“The Small Farms field day is about everything country, tractors, motorcycles, irrigation, farm equipment and animals” said field day coordinator Glen Drury. “We like to keep it simple, so that everyone can enjoy catching up, and finding out about how to grow things better on their block.”
As more consumers develop a craving for local fresh food, a batch of new small farms is finding innovative ways to meet the demand. This rural renaissance is producing more varieties of vegetables, raising goats, sheep and buffalo to produce new types of cheese, or finding creative methods of getting it to market, and this is what the new Small Farms Field Day is all about.
Targeting all North Queensland small farmers, from Cairns to Townsville, the field day is building on the resounding success of the inaugural field day last year. “We were almost overwhelmed by the number of people that poured through the gates last year, and the business being done was amazing” said Glen Drury.
Feedback surveys said that people wanted more stalls, more information, more animals, more stalls more often. So the organisers North Johnstone and Lake Eacham Landcare, and the Malanda Show Society have listened to this and a sensational array of exhibitors are already booked, new sponsors and partners are coming on board, and new sections are being added.
Cross Stitch Corner, Johnstone River Catchment Management, Mungali Creek Biodynamic Dairy, Malanda Rural Glenview Dairy and Terrain NRM have all decided to back this fresh new event with sponsorships. The Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal is funding a new and innovative Small Farmers Information Centre to help people decide how to make the best use of their small landholding to create a sustainable rural lifestyle.
Jude Nechwatal from Cheesemaking and More, will be demonstrating how to make cheeses in your own kitchen. The Home Cheesemakers Competition will allow the many budding cheesemakers in the area to showcase their ability to master this old craft. Three categories will be judged, and then spectators can taste the delicate differences between home-made camembert, fetta and cream cheeses.
Features will include the Celebrity Goat Milking Competition, Chainsaw Carving is Information Living with Wildlife on wildlife friendly fencing will be readily available from the Tolga Bat Hospital.
In a first for any event ever held at the Malanda Showgrounds, a fully digitalised map will be available to assist all interested exhibitors. This will be available through the website.
With names such as Country Lane, Farmer’s Lane, Equestrian Lane, Landcare Lane, Green Energy Corridor, The Rural Technology Village, Farmer Health Check Hall, The Home Paddock – for fun and entertainment as well as the best in country food, and the Large Animal, Small Animal and Poultry Sheds there is guaranteed to be something of interest for everyone.
Special thanks to ATGIS, Maria Pesavento and Tablelands Regional Council (TRC) for their invaluable assistance with the digitised map.
Anyone interested in being a sponsor, exhibitor or wanting to participate in any way in this fresh new event is encouraged to visit the website www.malandasmallfarms.com phone Carl Grandelis on 4096 5349 or email at info@malandasmallfarms.