General News
26 February, 2026
From humble beginnings to premier Ag event
In its 62nd year, the Wimmera Machinery Field Days has cemented its place as the go-to for everything agribusiness and agricultural.
In its 62nd year, the Wimmera Machinery Field Days has cemented its place as the go-to for everything agribusiness and agricultural.
More than 400 exhibitors have everything covered.
But the event began humbly, born of a group of farmers from the Wimmera, along with members of an agricultural association, who attended an event similar to one in Orange, NSW.
This was in 1962, and upon returning to the region, a committee was formed to host an event locally the following year.
President Frank Tucker and secretary Bert Perry led the committee.
In 1963, the inaugural Wimmera Mallee Field Day was held over a couple of days during the first week of March.
It was held at the Agricultural College in Longerenong, attracting about 80 exhibitors and drawing a crowd of around 3000.
Around 200,000 pounds worth of farm machinery was on display, and organisers held a dress rehearsal for a full day on the Monday before opening to ensure the event ran smoothly.
After its inception, the event continued to grow in the 1970s and 80s, alongside regional booms in farming, featuring increased displays of machinery and becoming an economic driver.
It stood the test of time in the 1990s and 2000s, despite droughts and extreme weather, adapting to incorporate modern innovations such as Genetically Modified (GM) crops.
It was, albeit temporarily, cancelled in 2021 and 2022 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but it was welcomed back the following year by both attendees and exhibitors.
Continuing to grow, with 2024 marking its 60th anniversary, the event consistently attracts hundreds of exhibitors showcasing the latest in agricultural technology.
It's now Victoria's longest-running Field Day and renowned as one of Australia's premier agribusiness and agricultural events.
