Federated Farmers Farm Day 2011 this Sunday near you
Released 09 Mar 2011
Federated Farmers is putting the finishing touches to Farm Day 2011, which will be held near the major centres this coming Sunday 13 March.
"Farm Day is about getting folk who live in our towns and cities to come out to a farm to experience the animals, the crops and other features that make up New Zealand's most important industry," says Don Nicolson, Federated Farmers President.
"South Canterbury and the Bay of Plenty will be holding their Farm Days one week later on Sunday 20 March 2011.
"This is the third annual Federated Farmers Farm Day and farmers hope people and families will take the opportunity to get on the paddocks to discover just what we do.
"It has been a tough few weeks for our country and for Cantabrians especially. This has made organising this event even more difficult than usual. We eventually had to make the call to cancel North Canterbury's Farm Day out of respect for those that have lost so much.
"New Zealand boasts some of the highest urbanisation rates in the world and Federated Farmers Farm Day 2011 is a chance for those that have never been to a farm to pull on gumboots and get an insight into a working farm
"When I talk to non-farmers, I'm continually struck by how many don't understand what it takes to farm animals or grow crops. So instead of wondering how, come onto a farm to ask, see and learn.
"We've had incredible support from our staff and volunteers this year and each Farm Day is different. You can go 4x4 off-roading at the Auckland Farm Day to pony riding in the Bay of Plenty. In Nelson we're focussing on wool, even alpacas, while Rotorua/Taupo is looking at the dairy side of things.
"Our farms have some wonderful scenery and some even back on to bush or coastal areas with great views.
"The Stewart Farm, hosting the Manawatu/Rangitikei Farm Day won the Horizon's Regional Council's Region Ballance Farm Environment Award in 2009 for sustainability that will be their focus on the day.
"Depending on the farm, we're offering everything from sheep shearing and sheepdog demonstrations, through to talks by Fonterra, Fish and Game and a range of others.
"So put a circle around March 13 and 20 and we hope that everyone will take a chance to visit farmday.org.nz to see exactly what's happening at the Farm Day in your area. Google's driving instructions make it a lot easier to find an open farm near you. Signage will help navigate visitors to all of our Federated Farmers Farm Days.
"This is a great chance for anyone interested to have a face to face chat with the farmers and learn something about their trade. Who knows, hopefully some may be inspired enough to look at farming as a career choice," Mr Nicolson concluded.
About Federated Farmers Farm Day 2011 - Out in the paddock
With New Zealand 86 percent urbanised, among the highest rates in the World, Federated Farmers Farm Day is designed to bring farmers and non-farmers together at open farms. It is part fun, part educational and 100 percent based on the New Zealand Farm system. It provides people the chance to see modern farming for themselves, with a lot of scope to ask questions of host farmers. Farm Day is a chance to go behind the scenes on Sunday, 13 March 2011 (10am and 3pm) at:
Northland (Whangarei) - Denis and Lynne Anderson (Lynden Farms, 444 Kokopu Road, RD 9, Whangarei 0179)
Auckland (Papakura) - Bill and Lynnette Cashmore (Kiripaka (Cashmore Farms), 389 Kawakawa-Orere Road, Orere, Papakura 2585)
Waikato (Cambridge) - Bill and Sue Garland (Rahiri Farm, End of Rahiri Road, RD 3, Cambridge 3495)
Rotorua/Taupo (Rotorua) - The Heather Family (Heather Dell Angus Stud, 945 Paradise Valley Road, RD 3, Rotorua 3072)
Manawatu/Rangitikei (Palmerston North) - James and Dave Stewart
(Stewart Dairylands, 143 Watershed Road, RD 10, Palmerston North 4470)
Wellington/Wairarapa (Pauatahanui) - Battle Hill Forest Park (Paekakariki Hill Road, Pauatahanui)
Nelson - Ian and Barbara Stuart (Cable Bay Farm, 799 Cable Bay Road, RD1 Nelson 7071)
Otago (Balclutha) - Ian Knowles (Telford Farm, 498 Owaka Highway, Balclutha 9240).
The Bay of Plenty and South Canterbury Federated Farmers Farm Days will take place on 20 March 2011 (10am-3pm)
Bay of Plenty (Te Puke) - Noel and Marilyn McLeod and Andrew and Robyn McLeod (1189 Welcome Bay Road, RD 7, Te Puke 3187)
South Canterbury (Timaru) - Andrew and Vicky Steven (494 Rolling Ridges Road, Rosewill, Timaru 7974)
Please note - despite earlier communcations, North Canterbury Farm Day is no longer going ahead.
Finding a Federated Farmers Farm Day
On the page of each host farm at www.farmday.org.nz is a Google Maps function. Below the location map of each farm is a directions box. This will provide detailed driving instructions from anywhere in New Zealand to the venue. Also, there is a weather guide for each farm to ease planning for the day. Directional signage will also be erected to the venues on the day too
For further information
Don Nicolson, Federated Farmers President, 027 226 6331, 03 216 7405
Conor English, Federated Farmers Chief Executive Officer, 027 441 0786, 04 494 9189
