Thursday 3 May 2012

All the Fun of the Tocal Field Days


Tocal Field Days
The annual Tocal Field Days will be held from this Friday to Sunday.

What is unique about this event is that it appeals not just to large and small scale farmers but anyone wanting a good day out in the country. Many people see this as a highlight of the Hunter Valley agricultural year, and travel each year to the Field days site at the Tocal Agricultural Centre, near Paterson and Maitland Australia. Each year more and more people from Australia and overseas attend on one or more of the three days it is held on.

Special features of this year’s field days include honey, the World Cup Heavy Horse Championships (which involves farriers shoeing Clydesdale horses), and soils.
and experiences at the field days. Look for them at the Farm and Fence area.

Cooking competitions seem to be all the rage on TV these days. The Tocal Field Days have their own cooking competition called ‘Bake or Burn’, where the main ingredient to be used this year is honey. Competitors will have 45 minutes to prepare their dish in front of a seated audience and three judges. This competition will be held in The Good Food and Wine Pavilion.

For those car enthusiasts who would like to try their hand at 4-wheel driving, a special off road test track will be available for people to try out there 4-wheel driving skills.

The Hunter Valley Vaulting Team will be showcasing their skills at the indoor arena on the Saturday and Sunday. This is where a talented group of people will perform gymnastics on horseback

Tocal Field Days
Entertainment will be provided through out the Field Days sites by various individuals, duos, groups and schools.

For the children there will be pony and camel rides, face painting, “Croc Stars’, Mad Cow ride, and of course the Animal Nursery.

Make sure you get a map of the Field Days site so that you know where everything is. There are areas set aside for animal exhibits; lands, plants & environment; Good Food and Wine; Lifestyle Marquee; and the Craft Exhibit.

Remember to wear good walking shoes, as you will need to stide out a few steps to see the more than 2000 exhibitors at the Field Days.

This year a free courtesy bus will depart from the Maitland Railway station on the hour each hour, and return on the half hour. At the Field Days site free courtesy buses will take people from the car parks to the entry gates, to the historic Homestead, and Fishing Clinics.

Tocal Field Days
When: Friday 3 , Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 May 2012
Entry to the field days, from 9am, is $17, $12 (seniors), and free for children aged under 16 if accompanied by a paying adult.
Tocal Agricultural Centre is at 815 Tocal Road, Paterson.
For further information see tocalfielddays.com for a detailed timetable of demonstrations and entertainment over the three days.

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