This year, Lardner Park hosted its biggest Farm World field days event in a decade.
The three-day format on March 24-26 attracted 40,048 visitors and 480 exhibitors representing more than 710 brands.
“It’s a stronger program over three days than the four-day program,” said Lardner Park CEO, Craig Debnam.
“It tells us the three-day program works for exhibitors and visitors.”
Farm World is a prime opportunity to see agricultural machinery and activities, and hear about some of the latest innovations and research related to farming.
“The focus is on presenting an agricultural field day, not just brand promotion,” Craig said.
“It’s about the sales opportunities that people can make the most of at the field days, comparing equipment and prices in an enormous supermarket.
“Or they can register their interest with an exhibitor, for follow up deals over the next three to six months after Farm World.”
With tens of millions of dollars of machinery, equipment and other sales made at Farm World each year, the event stimulates the local economy, and further afield.
“Farm World attracts worldwide brands, through their local dealerships in Gippsland who provide service and support,” Craig said.
“If you buy the right product at the right price, it will service your business for many years and generations to come.”
The Farm World 2023 Best Agribusiness Exhibit was awarded to CLAAS Harvest Centre Gippsland, located at Warragul, for their comprehensive display. Apart from local dealerships making a large number of sales at Farm World, the CLAAS tractor factory at Le Mans is celebrating its 20th anniversary of production this year.
The best overall exhibit was PFG Australia in a joint display with local machinery dealership, Ag Farm Machinery at Warragul.
The Commonwealth Bank hosted a number of speakers, focusing on genetics, the dairy-beef market potential, and regenerative agriculture.
Lardner Park relies on considerable goodwill within the community to host Farm World field days, its biggest event each year. Warragul Lions Club, Warragul Rotary Club, Drouin Rotary Club, Lardner Primary School, Drouin South Primary School, Warragul Industrials Football Club, Ellinbank Football Club, local CWA and CFA clubs all contribute volunteers to assist in running the event.
In a quid pro quo, approximately $70,000 was donated this year from the Farm World event to these community groups.