The young people who come in think differently to their parents.
"This year 20 countries are coming to put on exhibitions or do trade missions, which is quite exciting. It's truly an international event when you've got that happening," Peter says.
Rural health is a highly topical issue and to keep in step with the Leading Change theme, the Fieldays this month will feature a new Health Hub.
Peter says the Careers and Education Hub will be "bigger, brighter, better".
"Last year was a toe in the water to see how it would go. It worked really well, so it's back.
"We've spent quite a bit of time, effort and money ensuring it's more interactive. The young people who come in think differently to their parents. They like interaction and on-line stuff and we've built that in, with screens and an app they can download."
The Primary Industry Capability Alliance is involved, as are a number of organisations promoting courses and scholarships.
Recognising that the young people we need to attract into agri-businesses can feel a bit alienated when they perceive it's older people "telling them what to do", the volunteer hosts at the Careers and Education Hub will include young people - a mix of senior college pupils, university students and Young Farmers Club members who can make them feel welcome, talk their language and show them around.
Fieldays has long had a mission of bringing urban and rural folk together, and with that in mind what has been known as the Rural Living Project has been amalgamated in one area with the Kiwi's Best Kitchens feature and other stalls for families, with everything from housing companies to fishing rods and spa pools.
Instead of having food stalls dotted around Mystery Creek, in a new innovation they've been grouped in four Food Courts. As well as all sorts of taste treats, the Food Courts will feature charge spots for people's smartphones, fresh water and tables and chairs for family groups to rest and refresh.
Innovation is a founding pillar of the event, and Peter says the Fieldays Innovation Centre has grown in size and focus.
"Our surveys consistently show it's one of the go-to areas.
"We've got support from IP specialists, financiers, angel investors ... A lot of the people [who enter] have just come up with their invention and they're not quite sure how to get it to market. With sponsorship and support, we've wrapped these specialists around them to give them some guidance.
Innovations in the fields of dairy to drystock farming, horticulture, information and communication technology, cloud and mobile-based software, animal health and genetics, water and waste management, environment and clean-tech, animal and farm management are involved.
"Last year we had 70 entries. It's exciting to think that an invention presented this year may well be a thing that changes agriculture in the future."
Several international companies are bringing inventions to the Innovation Centre in 2017.
Next year will be the 50th annual National Fieldays and Peter says an organising committee started work six months ago framing up different opportunities for a year of activities. Already confirmed is a professionally authored, 15-chapter, 500-page coffee table-standard book looking at the history of Fieldays and all the stories that go with it.
"We've had an independent survey done on the economic impact of Fieldays. Last year it put $430 million of investment into the New Zealand GDP system. It's an event that boxes well above its weight."
