Darren Harris

Agfest saw a welcome return to the paddock this year after 2020’s virtual cloud event. COVID-19 still reared its head, with numbers limited to 10,000 people each day, from 5–8 May.

Tasmania’s premier agricultural and machinery field day event, organised by Rural Youth Tasmania, sold out all tickets quickly. Agfest in the Cloud ran from 5–15 May online with over one million page views.

The weather was perfect for the opening day on Wednesday. Wendy and David Gibson of West-Bee Honey, Westbury, returned to the paddock with their stall for their second time at Agfest, after a good experience in 2019.

Westbury’s Martin Hamilton, owner of The Devil’s Own Ice Creamery, sold ice cream made at Deloraine High School from locally sourced ingredients for their first Agfest with the assistance of Imogen Williams, a St Patrick’s College workplace experience student. The Devil’s Own Ice Creamery is mobile and covers Hobart, Devonport, Burnie, Harvest, Westbury and Deloraine Markets.

Students from Deloraine High School, overseen by teacher Ian Mackenzie, spent nearly two years building a meat smoker at the school. The students attended Agfest to sell their smoked meat and accompanying drinks to hungry Agfest patrons.

Other students attended another local Meander Valley exhibit, the Hagley Farm School Visitors Centre, where they could participate through technology in learning about farming methods. The Hagley Farm School is a Department of Education Field Studies school farm which aims to improve school agricultural education through the Kid’s Agriculture Awareness Program (KAAP).

The Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association (TFGA) also attended. CEO John McKew said the TFGA is the peak state farming and agriculture organisation that advocates for the future profitability, sustainability, and productivity for Tasmania’s agriculture sector.

‘Our key role is an advocacy body for farmers. We listen to them, and educate, advocate, and communicate for them on their behalf … we offer solutions to see what can we collectively do. Current issues include biosecurity, access to water irrigation, and farm labour. The main thing is, if agriculture does well, the state does well.’

With over 500 exhibitors, 40,000 visitors through the gates, and over one million page visits online, Agfest is truly back in the paddock and back on track for bigger and better things to come.