Farm World gets tick of approval to go ahead

Farm World at Lardner Park last week got the official State government “tick” for a COVID conscious event to be held later this month.

After surveying views of some 600 exhibitors it was decided to stage Farm World over three days – it had been a four-day event for about the past 25 years – and turn back the clock to have the focus strongly on agricultural industries and their suppliers.

Farm World will run from Friday to Sunday, March 26-28.

Chief executive Craig Debnam said the requirements to comply with COVID safety would see a number of changes.

For the public the main differences will include the need to buy tickets online at farmworld@lardnerpark.com.au (there will not be cash entry), have “smart phones” with a QR code to enter the property and individual pavilions and there would be one-directional patron flow with single entry and exit points at each section and pavilion. 

Mr Debnam said community safety had been the number one priority in ensuring Farm World could be staged this year after COVID last year forced it to be cancelled the first time in more than 50 years.

He said the comprehensive safety plan included a marshall at each exhibitor site ensuring compliance with COVID restrictions such as social distancing, hand sanitising, wearing of masks in enclosed areas and wiping of items after they’ve been touched.

But Mr Debnam said he expected the emphasis on farming this year would see strong crowds.

Despite a restriction on the number of people that can attend on each day Mr Debnam said the figure was in line with daily attendances in recent years and could be managed through the online bookings.

The opening Friday, March 26, has been designated “Farmers’ Day” with hours 9am to 5pm.

Saturday’s hours will be from 10am to 7pm, including a “Yarn on the Farm” session from 5pm to 7pm when farmers can get together over a snack and a drink to catch up and discuss matters of common interest in their industries.

Sunday will be “Farming Families’ Day” starting at 9am with gates closing at 4pm.

One of the highlights of recent Farm World’s at Lardner Park, the Women in Agriculture lunch, will return on the Friday with pre-bookings also required.

Mr Debnam said that under the conditions the response from exhibitors had been outstanding although, understandably, some that have previously come from overseas, particularly New Zealand and Asia as well as from more distant Australian states, withdrew because of uncertainties associated with travel due to COVID.

About 50 district service and community clubs and primary and secondary schools will be involved in helping run the event over the three days and Mr Debnam said the support from Farm World’s strategic partners and sponsors, some new this year, had been “amazing”.