‘Lots of very good conversations’ at Farm Expo

The Station Challenge was one of the highlights of the second day of the East Coast Farm Expo for sheep and beef farmers, at the Wairoa racecourse. It involved eight teams of three. Brent Gallagher from Whakaki Blocks is pictured setting up the weigh head as part of the Beef + Lamb NZ-sponsored event in which teams were judged on how well they drafted, weighed and then crutched a sheep. Picture supplied

The East Coast Farming Expo at the Wairoa racecourse has been deemed a success with close to 400 people through the gates again yesterday, a similar  crowd to the opening day on Wednesday.

Event manager Sue Wilson said the turnout for the second and final day of the Expo was “excellent”.

“To attract so many again yesterday was great and we’re very rapt about that.

“At the Muster on Wednesday night we had around 150 people attend and the guest speaker Hamish McKay was fantastic,” she said.

A big crowd watched one of the feature events yesterday,  the Station Challenge.

Contestants had to draft, weigh, then crutch a sheep.

“We had a massive line-up of people watching the teams of three from eight different stations in action,” Mrs Wilson said.

“There have been lots of very good conversations and relationship formed across the two days between farmers and the array of agribusinesses that took part, which is what the Expo is all about.

“Overall it’s been very successful, and this year the weather played ball.”