AgQuip 2025, sponsored by AgTrader, kicks off tomorrow so you better get cracking if you want to secure your discounted tickets with an exciting line up of new events, demonstrations, education sessions and the Tractor Games whipping up what could be a record breaking crowd of visitors.
It’s guaranteed to be a family affair for both exhibitors and visitors, no more so than for Gunnedah locals Steve and Narelle Wicks, who will be joined by their children and grandchildren for a whip-cracking display rarely seen in Australia. The Wicks, across three generations, compete in whipcracking competitions from the Pee Wee’s, Juvenile, Junior, Ladies, Men’s & Over 45’s divisions.
Steve Wicks is a six-time consecutive Over 45’s Australian Whipcracking Champion. His son Daniel is an 18 time Australian Whipcracking Champion, while daughters, Brooke Wicks, who lives in Middlemount Queensland, has had national success in whipcracking as well with 8 Australian titles, and the Wicks’ other daughter Katie Sozou who lives in Tamworth is also an Australian Whipcracking Champion.
Steve said whipcracking has been a part of the Wicks family for over 28 years and now their grandchildren are showing their skills in whipcracking, and also a uniquely Australian event, billy boiling, where competitors race to get their water boiling with just some matches, kindling and their billy.
“While whipcracking is a family affair, when Daniel and I are not whipcracking, we are testing our skills at billy boiling, we’ve even gone head to head in finals and now the girls of the Wicks family are also lighting their fires in billy boiling competitions”, Mr Wicks said.
And for those interested in a cracking career in agriculture, but not sure where to start? The University of New England (UNE) is proud to be AgQuip’s official education partner in 2025 and is holding dynamic panel sessions on each day of the event to support school studentsand others looking for a pathway into this enormously diverse sector.
The sessions will feature leading academics and researchers from across a range of fields, including livestock genetics, soil science, pest management, natural resources and law. UNE’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Chris Moran said the panels are specially designed for secondary school students and their parents, the sessions are also open to anyone considering a career change.
“As part of AgQuip’s living showcase of agricultural careers, UNE will be on hand to help people understand both the breadth of career options, and potential pathways into their preferred career.
“Tuesday’s panel session will give visitors insights into diversity of agriculture-related careers, Wednesday will look at agricultural and environmental stewardship, and Thursday’s session will cover emerging technologies and transition and succession planning,” Professor Moran said.
Events will be held at 11am at the UNE Event Shed at M-N|40 so visitors are invited to come along to discover how this partnership is connecting the next generation to agriculture’s exciting future.
Get ready, the adrenaline is building for the debut of the all-new Tractor Games! For the first time ever, this high-octane event hits full throttle with three daily live shows at 10:30am, 12:30pm, and 2:30pm, powered by the mighty machines of Case IH, New Holland, and John Deere.
The games will see presenters take on supersized versions of Ten Pin Bowling, Lawn Bowls, and Kickin’ Goals, where driver skill meets pure luck in a battle for points and bragging rights.
But this isn’t just about the scoreboard, it’s an up close spectacle where you’ll feel the rumble, hear the roar, and witness tractors like you’ve never seen them before. General Manager of ACM Agri Events Craig Chapman said the addition of new features at AgQuip 2025, including the “Local to the Plains” area, could see attendance records broken at the Gunnedah site this year.
“The success of AgQuip year on year is not just because of our wonderful sponsors like AgTrader and Kia Australia who are supporting the first Tractor Games, it’s all the exhibitors, the education partner like UNE, local home based businesses selling their amazing creations, and most of all the visitors who come every year - or for some, this may be their first visit. It’s going to be a bumper year for everyone that’s for sure,” Mr Chapman said.
Proudly supported by Euro Auctions, the search for the Young Auctioneer of AgQuip will be on with 10 finals places up for grabs in the live auction duel to be the best auctioneer on the day.
Euro Auctions Sales and Operations Manager Craig Jarvis said each finalist will conduct an auction for bidders to take home a number of charity fundraising items, and while it’s all for a good cause, the winner could be well on their way to a fantastic career.
“A great auctioneer combines a number of key skills, they need clarity, pace, engagement, technique and of course product knowledge of what they’re selling. While the items they are auctioning are going to charity, a future career at Euro Auctions could see them selling agricultural machinery with price tags in the tens of millions,” Mr Jarvis said.
Discounted tickets are available online saving $5 off the gate price while it’s also time to plot your day on the new “Map Your Show” planner so you don’t miss key exhibitors, demonstrations, information sessions, and the best in Ag machinery and tech.
Start with creating a free account, earmark must-see exhibitors & demos, save brochures, photos & resources plus get your own GPS-enabled personalised map that leads you straight to your earmarked exhibitors and demos across the AgQuip grid—no more getting lost! Go to https://aq25.mobile.mapyourshow.com/ or download with the QR code below and get ready for a smarter, smoother, and seriously efficient AgQuip adventure!
For tickets, event information and to access the “Map Your Show” planner, you can also head to https://acmruralevents.com.au/agquip/home.
Finally, to celebrate AgQuip, patrons are encouraged to sign up to the AgTrader newsletter by 21 August 2025 for their chance to take home a Waratah Thumpa Pneumatic Star Post Driver valued at $2,800. Built tough and designed for efficiency, the Thumpa makes post driving faster, easier, and safer, saving you time and effort on the job. All you need to do to be in the running to win is sign up for the AgTrader newsletter-https://forms.gle/WjuGG8AeAWoNhLt3A.
Competition closes 21st August 2025 *T&Cs apply