For once the weather was kind, with rain holding off most of the time, and it wasn’t even as cold as it has been in previous years. The organisers went to a lot of trouble to make this 40th event a memorable one, and event Gate 1 was extended to display additional sites while improving access to the event and providing a world-class boulevard with the space to meet, greet and plan your day. Also new for 2008 was the Eastern Marquee, included by popular demand for more rural lifestyle indoor exhibition space and “Kiwi’s Best”, where New Zealand’s very best food and beverage were available to try and buy under the direction of celebrity chef Alister Brown of television series Hunger for the Wild. At the other end of the process, the Science of Farming was under the microscope as the Premier Feature at Fieldays 2008, with the support of agricultural scientific leader AgResearch. In addition there were the usual competitions such as Fieldays Rural Bachelor of the Year Competition, Ag Art Wear, Possum Fur Fashion Design, National Tractor Pull Competition, Fieldays Wiremark & Cyclone Fencing Championships and the Fieldays Innovation Centre. In the standard Tractor Pull competition, Mark Bining took first place, followed by tough competitors Luke Houghton (second) and Roger White (third). In the Weight Transfer class, Mike Reymer took the honours, followed by Richard Waldon, Marcus Horner and Sid Smith. Townsend took out the Teams competition with Gavin Grain and Austins following in second and third respectively. Tamahere Country School took away the prize in the Schools class of the AgTrader Sculpture Contest class for their creation “Jerry the Farm Horse”, while “HMS Regal” by Murray Matushka won the People’s Choice Award. “HMS Regal” was also a judges’ favourite, taking first in the open class. For the first time in many years there was no 4WD exhibit, and we also noticed that the motor vehicle importers were keeping a lower-than-usual profile, especially on the 4WD front. However there was lots to look at, and we have chosen a selection of pictures from things that caught our eye – all 4WD, but not as we know it! Next year’s Fieldays is already being planned – from June 10 to 13 – and the Premier Feature will be “My Farm, Our Environment”, sponsored by AgResearch. Environment Waikato is to be the sponsor. Says Environment Waikato chairman Peter Buckley: “Being associated with this Premier Feature is a great way for Environment Waikato to promote its vision of an economically rich and environmentally sensitive agricultural sector in our region.” “The regional council is very keen to work side by side with farmers to help them farm successfully in a way which minimises any negative impact their operations have on the environment.” *