FarmFest pulls a crowd for 50th birthday + PICS

Toowoomba Grammar School Year 8 boarders Mitch McMahon, Chinchilla, Hunter Ryrie, Augathella, and Harrison McDonald from the Bunya Mountains.

VISITORS from across southern Queensland and beyond turned out in their thousands for the opening day of FarmFest, which is celebrating its 50th birthday.

Originally held on government-owned land at Wilsonton on Toowoomba’s western edge, the field days since 2004 have operated on the FarmFest site in the farming district of nearby Kingsthorpe.

Representing the diversity of the Darling Downs, it brings together the latest in equipment in technology, livestock, land management and machinery, and is a must on the calendar for visitors from as far afield as New South Wales and Central Queensland.

Among the firsts for FarmFest this year were appearances by the much-anticipate Kia Tasman ute, and grain-grading technology developers Cropify.

At more than 750, FarmFest 2025 has broken the record for exhibitor numbers, with one of the main displays being that of major sponsor Elders.

Its exhibit showcases the services Elders is well-known for as an agency and reseller, and also provides a platform for developing start-ups and industry-good functions such as the AgForce Education Roadshow.

“We were invited to be part of the Elders exhibit, and it’s given us a great chance to introduce ourselves to the northern market,” Cropify chief executive officer Anna Falkiner said.

FarmFest turns 50 this year.

Cropify chief executive officer Anna Falkiner and chief operations officer Andrew Hannon from Adelaide exhibited for the first time at FarmFest as guests of Elders.

Rochelle South and Clemens Waetjen, Yarramalong with Brookstead father and son David and Benno Gruhl.

Clifton State High School students Lily Hinz and Lucy Kennard.

Strathgyle Brafords principal Winston McNamara, Bell, and Peter Rauchle, Irongate.

Dexter cattle breeder Kathy Baker, Mt Molar, and Nadudana cattle breeder Letisha Johnson, Boonah, exhibiting at FarmFest as part of the Rare Breeds Trust of Australia which also had Shropshire, English Leicester, and Damara sheep on display.

Zac Souter of Geelong shows off the Kia Tasman to Bauple visitors George and Stella Jovanovic.

Glenesk Farming principal Derryck Mickelborough with farm manager Michael Sheehan and Canadian hand Nolin Hoodicoff, British Columbia.

Bendigo Bank’s Louise Freytag, Kathryn Davies, Helen Connick and Sean Doyle with Matt Linton and Ben Trollope of Gold Coast-based company Fly the Farm.