As the Agfest crowd neared 63,000 on the final field day for 2017, outgoing chairwoman Kate Birch reflected on the two events she has overseen.
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Ms Birch said she hoped to take on the marketing role with Agfest next year, but for now was looking forward to some family time with her partner and daughters.
“My kids are here today so that brings it all home for me. I haven’t seen them all week,” Ms Birch said.
After 15 years volunteering on Rural Youth – two of those as Agfest chairwoman – Ms Birch will take on a new executive role within the organisation next year.
“It’s exciting to be stepping into these roles. In 15 years I’ve seen lots of volunteers move from first timers and I’ve been able to give them advice,” Ms Birch said.
“For me it’s great, but it’s a weird feeling being classed as a mentor,” she said.
In readiness to hand over the chairman mantle, Ms Birch said she would continue to mentor fellow volunteers and stay in the executive committee for the next year or two.
However, she did have some advice for the incoming chairman.
“When you’re chairman as much as you’re working with a committee, you’re also alone with decisions and communicating those through [to others],” Ms Birch said.
“You have to go into [the role] with your eyes wide open and be transparent and honest,” she said.
The final day of Agfest was even busier than the previous two, as often happens on the Saturday of the field days, but Ms Birch still got to have some fun.
“There are lots of things happening on site. I got to drive on the 4WD track – and got stuck in the pit,” she said.
Despite the rain and wind hitting Agfest, thousands of visitors still lined the streets of Quercus Park for the final day.
“On Friday we had 21,585 and on Thursday 16,473. Today we got to 24,729, for a total of 62,787,” Ms Birch said.
“Our total was up up 4502 from 2016. Each day has been at least 2000 up on the same day in previous years,” she said.
Exhibitors and visitors alike were complimentary in their comments about Agfest.
“We’ve had really awesome feedback about the site,” Ms Birch said.
“Many exhibitors are running out of products and visitors have been loving the Agfest specials and weather,” she said.