Northland MP Mike Sabin will officially open the 30th annual Northland Field Days in Dargaville at 11am today, with the country's second biggest agricultural show expected to be better than ever.
Since the field days were launched at the Dargaville Racecourse in 1985, the weather has played a big part in their success. The MetService forecast for fine conditions today, tomorrow and Saturday paves the way for good attendances on the field days' present site beside State Highway 14 between the racecourse and Dargaville.
With a wide variety of entertainment and more than 50 new organisations increasing the number of exhibitors to a record, there will be plenty for field days visitors to see during the three-day show.
Two events with a country flavour got under way at 9am this morning - the Radio Hauraki and Tru Test "Win your weight in meat" contest and the Tractor Pull competition, which is always a hit with spectators eager to see farmers flex their mechanical muscles.
Sheep dog trials, lawnmower racing, sheep racing and a Taege seed drilling demonstration are on the programme later in the morning, and the afternoon promises to be just as action-packed with four New Zealand freestyle motocross teams displaying their aerial agility.
