Array of rural attractions at Fieldays

The annual National Fieldays at Mystery Creek attracts thousands of people to check out the latest in agricultural innovation and production. Photo/File

From fencing to fashion, beefy bachelors to beef burgers, catwalks to Caterpillar boots - the rural sector's annual National Fieldays promotional shindig has it all.

A number of Rotorua businesses will be among more than 1000 exhibitors at the Mystery Creek Events Centre in Hamilton this week.

The 46-year-old event - arguably the largest agricultural show in the Southern Hemisphere - regularly attracts a wide range of technology suppliers to show off their products with an array of machinery and livestock on display.

There is also cooking demos, innovation and sculpture competitions, wearable fashion shows, lamb boning and logging skills on display.

An entrant from Australia adds interest to the Rural Bachelor of the Year contest.

Milking shed herd gate manufacturer Reporoa Engineering is a perennial exhibitor at Fieldays.

Managing director John Perham said the show gave the company's products maximum exposure in a short period of time.

"It's our busiest time of the year," said Mr Perham.

"We've been here for a few years now, it's a brilliant spot with plenty of walk-by traffic.

"It's the only place we could get 120,000 potential customers viewing our products in four days - it would be impossible to meet that number face-to-face in that time."

He estimated 60 per cent to 70 per cent of all Fielday attendees walked past the company's exhibit stand inside Gate One.

"This is our biggest promotion - we get many overseas buyers here for our gates to be used around the world."

Among other Rotorua companies present at the Fieldays will be Volcanic Hills Winery, Woodmetrics Forest Marketing and TechiPharm Group (sheep, dairy, beef).

National Fieldays opens tomorrow at Mystery Creek, Hamilton and runs until Saturday.

For information visit www.fieldays.co.nz.