Ms Bayles said that marking out of the 760 stall sites started about March20, with erection of the first of hundreds of marquees starting on April1.

"After Anzac Day, the presence of Agfest committee members will build up until there are about 100 people on site - Rural Youth members won't leave until about three days after Agfest closes," Ms Bayles said.

She said that much of her work as chairwoman came easier in this, her second year in the job.

"Quite a lot is the same as last year and having done it once certainly helps, but there are always different problems along the way," she said.

Ms Bayles said the Agfest committee was committed to continual improvement and feedback from exhibitors and patrons was a valuable resource.

All ideas were discussed and many implemented. Feedback was welcome any time and an online feedback form was available, she said.

Tasmanian Rural Youth was originally administered by an officer from the Department of Agriculture and later operated with a part-time secretary on a modest grant of $14,000 from the department before budgetary cuts in the early 1980s saw funding stop.

A committee of 30 past and present Rural Youth members was formed and the first Agfest was held in May, 1983, at Symmons Plains.

The first event, held over two days, attracted 111 exhibitors and 9000 patrons.

Agfest became a three- day event the following year and had outgrown the Symmons Plains site by 1986.

The organisation bought a 50-hectare block at Oaks and it has been the expo's home since it first hosted the event in 1987.

FAST FACTS

WHAT: Annual Agfest field days.

WHERE: Quercus Park, Oaks Road.

WHEN: Thursday, May 1, to Saturday, May 3, 8am to 5pm.

WHO: Tasmanian Rural Youth.

HOW MUCH: Adults, $15; children 5-15, $5; under 5, free.