It’s that time of year again and, after a couple of shaky years with Covid, the Dowerin GWN7 Machinery Field Days are back on for 2022, on the 24th and 25th of August.
For the uninitiated, the Dowerin GWN7 Machinery Field Days is an agricultural expo located in the central wheatbelt of Western Australia, in the usually relaxed and peaceful town of Dowerin, some 156kms (or 2 hours’ drive) northeast of Perth’s CBD.
The event has grown continuously, with an immensely proud 58-year history, during which the Field Days evolved to become the largest and most successful event of its kind in the state. It is a vital information highway and one-stop-shop that celebrates agricultural innovation, relevance and community prosperity. The event has a very strong reputation, which is widely recognised throughout Australia, with the Dowerin Field Days classed as being among the three largest agricultural machinery events in Australia.
The Dowerin Field Days were originally founded in 1964 as a fundraising event to water the town’s football oval and tennis courts. Those original visionaries could never have imagined how a small need for a small community could grow to become such a successful display of modern farming and community involvement.
The Field Days provide businesses offering a varying range of products and services with an opportunity to showcase their capabilities and promote their brand to a targeted audience. Exhibitors range from manufacturers and distributors of farm machinery and allied equipment, rural services, information technology to lifestyle and leisure.
The small Wheatbelt community swells from a population of only a few hundred to over 24,000 throughout the two days in August. The number of exhibitors continues to grow each year, and attracts some 700 exhibitors annually, showcasing agricultural-related and general interest products and services to visitors from all over the state, country and, increasingly, from overseas.
Where the field days really shine is in the outstanding efforts from members of the community who contribute time, energy and expertise to ensure visitors and exhibitors enjoy the benefit of a well-organised and professionally-managed event. They work as a not-for-profit community owned and operated event. Income generated is injected back into Dowerin and surrounding towns, contributing to the success and survival of the region. The Field Days’ core value is based around providing an opportunity for community groups in the region to fundraise and to financially assist projects throughout the Wheatbelt. The event is symbolic of rural communities helping themselves.
Over 300 volunteers are involved in the Dowerin Field Days, with the proceeds of their hours of work going towards a not-for-profit organisation of their choosing, that is within a 100km radius of Dowerin. In 2019, the volunteer hours program raised $75,000. The Field Days grants program injects a further $30,000 into the Wheatbelt per annum. Over the past ten years the Dowerin Field Days have injected over $1.6 million back into the region through projects and community group contributions.
As broadacre farming evolves and other influences make themselves felt, the Dowerin GWN7 Machinery Field Days continue a natural evolution.
Way back in 1992, our very own sheep specialist, Wayne Manoni, lived in Dowerin. He remembers the excitement and anticipation the looming Field Days created in the community and how the event really united the town and district. Everyone got involved, with a great deal of community spirit, and did what they could to help make the event a success.
Milne Feeds once again will be at the Field Days and look forward to meeting up with existing clients and anyone who is wanting information or advice on livestock feeding requirements. Pop in and see the Milne team in their marquee adjacent to the Ram Shed on the west side of the oval. See you there!!
For more information, visit the Dowerin Field Days website.
