with tickets at the gate $30 adults, $10 children 12 to 17 years and children under 12 free when accompanied by an adult. To pre-purchase tickets go to the HMFD website.
