THE run of traffic including oversize vehicles, that make up the traditional pilgrimage heading to the Henty Machinery Field Days, was noticeably absent this week.
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A decent spring, followed by another 15mm to 20mm of rain on the weekend, would have certainly spelled success for the field days this year. However, the COVID-19 pandemic meant organisers had to take the decision not to run the three-day event that draws in more than 60,000 patrons.
Henty Machinery Field Days chief executive officer, Belinda Anderson said in some ways it "feels like Henty" but it was certainly quieter than usual.
She said the flowering of canola, the good seasonal conditions and positive sentiment in the agricultural industry would have been great for the field days.
Mrs Anderson is confident that 2021 will be a stellar event and people will be keen to get back to the southern NSW site and see the latest exhibits and catch up with friends and colleagues.
"It's a little bit surreal," she said. "We are just very hopeful, and focused on next year ... we will keep moving along," she said.
Despite the absence of exhibitors it still felt like a "Henty week", in many ways.
"All of the marquees would have been up, and the exhibitors here, (in previous years) so it feels a bit strange ... the phone is not even ringing," she said.
With the focus now on next year, it is hoped the field days could be better than ever.
"Hopefully we will be managing COVID-19 and we could have a pandemic or know how to run events," she said. Better guidelines in preventing the spread of coronavirus were also likely to be set in place by this time next year.
"We need to see things back on track for Victoria ... we have a lot of exhibitors and visitors from Victoria each year," she said. The field days have been cancelled twice before in 1970 and 1971.
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