15 June 2023

The judge’s assessment was based on agri-machinery exhibitor Power Farming going above and beyond to provide an exceptional user experience for visitors to their site.  Criteria also measured their overall attractiveness, innovative site design, recognisable branding, and a clear focus on customer service. 

Located at the bottom of Gate 2 hill at site V20, the blue and red site is hard to miss with its polished machinery, eye-catching signage and dapper-looking team. This year marks a significant milestone for Power Farming as they celebrate their 75th year in business, with 53 of those years having exhibited at Fieldays. To commemorate this achievement, the entire team adorned the original-style workwear worn by their predecessors, further emphasising the company's rich history.

David Natzke, Key Accounts and Sales Manager and coordinator of the Fieldays Site Awards reflected that “It was great to see that the entire site had been designed with the history and story of this 3-generational family business and their loyal customer base. CEO Tom Ruddenklau says “tradition is important to us, and hosting and celebrating our customer base with good old fashioned authentic hospitality was at the forefront of every decision made about the site build”. He expressed that the Fieldays App technology for exhibitors has helped their team members ready themselves for the arrival to site of each of their 1000 ticket-gifted guests with check-in notification alerts coming through when an invited visitor enters the gate. 

Among the other sites awarded accolades, was The Pantry exhibitor Pure by the Barrelman who were recognised for their dedication to the environment taking out the Commitment to Sustainability Award for their mission to be 100% sustainable. Pure by the Barrelman, owned and operated by husband-and-wife team Darryn and Tania Candy, repurpose oak wine barrels in their entirety to create a range of eco-friendly products, including platters, plant stands, and furniture. Any leftover materials are donated to local restaurants for use in their smokers. Their commitment to minimising waste extends to their site packaging and display props, which are reinforced using recycled wool blankets and coffee sacks.

The Fieldays Exhibitor Site Awards are held each year, with the winners receiving a framed certificate, signage and a discount off their 2024 site fee.

Fieldays 2023 Exhibitors Site Awards:
Best Outdoor Site Small (less than 200m2) - Podlife
Best Outdoor Site (200m2 to 400m2) - Allflex/MSD Animal Health
Best Outdoor Site Large (over 400m2) - Power Farming Wholesale Ltd
Best Indoor Site - DairyNZ Limited
Commitment to Sustainability Award - Pure by the Barrelman
Fieldays 2023 Supreme Site Award - Power Farming Wholesale Ltd