Next year’s event will be held on October 24, 25th and 26 after an ongoing survey of exhibitors and visitors revealed people wanted to make the event more accessible to the general public.

Australian National Field Days chairman Rob Armstrong said this was an “exciting new era” for the Borenore-based field days.

“We’ve always changed to meet the changing trends in agriculture over the 61 years,” Mr Armstrong said.

“The exhibitors and general public have told us there is a need to change the days in the week as agricultural production in the Central West changes.”

Mr Armstrong said despite the changes the event will remain agriculturally focused and preliminary talks with existing exhibitors suggest they will return in 2013.

“We know there are a large number of people working in smaller and medium size rural enterprises who work during the week and are unable to attend the field days. 

“The move to a Saturday will enable more people to attend and experience all the event has to offer.”

Field days administration manager Jayne West said 15 years ago organisers had tried running the show over the weekend, however after two years without an increase in attendance they reverted to staging the event during the week.

“While our aim is still to run an agriculture event we hope this will encourage other people to be involved,” Mrs West said.

Mrs West said she expected the date changes to encourage more families to visit.

The Australian National Field Days is Australia’s longest continuous running field days, with the event being held on the current site for 50 of its 62 years.

tracey.prisk@fairfaxmedia.com.au