A BUSTLING VILLAGE
Behind the Central Districts Field Days
Noel and Eleanor Mortimer recall the moment their son-inlaw Don Eade started the Central Districts Field Days. He had returned from the Mystery Creek Fieldays, near Hamilton, which ignited a vision to have it replicated in Manawatu¯ .
‘‘We thought he was stupid trying to start up something like that,’’ Noel Mortimer says.
How could he possibly go up against an event of that magnitude?
But compete he did.
In 1993, it was a small event with about 50 sites in the middle of a paddock. Now, 25 years later, it’s become the ‘‘jewel in the crown’’ of Manawatu¯ , with more than 570 sites sold for the March 15-17 event in Feilding.
Noel and Eleanor have rolled up their sleeves and pitched in each year, turning the grassed area at Manfeild into a bustling village for three days.
‘‘I used to work at my day job and then go straight to Manfeild afterwards and help with setting up, maintenance and driving the forklifts.’’
They’d help exhibitors unload product and roll out power cables. Noel even built the ticketing boxes that are still used at the gate today.
Noel helped to install a power network at Manfeild, water reticulation and, most recently, almost 2 kilometres of crushed lime pathways that service as allweather streets for what becomes a three-day canvas city.
In other words, the Mortimers are bloody good Kiwis, chipping in wherever needed.
He recalls putting in long hours, often working in the dark to get sites ready for exhibitors on time.
One year, he fell in a drain while whacking pegs to mark each site. It was pitch black and, as he took a step back, the ditch caught him unaware.
‘‘I ended up covered in mud. It was quite funny.’’
A lot has changed since then.
Marking the sites is now done by laser. It’s much more accurate than when Noel crawled around with a 100-metre measuring tape.
‘‘That was always an interesting exercise when it was windy. Some sites got a bit of extra space while others got less.’’
While Noel was at all ends of Manfeild Park, Eleanor was in the kitchen baking batch after batch of delicious hot scones.
She’d bake a variety, sometimes up to 15 batches a day.
‘‘As soon as they came out of the oven they disappeared,’’ Eleanor says.
Even today the couple are working behind the scenes. Noel helps with the promotion side of the event, building signs and distributing them around the region.
Throughout the year, Noel spends hours in his workshop making the pegs and small picket fences that are used on various sites. He’s often given old timber full of nails, which he cleans, cuts and paints.
Although Eleanor has hung up the apron, she still attends the field days and is often seen walking around with a cloth, wiping clean any tables.
‘‘We have made some lovely friends over the years and know many of the people in the stalls,’’ she says.
The couple agree it’s the people they meet each year and the old friends they catch up with that has seen them return each year.
Sales manager Cheryl Riddell has been at the helm of New Zealand’s largest regional agricultural extravaganza when it has battled through storms, droughts and floods.
Through it all, she’s fought on, growing the event each year.
She could be forgiven for taking a mental health day every now and then, but Riddell has returned for 22 of its 25 years.
She has overseen the event’s evolution from when it was attended by 500 people to now more than 30,000.
She recalls the 2004 flood when water broke tarseal on the Manfeild racetrack and distributed tyres all over the park only a couple of weeks out from the field days.
A decade later, Cyclone Lusi tore through Manawatu¯ , causing emergency services to force Riddell to close early on the final day because of high winds.
A topdressing plane used to land on the racetrack, clydesdale horses gave rides, there were bullock teams and sheep counting competitions. Organisers would even block off an area to grow maize, with a combine harvester coming in to harvest in front of a curious crowd.
But what was once a practicaloriented event has shifted its focus towards innovation in the rural sector.
Riddell says the field days’ byline has changed from the ‘‘best day off the farm all year’’ to ‘‘exploring the latest trends in agricultural innovation and development’’.
The stress of pulling it together each year has often kept her in the office at all hours, up late at night and, at times, been an emotional rollercoaster.
She is the unsung hero that is the Central District Field Days.
It caters for both the town and country folk – that’s the beauty of the Central Districts Field Days.
Yes, there’s the large machinery, tools and farming equipment. But there’s also outdoor furniture, garden accessories, clothing and spa baths.
The Bayleys Rural Lifestyle Pavilion is like a giant home show. You can look out for barbecues, cast iron cookers, camping equipment and electric bikes.
Only metres away, the food court will have the usual steak sandwiches, hot dogs and chips. There’s a returning favourite – Raymond’s BBQ from Hawke’s Bay is bringing its gourmet burgers. For a bit of variety there is Mexican Dos Locos Taco.
There’s coffee and icecream – no matter what the weather brings.
The signature drawcard is the world-renowned New Zealand Army Band, and the Royal New Zealand Air Force Black Falcons Aerobatic Show and A109 helicopter display.
For the first time, free wi-fi is sponsored by Inspirenet, which will also provide umbrellas, tables and bean bags in the chill-out zone.
‘‘That was always an interesting exercise when it was windy. Some sites got a bit of extra space while others got less.’’
Noel Mortimer on crawling around with a 100-metre measuring tape.