By Shelby Brooks
Farm World has proven itself to deserve the continued title of Victoria’s premier agricultural field day after a bumper 2022 event.
Lardner Park chief executive Craig Debnam said 40,000 people made it through the gates across the four day festival, which was held from Thursday 24 March through to Sunday 27 March.
Last year Covid-19 restrictions saw crowds capped at 7,500 per day.
Now in its 59th year, Farm World is an iconic event full of tradition and childhood memories that have been passed down through generations of families.
Mr Debnam said highlights of 2022 included the livestock zone, demonstrations from Joe Spicer of the ABC TV show Muster Dogs, motorcross bike demonstrations, the Saturday night rodeo, cooking demonstrations from String and Salt and the Butcher Wars.
There were 450 plus exhibitor stalls this year, offering farmers the best chance to ensure their machinery and farm equipment orders are secured and will be delivered in time prior to the start of next season.
The second annual Farm World Tractor Driving Competition was well supported with drivers competing on a challenging course in three categories – farmers, contractors and dealers. Winners received a cash prize, trophy and most importantly bragging rights. The Lardner Park sponsored dealer award winner with a time of three minutes and 45 seconds and zero penalties was TTMI Maffra branch manager Shane Marshall.
Mathew Rigano from Ferndale won the McNeil Contracting sponsored farmer award with a time of two minutes and 54 seconds.
Jeromy White Contracting’s Aaron Warner from Ripplebrook was the overall winner and won the Tracmac Farm Equipment sponsored contractor award with a time of two minutes and 44 seconds.
Proudly presented by Melbourne Royal’s Emerging Leaders Group, the Victorian Final of The Australian Young Farmer Challenge held on Friday at Farm World saw six teams from across regional Victoria compete in a quiz and a series of agricultural challenges.
Cheered on by the crowd, the teams mastered tractor and trailer backing and six challenges including wood splitting, first aid and animal husbandry.
The Champions will represent Victoria in the National Finals at the 2022 Sydney Royal Easter Show.
The title of Victorian State Champions went to Clunes and District Young Farmers, second place went to South Gippy Goats, third place Worm Burden and fourth place Wades.
