The 50th Year of Elders FarmFest will go down as one of the most successful in the event’s history, as bumper crowds and a record number of exhibitors turned out for bargains, award winning bulls and for one lucky attendee it was a chance to take home a brand new $10,000 lawn mower.
With a number of new attractions this year to wow the crowds there were more than fifty new exhibitors, which attracted 33 percent more farming landowners to attend this year compared with last, while nearly 20 percent more children and students were drawn to The Education Trail than previously attended in 2024.
One of the event’s most popular attractions, The Brahman Feature show, saw over 100 bulls compete across various categories showcasing the importance of the breed to the Australian livestock industry.
But it was one bull, Hazelton Prize of Oz, who ultimately took home the crown for Grand Bull and also scored owners, the Kirk family of Hazelton Brahmans, a Leichts cattle crush worth $11,000. Organised by the Australian Brahman Breeders Association, the feature even made national brekkie TV, with Bundaleer Brahman’s Cynthia Stark making an appearance on Sunrise with Mr Hector from Sunnyside Park Brahmans.
Two other big winners were Granite Belt goat and stone fruit growers Kirra Ryan and Robert Calvisi, from Cottonvale, who out of a massive 37,000+ visitors, booked their tickets online and scored the lucky door prize of a $10,000 Kubota zero-turn lawn mower donated by Black Truck & Ag. The 37,000 strong attendance made exhibitors very happy , with many recording their best ever Elders FarmFest in terms of in-event sales and leads to follow up on in the coming weeks
Australian Community Media (ACM), organisers of Elders FarmFest, were also pleased to welcome a number of special guests to celebrate five decades of Queensland’s favorite field day with a number of VIP speeches and cake-cutting ceremony. From celebrities to prominent political leaders, Elders executives and local farmers, the gathering was also attended by previous owners of FarmFest, Gai and Bob Carroll.
As Elders FarmFest successfully grows year-on-year, the future of farming was also on display, with the first Grain Automate Alley featuring the latest technology available to farmers for precision agriculture designed to help reduce costs, increase yields and improve efficiency in a sustainable way.
With something for everyone, the lifestyle pavilion was expanded this year to offer sweet treats, stylish fashion creations, cool gadgets and also a number of educational stalls providing advice on schools, succession planning and support services for farming communities.
With farmers on the hunt for a bargain and a chance to meet Shane Webcke, one of the Brisbane Broncos’ best, an estimated 15,000 people popped by the Farmers’ Finance, Farmbuy and Ag Trader site. And while mum and dad were having a chat with rugby league legend Shane Webcke, the kids didn’t miss out, with 5,000 bags of brightly coloured fairy floss and some one-off autographed Maroons footballs given away.
ACM Agri Events General Manager Craig Chapman said he was blown away by the support for this milestone 50 year event, thanking all those who made it happen, from sponsors, to exhibitors, event staff and volunteers, dignitaries and everyone who attended.
“FarmFest is a success because of the community that have got behind it year after year. It was great to see so many smiling faces, from the very young to some special guests who have been to every FarmFest since it started, this was a chance to celebrate the event’s amazing history but to also show the future of farming is strong and the people who feed us, provide fabric and all the produce Australia and the world needs are at the heart of what makes FarmFest a pleasure to be part of,” Mr Chapman said.
Lisa Hewitt, Elders General Manager for Queensland and The Northern Territory, said this milestone event was not only a celebration of the past, but a powerful look ahead to what will be the future of Australian Agriculture.
“FarmFest continues to be a key event on the agricultural calendar, and Elders is proud to play a leading role in its ongoing success. As we look to the next 50 years, Elders remains committed to supporting rural Australia with trusted advice, quality service, and a strong presence at the events that matter most to our clients and their communities”, Ms Hewitt said.
On the back of the overwhelming success of this 50th Year event, ACM Agri is delighted to confirm the next edition of Elders FarmFest would be held in 2026 at Kingsthorpe from June 2 to June 4.
About ACM
ACM is Australia's largest independent media company collectively reaching over 4 million* regional Australians each month. The ACM network comprises more than 100 brands, including leading regional news brands (The Canberra Times, Newcastle Herald, The Examiner, The Border Mail, The Courier and the Illawarra Mercury).
ACM Agri reaches 78% of Australian farmers each month with a national footprint of agricultural specialist brands (The Land and Queensland Country Life), marketplaces (Farmbuy and Ag Trader) and events (AgQuip and FarmFest).
ACM Events is Australia’s pre-eminent rural and regional professional event management and marketing company, a division of ACM Agri business. Running some of the largest and innovative field days in Australia (AgQuip, FarmFest and AgSmart Connect), ACM Events delivers world class, mass participation experiences that provide significant economic, cultural and social benefits to regional communities. We are passionate about keeping our communities strong, informed and connected.