HENTY, in NSW's Riverina, home to one of the largest machinery field day events in the southern hemisphere, celebrated its 60th anniversary from September 19 to 21 this year.
The decades-long achievement is a testament to those early founders who, from modest beginnings at a header school for farmers have seen it grow to the enormous success it is today.
The challenges of last year's extremely wet and boggy conditions and the surprise public holiday for the passing of Queen Elizabeth II were forgotten as patrons were welcomed with sunny and dry weather on day one, with more than 850 exhibitors on site for the 2023 Henty Machinery Field Days (HMFD).
HMFD's CEO Belinda Anderson, reflecting on the 60th milestone after 10 years in her role, said, "I am proud to be involved in an event with such humble beginnings, and recognise the many people before me."
She noted that one of the most significant differences was "Technology, and the role of women in agriculture has really changed for the positive."
Latest Stories
Mrs Anderson added, "Agriculture is for everyone."
For several exhibitors, the HMFD's best machinery award is much sought after, and this year's winner was a display of efficiency and labour-saving technology.
Taking out the 2023 Henty Machine of the Year Award was an autonomous orchard sprayer, a joint venture between John Deere and GUSS, a California-based technology company.
A highly commended was given to The Shepherd Feedlot Auto Drafter, entered by Justin Dunn from Temora, NSW.
There were 23 entries comprising machines and equipment, all at the cutting edge of agricultural technology on show in the Henty Machine of the Year contest, with the winner announced on the first day of the field days.
Judging by an independent panel of five regional producers takes place the day before.
In making their selection, criteria included the machine's purpose and suitability, scale of usage, construction (durability and design), ease of maintenance and service, simplicity of operation and adjustment, access to parts and overall value for money.
According to judge Warren Scheetz, GUSS signalled an advance "towards sustainable and intelligent farming practices".
Mr Scheetz said, "We selected GUSS for its advancement in autonomous spraying technology with a strong commitment to precision chemical application, increased labour efficiency and employee safety."
The trend across all industries in agriculture is a significant decrease in available labour throughout the world, and this technology addresses this issue.
According to Hamish Ross, Integrated Solutions Manager, Hutcheon and Pearce (also celebrating its own milestone of 70 years), 250 GUSS autonomous sprayers are working globally with the machine at Henty, one of a handful in Australia.
The company's sales and marketing manager, Andrew Watt, said they were "super excited, and it was a massive lift" to know they were heading in the right direction.
In Victoria, one is in use on an almond plantation in Mildura.
Mr Ross said the GUSS machine saved many hours spent in the field and enabled a lot more to be achieved.
The sprayer is used in the United States on cherries, tobacco, pecans and grape vines, boasting a broad application, which is hoped to be replicated in Australia.
GUSS uses a combination of GPS, LiDAR sensors and software to guide it safely and efficiently through orchards unmanned.
It has been designed with a low profile of seven metres in length, 1.9 metres high and 2.29 metres wide, allowing tree branches to flow over the top easily.
In real time, it can run for 14 hours, day or night, and obtain valuable data, including position, spray rate and speed.
The sheep feedlot and containment specialist Justin Dunn was thrilled with the highly commended in the competition for his new auto drafter.
This system can continuously weigh and draft sheep in a feedlot without leaving their pens.
Judge Mr Scheetz said the design was notable for increasing animal welfare and labour efficiency, allowing the stock to be as stress-free as possible to boost weight gain.
The HMFD Chairman's address by Nigel Scheetz reflected on the event's proud history and how it began in 1961 at a farmers' header school at the Henty Showground to show the finer points of operating their equipment and improving their grain crops.
Mr Scheetz said, "The success of that day fed the dreams of our founding members, and the field days were held 60 years ago this year in 1963."
He acknowledged the outstanding contribution of the local Paech, Male, Scheetz and Schuener families, who volunteered their farms to host the field days until the move to the current permanent site in 1977.
"Those pioneering years evolved into the three-day event we have today, this was achieved by many tireless hours of clearing trees, forming roads, laying electricity lines and plumbing underground on an area spanning 105 hectares," said Mr Scheetz.
One of the critical areas of the success of the HMFD is the involvement of 29 community groups, providing everything from catering to garbage collection, car parking, staffing gates and much more.
According to the chairman, these groups will benefit from more than $400,000 returning to the local area to fund grassroots projects.
The HMFDs were officially opened by Andrew Kotzur, managing director of the third-generation family business Kotzur at Walla Walla.
Kotzur Silos was one of the original exhibitors at the first field days and has not missed a year since.
Mr Kotzur said a lot had changed in 60 years, but it was also important to remember what had not changed.
"Farmers and exhibitors still come in droves to the Henty Field Days because there is nothing like meeting face to face," because he believed technology could not replace that experience.
To mark the 60th anniversary, four of the earliest directors, Kerry Pietsch, Bryson Terlich, Neil Bahr and Barry Scholz, gathered to cut the cake.
Member for Farrer and Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Sussan Ley, speaking to constituents at her new marquee, said she believed the Henty Field Days had gone from "strength to strength" to reach their 60th anniversary.
"I think this will break all records as the bounce-back field days, and it is a great credit to the organisers the way they put it together," Ms Ley said.
A welcome addition to the field days' site was the unveiling of the new Telstra mobile base station, which will provide 4G and 5G connectivity for the farming community in the surrounding Henty area.
The three days included plenty of activities to keep everyone of all ages entertained with a focus on life on the land.
On day one, the media challenge provided a few laughs as various media company representatives tried pulling a John Deere ride-on mower, tossing a fleece, whip cracking and a scone eating competition with the CWA providing the home-cooked wares.
There was plenty of expertise on the site, whether choosing a boarding school for your child, livestock vaccine recommendations, machinery to handle cropping and livestock needs, financial advice or communication issues, on almost everything agriculturally related.
The HMFD looks set to continue for another 60 years with a focus on innovation, showcasing the best technology available in the agricultural sector while still providing those in the industry an opportunity to get together once a year in person.
