The global health pandemic that is COVID-19 has claimed yet another event for the year, with the committee of the Australian National Field Days announcing it will not proceed in October.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Thousands of people from across western NSW converge on Borenore each year to attend the three day event.
It was established in 1952 and is the oldest annual agricultural exhibition in the country.
The decision to cancel was made by the ANFD committee on July 15 and chairman Sam Connell said it was a challenging meeting for them to come to this result.
"We had hoped to be able to run the event but current Public Health Orders state that mass gatherings can only be a maximum number of 500 people seated and restrictions made organising and planning the event very difficult with the ongoing outbreaks," he said.
"We are very mindful about bringing interstate stakeholders and people from hotspots into the local community. It has become apparent that the Field Days will not be able to go ahead in 2020."
ALSO MAKING NEWS: Beloved and successful 200 Bales is paused for now
Mr Connell said without a clear path to the end of this pandemic and the full easing of social restrictions, the obstacles to running a successful event were challenging.
Jayne West, manager of the ANFD said it has been a difficult decision for organisers knowing it would disappoint all the exhibitor, visitors, volunteers, staff, sponsors and community groups who rely on the annual event.
"The Field Days have never been cancelled for a full three days in their 68 years of operation," she said.
"We are devastated for the region and the economic loss it brings to our towns and villages. We thank everyone for their support."
Mrs West said the ANFD is a not for profit organisation and with COVID - 19, and three years of drought, the organisers along with the Association of Agricultural Field Days of Australasia would be lobbying the Government for support to help bring a bigger and better event in 2021.
ALSO MAKING NEWS: Orana region businesses the focus of COVID-19 recovery survey