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Addy photographers and I will be at Elmore all this week to capture the colour and excitement of one of Australia's biggest farm machinery field days.
Follow our live coverage here and don't forget to refresh your browser for updates...
THURSDAY - DAY 3...
UPDATE 5.00pm: Enthusiasm for the Ag Art wear competition built throughout the three days, culminating in a standing-room-only finale on Thursday afternoon.After receiving record entry levels, half of the four category winners hailed from interstate.
The best designer award winner was Jen Dew, from near Wagga Wagga, with a dress made of used engine filters.
Another entry from Nola Wallis, of Serviceton, took out the avant-garde section with a flowery number.
Kerang's Jess Harrison won the Under 21 category with a dress drawing upon Australia's connection with the horse, and muster culture, while the hats section was won by Leanne Lunghusen, of Echuca.
The competition received 54 entries.
UPDATE 2.40pm: Watch out for the vintage tractor parade making its way around the Elmore Events Centre.
The slow moving, smoky pieces of farm history are hard to miss.
UPDATE 2.10pm: The Ag Art pavilion is at standing room only for the final of the fashion competition.
At least 300 people have crammed in, while others crane their necks at the entrance for a view of the creations.
UPDATE 1.10pm: It was all about making life easier for farmers for Northern Feed Systems.
The business developed an attrition disc mill, allowing each different variety of feed to be processed simultaneously.
Northern Feed Systems received the Elmore Machine of the Year award last night.
Operations manager Ian Yeo said the mill gave farmers more feed options.
"There were only roller mills before, but there were people always looking for more options," he said.
"It's just a simple concept. It's a bit more reliable for the crush and it's more affordable."
UPDATE 12.30pm: Aglive believe they have the recipe for the future of farming, with Cloud-based software allowing farmers to directly monitor and control chemical applications on all types of farms.
The business won the Telstra Countrywide Award for technology and innovation.
National sales and marketing manager Stewart McConachy said the inspiration for the technology came from the Bendigo sheep and wool show.
"That many farmers were complaining about EID tagging and chemical tracking that I decided technology had to be used to create simpler solutions," he said.
UPDATE 12pm: The third and final day has brought clear skies to Elmore.
The Elmore Field Days site awards were given out last night, and we'll endeavour to visit them all.
WEDNESDAY - DAY 2...
Rainfall talks: Farmers were keen learn about the current season
UPDATE 2.15: The colourful, creative and resourceful creations of the Ag Art competition are back on the runway.
It's the second last chance to see hats made from used farm items, dresses from winning show ribbons and garments from used potato sacks.
The final parade will be tomorrow afternoon.
UPDATE 1.30pm: The last of the shearing trials is under way, drawing plenty of interest from onlookers.
Top wool handlers are demonstrating correct techniques with different varieties of sheep and fleece.
UPDATE 1.10pm: Firearm thefts in western Victoria have increased from 172 to 289 per year over the last 12 months.
Livestock and farm crime specialist Craig Gillard, of Victoria Police, said organised crime is targeting firearms on farm.
He said sheep theft was also rising rapidly in Victoria, and those responsible almost always had history in rural industries.
UPDATE 12.50pm: Oral health in rural Australia has become an increasingly major concern in recent years, something the Royal Flying Doctors service are keen to help out with.
The service is offering free oral checks all day at the Elmore Field Days.
Volunteer dentists are helping out with tips to prevent oral disease.
General manager primary healthcare Gary Layton said most oral health issues are preventable.
UPDATE 12.20pm: One of the busiest people at this year's Elmore Field Days is DEPI seasonal variability agronomist Dale Grey.
The farmers have been lining up to hear the region's rainfall fortunes over the coming six months.
Mr Grey said the El Niño had fallen apart in April, but was trying to reform over the Pacific.
He said models were still predicting average rainfall for the coming months, but there was no subsoil moisture left.
UPDATE 12pm: Warmer weather has brought larger crowds to Day 2 of the Elmore Field Days.
Exhibitors reported a reasonable start to the 2014 event so far, with a number of significant transactions taking place.
Yeomans Plow Company sales representative David Aarons said they made two sales on the first day.
"It's not always about how many sales though, it's about keeping your name out there," he said.
"If you stop coming to field days then it's a bit of a problem."
He traveled from the Gold Coast to support the local sales team.
TUESDAY - DAY 1...
