Welcome to Henty Machinery Field Days, home of Australia’s premier mixed farming event. Located in the heart of the nation’s food bowl in southern NSW, Henty Machinery Field Days is an agribusiness supermarket attracting more than 60,000 visitors each year. 

Henty Machinery Field Days is now regarded as southern Australia’s single biggest agricultural event, showcasing the latest in machinery and farm equipment, outdoors and camping products, farm produce, agronomy, country lifestyle, government and health services, agribusiness and finance services. 

The not-for-profit event is farmer driven and run by a board of seven co-operative members, all from southern NSW and involved with agriculture, and are supported by 90-plus members of the field days co-operative. Henty Machinery Field Days celebrated 50 years in 2013 after being founded as a one-day header school at the Henty showground in 1963.

The 2019 Henty Machinery Field Days on September 17-19 will feature more than 1200 sites and over 800 exhibitors on the permanent 105ha site.

Nigel Scheetz was initially appointed to the board in 2004 and is the third generation to serve on the HMFD Co-operative. Nigel, his wife Kerryn and son Lachlan produce cereal crops, run trade cattle, Merinos and prime lambs on their Culcairn property.
He has been involved with the field days from a young age, and in turn, his sons, Lachy, Austin and Tom, are all involved as younger members. Nigel, 49, was involved with traffic control during the field days and assists with the logistics and VIP area.
“The field days has always played an important role providing our exhibitors with the opportunity to be at the forefront and display new information, techniques and technology for agriculture,’’ he said.
“We have a great group of young people involved with the field days – around 15 young farmers aged under 25 and all sharing a passion for agriculture.
“Our older members have a real love for the industry and we welcome them to share their experience, knowledge and skills as mentors for our younger members.
“Even though many regions have been experiencing tough conditions for some time, agriculture is still exciting with buoyant livestock and good commodity prices.’’

Pulletop farmer Belinda Anderson was appointed as the Henty Machinery Field Days first female chief executive officer in 2013. Belinda has worked in the role of company secretary for the co-operative since 2011, and has stepped to the CEO’s position.
A sheep and grain producer from Pulletop, Belinda farms an 1295 hectare family property with husband Garry, son Thomas and Garry’s parents. The family crop 650ha of cereals and oilseeds and run 4000 merino and composite ewes.
Belinda started an administrative career with the Wagga Wagga Pastures Protection Board in 1988 as a junior clerk, finishing in 2008 as senior customer service officer. “I spent three years working on the farm and studying before taking up the administrative role at Henty,’’ Belinda said.
Living just 20 minutes from the field days site meant the Anderson family have rarely missed the event. “The kids have alwsy loved the field days, and even now as adults. I like the social side while Garry always likes to have a plan, do the research and compare prices,’’ Belinda said.
“The field days have grown extensively since I first attended in 1984 as a student from St Pauls College, Walla Walla, and to now have the opportunity to help members and volunteers organise such an integral community event is exciting,’’ she said.