Award-winning journalist Hamish McKay is the keynote speaker at the Property Brokers Evening Muster (February 21).
He’s chuffed to be getting back to familiar territory and helping bridge the rural-urban divide by asking thought-provoking questions that inform and educate urban listeners.
The Thursday seminar programme is chock-full of excellent info with Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s Land for Life Project director Michael Bassett-Foss speaking on supporting farmers’ vision for their land; Beef+Lamb NZ leading a discussion on worm challenges; a presentation from farm management consultant Hilton Collier (Ngāti Porou) and Keith Woodford on the need for pastoral agriculture; and the crew from Hereheretau Station talking about team culture.
Doug the Digger from Northland will be at the expo for any would-be excavator drivers keen to try their hand.
In the wellbeing space, Craig “Wiggy” Wiggins and his team will be offering rural wellness check-ups from the Carr Family Foundation van.
The FMG Spot Check Roadie is cruising in along with partners Melanoma New Zealand for skin checks and to hand out potentially life-saving information.
Event organiser Sue Wilson says farmers are keen to get together and reconnect post-Cyclone Gabrielle.
“Last year was a tough one for farmers,” she says. “It is a chance for them to get off-farm, meet agri-innovators, see what opportunities are out there to help with their businesses and catch up with other farmers from across the region.”
The expo is deliberately held mid-week so farmers can spend a day off-farm working on their businesses without losing the weekend.
This year there are two new initiatives — the Rural News Cadet Challenge and the Beef+Lamb NZ Station Challenge which will be plenty of fun while highlighting the importance of team work.
“Many of the younger shepherds and shepherdesses’ experience so far has been more hands-on farm work,” Ms Wilson said. “The expo is a chance to introduce them to so many other aspects of farming.
“All farmers should think of it as a team-building day working on your business.”
There will also be working dog demos from respected trainer and triallist Guy Peacock.
Trade is a huge component of the expo.
It will include agricultural drone spraying; the latest technology from Gallagher; examples of limitless rotational grazing for the dairy and beef industries; advice on how to unlock precision pasture management; and Halter guidance on a drive to more profitable farms.
“Farmers will hear the facts that are backed by the science,” Mrs Wilson said.
“The past couple of years of extreme weather have been very challenging for us all, and this is an opportunity to talk to people who can help them build back to smarter.
“It is all about innovation. The support from trade this year has been fantastic and has attracted such a diverse range of agri-business. They see the value of face-to-face connections.”
When the 2023 expo was cancelled due to the cyclone, Wairoa Community Development Trust — which puts on the expo — switched into action mode. It ran 16 “Back Yard BBQs”to connect and check in with the rural communities around the region.
Some of the trade exhibitors kindly left in their fees and sponsorship from the cancelled 2023 expo to support the rural communities through the barbecues.
Mrs Wilson extended a huge thanks to those businesses and said they would be recognised during the expo.
