Fieldays: University pledges support for 2012 Fieldays

Press conference (from left to right): Bay de Latour, Chairman of Primary Wool Cooperative; Vice-Chancellor Professor Roy Crawford; Graham Turley, Managing Director Commercial and Agricultural, ANZ and  Warwick Roberts, Chairman of NZ Agricultural Fieldays. 

The University of Waikato says it's already looking ahead to the 2012 Fieldays which will have a theme of The Changing Face of Farming.

The University is a strategic partner of Fieldays and at a media conference held on site on day two of Fieldays, next year's theme was announced. This year's theme is Breaking Barriers to Productivity.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Roy Crawford said work at the University goes to the heart of Fieldays themes, and the University intended to continue its long-term and strong strategic partnership with Fieldays. He said Fieldays was an important opportunity to showcase the University's research and expertise to the community. "And it's a chance to show that the University is part of this community and a major business and that we can provide major opportunities through education and research."

Professor Crawford said the University was already working with Fieldays and ANZ, the other strategic partner, to synergise opportunities. He said next year's theme was an important one; everyone should appreciate the need to adapt or get left behind. "No individual person and no university can do it on their own. Coming together and facing up to the changes is extremely important."

Fieldays Chairman Warwick Roberts said Fieldays was a window on farming, but the major business event must keep looking ahead because the nation's agricultural scene was changing at an ever-increasing rate. He was pleased with the first-day attendance figures, put at nearly 26,500. It was the third biggest opening day attendance for Fieldays.

Fieldays 2011 runs until Saturday June 18. The University of Waikato has two stands at Fieldays - one in the Premier Feature area which features rapid wine-aging and "pig shooting" and a second, marquee site, at D25, which has other interactive displays and hosts the annual seminar series.

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Photo Album

Fieldays 2011
The 43rd National Agricultural Fieldays kicked off today at Hamilton's Mystery Creek. The University of Waikato is once again a strategic partner for the fifth-year running. Check out the latest images from the four-day event, which will be held June 15 - 18.
15th June 2011

Fieldays 2011 - Vice-Chancellor welcomes visitors

Waikato University Vice-Chancellor Professor Roy Crawford gives an overview of the University's involvement in Fieldays on Day 1 of the event at Mystery Creek.
14th June 2011