CROWD numbers exceeded expectations for the first day of the Australian National Field Days.
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More 3000 visitors came through the gates and browsed through more than 490 exhibitions.
Australian National Field Days manager Jayne West said the weather was “perfect” for the first day.
“The weather was on our side and definitely the crowds have come out,” Ms West said.
Country Women’s Association (CWA) members came together to show visitors some country hospitality with their cooking demonstration.
Member Margaret Brown said for three days, members will conduct a cooking demonstrations of a main course and dessert with blueberries.
“It’s to highlight the fact that CWA of New South Wales chooses a primary product every year to promote. It has to be grown in Australia and it needs a bit of a boost,” she said.
Exhibitor Orange Rural Centre’s Phil Morrow said the weather was perfect for the first day.
“With beautiful weather like this, I can’t complain,” Mr Morrow said. “With the tremendous wet season we’re had, I hope sun is in front of us now.”
MSM Milling director Pete MacSmith said the first day was positive for the featured exhibitors. “It’s been a good day and we’ve had a lot of interest,” Mr MacSmith said.
“It’s a beautiful day, people are positive and the sheep and cattle prices are good.”
Exhibitor On-Trac Ag mechanic and salesman Mitch Taberner said the day offered the business an opportunity to expand their customer base.
"We’ve had people from Orange, Bathurst and the Central West,” Mr Taberner said.
“We’ve been out here selling seeding and hay gear and it’s been good.”
The 2016 Orange Showgirl Katherine Wannan and entrant Tess Crossley represented the Orange Show Society committee. “We’re trying to encourage people to have fun, have a good day and get involved in Orange further,” Ms Crossley said.
“It’s a real gathering of country communities and I think it’s really important to support those communities,” Ms Wannan said. “Especially further out west, they’re dying off as the farmers are getting older and older and young kids are leaving the farm.”
The event will run until Saturday, October 22.