It was the biennial turn of Waimumu near Gore to host the event which Evans said has attracted exhibitors from as far away as Australia.
The tractor pull starts on Wednesday along with the Southern Man contest, which tests a variety of skills to find the quintessential Southern Man.
On Thursday fencers have their skills tested while at 6pm the event for the second time hosts a pre-season rugby match between the two South Island Super rugby sides, the Highlanders and Crusaders. An adjacent farm paddock has been specially prepared and groomed into a sporting pitch.
Evans said 7500 tickets have been sold for the match and a small number of extra tickets will be available from the field day office on Wednesday morning.
On the final day, Friday, there is a speed shearing contest that will be judged by shearing great Sir David Fagan and has attracted one of the country’s premier shearers in Rowland Smith.
Farmers Weekly columnist Jamie Mackay and National Party leader Bill English will also square off with the hand pieces.
The Minister for Agriculture and Rural Communities Damien O’Connor will be on site on Friday.
Evans described the event as the friendly field days and attributed its gain in strength to new ideas and innovations coming from people fresh to the organising committee.
“We try to be the friendly field days.”
Organisers went out of their way to work with and help exhibitors and he said the event has tried to stay true to its founding principles of linking exhibitors with potential customers.
Evans has asked people to share rides to the venue to reduce traffic congestion and to buy their tickets ahead of time from any Farmlands Store.
