Agfest to move from paddock to cloud

For the first time in the field days’ 37-year history, leading Tasmanian rural event, Agfest, was called off earlier in March due to COVID-19 restrictions, but that doesn’t mean the show isn’t going on.

The show was originally scheduled to take place this week from May 7 to 9 at the Quercus Rural Youth Park in Carrick, Tasmania, but organisers have instead moved the entire event online so the community can still shop for goods from the safety of their own homes.

Agfest organiser - Rural Youth Organisation of Tasmania, has partnered up with the Tasmanian Government as well as several local design and project management companies to launch an online platform that it said will enable up to 1000 companies to promote Agfest specials.

In addition, Agfest 2020 will run online for three weeks, from May 7 to 28, instead of the traditional three days on the ground.

According to organisers, visitors can expect plenty of deals to be offered on a wide range of products online – from tractors to swimming pools; and from chemicals to lawn mowers.

Agfest Chairman, Ethan Williams, said the project is a huge undertaking and hopes the move online would make a difference to local businesses and the Tasmanian economy.

“Rural Youth and the Agfest Committee are ever so grateful to the Tasmanian Government for recognising the importance of this innovative idea and providing a much-needed grant to enable us to design, develop, promote and manage this project,” he said.

“We know many of our highly-valued exhibitors had already purchased stock, booked accommodation and flights, engaged extra staff and spent considerable money on signage and design for their stands. And many of these companies heavily rely on revenue from the event as they head into the quieter winter months.

“Rural Youth and Agfest have been so appreciative of the high levels of support and understanding demonstrated by our exhibitors, sponsors, contractors and suppliers in light of the cancellation so we are delighted that we can now develop this platform to generate sales and economic activity to support them.”

Rural Youth State President, Jake Williams, further encouraged Agfest exhibitors to utilise the online platform to promote their items, as well as all Tasmanians to jump online from May 7 to “shop their hearts out”.

“This is a great opportunity to buy local and support our businesses so that they can continue to employ our community members and be in the best possible position post COVID-19,” he said.