Southern Field Days 2026

Google what the weather is like in Southland in mid-February and you are told that “In February, Southland experiences its peak summer weather, characterised by mild to pleasant temperatures, long daylight hours, and high, often changeable, rainfall.

While it is one of the warmest times of the year, sudden showers, cool evenings, and winds are very common.” Which basically means pack for every kind of weather. This couldn’t have been more accurate for the three days of the event, with rain and sun on day one, a sweltering 30 degrees on day two, and rain and wind on day three. Farmers and fencers are a hardy bunch though, so we still had plenty of people pop by.

This was our first time at the Southern Field Days in a number of years, and certainly the first time we had brought Fencing Central to the people. It was great to be back on site and reconnecting face-to-face with contractors, farmers, suppliers, and industry supporters. Under the FCANZ umbrella we were joined by seven of our Gold partners and their local sales reps, providing a one-stop hub in which visitors could talk all things fencing. Having everyone together in one space made it easy for people to ask questions, compare products, and have practical, real-world conversations about fencing solutions.

A demonstration area was set up in the centre of the site, where visitors could see and touch Partner products rather than just hearing about them. This hands-on approach was great for those wanting a closer look at systems or materials they hadn’t seen before.

To keep things spicy, we ran a knot-tying competition, which added a bit of friendly rivalry and a lot of entertainment. While some of the work was questionable, most of it was excellent, and it was great to see such strong skill levels on display. Everyone who gave it a crack went into the draw for a $500 wire voucher, thanks to PGG Wrightson, which certainly helped encourage participation and enthusiasm.

Congratulations to Brent Jamieson, who was the lucky person to have their name picked out of the hat by Craig “Wiggy” Wiggins, Association Patron and head of our charity of choice, Lean on a Gate. A big thanks to Craig for taking the time to be involved and for the ongoing support he provides to the Association and the work he and his team do for mental health in the wider industry.

Thanks to Gold Partners Gallagher, Stockade, Bayonet, Beattie Insulators, Strainrite, Summit and Point Lumber for joining us to deliver what is undoubtedly a great concept – and one we look forward to repeating at the South Island Agricultural Field Days in Kirwee next year. The feedback from both partners and visitors was definitely positive, reinforcing the value of bringing industry expertise and product knowledge together in one accessible space. Next stop for Fencing Central? Mystery Creek in June. See you there!

Written by Jaime Bigwood & Phil Cornelius