Gallery: All the colour and action from Day 1
Reactions from the patrons: From Melbourne to Deniliquin, visitors enjoy Elmore
Machinery was on show: Elmore all about the machines
UPDATE 2.10pm: Looking for the latest on-farm technology, catching up with like minded farmers and nostalgia value - the reasons for attending the Elmore Field Days were endless.
John Hicks, of Deniliquin, said he traveled down about every second year and almost instantly saw people he knew.
"We met five people straight away," he said.
"We come down to talk with farmers, we enjoyed watching the dog training demonstrations as well."
UPDATE 1pm: The second lot of machinery demonstrations are about to start, while others enjoy the tastes on offer in the Taste More pavilion.
Local olives, cheeses from the south west and bit of pudding are among the tastes on offer.
Chas Horvath, of Splitters Creek Olives at Junortoun, said it was a great opportunity to show people his local produce.
UPDATE 11.15am: Hats from the charred remains of machinery, hats made of seed bags and gum leaves, and hats inspired by sealing tape and potato sacks.
These are some of those being modeled as the Ag Art fashion parade starts this morning.
The hat section is first off the stand as young designers from Victoria, Tasmania and New South Wales show off their resourceful fashion skills.
UPDATE 11.05am: Buyers and onlookers are casting their eyes over more than 700 sites on the opening morning.
The Ag Art fashion show is also under way, as the rain clouds stay away for now.
EARLIER: Welcome to opening day of the 2014 Elmore Field Days!
We have searched social media high and low for posts about the field days!
MONDAY - FINAL DAY OF PREPARATIONS...
Coverage from the final day of preparations at the Elmore Field Days:
UPDATE 2pm: We're heading back to Bendigo, but look out for us for the rest of the week at the Elmore Field Days.
The shearing starts at 9.30am on Tuesday and machinery exhibits will be in place from early on.
Look out for the Ag Art fashion competition from 11am as well.
UPDATE 1.15pm: Lunch is always a busy time at Elmore, something volunteer caterer Lesley Edmondston knows all about.
Representing one of 20 local organisations providing catering, Mrs Edmondston is enjoying her 37th year in the catering pavilion.
She said things may have changed in farm machinery, but people still enjoyed a hot pie after a long day at the field days.
UPDATE 1pm: Some machinery companies see the Elmore Field Days as an opportunity for farmers to have a "one stop shop" to see the latest equipment.
McCullochs Hydraulic Engineers director Jeff McCulloch says it can be hard for farmers to get a day off to sort out what they need.
He said over 51 years, the field days have helped the business secure its clients into the future.
UPDATE 12.20pm: The sites are prepared and ready to go at Elmore, with one or two eyes on the sky with tricky weather predicted this afternoon.
A water truck is doing the rounds of the tracks as hundreds of pieces of farm machinery arrive.
Grogans Machinery director Matt Grogan is among those to be keeping his machines looking sharp.
He said the Bendigo company had attended all 51 field days.
IT'S the week up to 40 volunteers work tirelessly towards for 365 days of the year.
The marquees are in readiness, the machines have been rolled in and the 700 exhibitors are placing their final touches as the Elmore Field Days kick off on Tuesday.
The Elmore Exhibition Centre resembles a self-contained town, "controlled chaos" as the organisers put it, bracing for a predicted 35,000-strong onslaught of farmers, onlookers and those hoping to sample the best of Victoria's produce.
Elmore Field Days marketing manager Sam Shotton said the event, from Tuesday to Thursday, would not just cater for farmers.
"It's one of Australia's largest machinery field days. If you haven't been before, why not?" she said.
"There's something from the farmer to the keen gardener, the general interest displays show patchwork, jewellery, candle making, glassware. Our biggest feature this year will be the Taste More pavilion."
With the field days having celebrated its 50th year last year, organisers hope the new food and produce section will make the 51st installment every bit as special as the previous 50.
The first machinery demonstrations start at 10.45am on Tuesday when hay baling and tillage machinery take to the exhibition fields.
As the big days approach, Ms Shotton said the committee of 36, made up almost entirely of Elmore residents, was keeping its sights set on the future.
"It's something that we do 12 months of the year. We're already looking ahead to next year's event," she said.
"It's great to see some of the younger generation coming through too."
Preparing for the 2014 Elmore Field Days:
VIDEO: Field days get pegged in
SPECIAL PUBLICATION: Elmore Field Days 2014
TAKE A LOOK BACK AT ALL THE IMAGES FROM 2013...
PICTURES: Elmore Field Days 2013 - Day 1
PICTURES: Elmore Field Days 2013 - Day 2
