THE sun was out, the wind was calm and the punters were flowing through the gates for the second day of the Elmore Field Days.
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Strong crowds made up for an almost lost day on the first day, when extreme wind, heat and dust made the going tough.
The tracks were full of farmers, families and onlookers trying to find a bargain or two, or to get a few ideas to beef up their farm.
Anne and Colin Munroe, of Strathbogie, said they had been coming to the field days for 20 years.
“You always manage to get a bargain here,” Mr Munroe said.
“We’ve got the ute in the car park, so we’re taking a few loads out there as we go.”
Others were there just to have a look around, as part of a family tradition.
Frank Bonney, of Portarlington, said it was a great way to spend the day away from the house.
“We usually come up here every year and spend a few nights at the caravan park,” he said.
“It’s a great place to be. I’d certainly rather be here than at the Archibald Prize in Ballarat.”
The Ag Art competition was once again a crowd favourite, as colourful and creative fashion masterpieces were paraded in front of an almost-full pavilion.
Among the creations were the junior entrants from schools in Bendigo and beyond, including a wine inspired number from a Bendigo Senior Secondary College student.
It was made using discarded items typically found on a vineyard.
Another dress, in the senior category, used weed control drainage material and cow tags to create an outfit called “100 poppies”, commemorating one hundreds years since the battle of Gallipoli.
Channel 10 personality Brad McEwan gave a powerful speech after the Ag Art was over, speaking of his experiences growing up in Lockington and attending Rochester Secondary College.
He aimed to highlight the importance of mental health in regional communities, and spoke of the suicide of his brother and father.