While Fieldays is synonymous with the atmosphere of crowds and exhibitors, there’s a vital force of volunteers who work closely behind the scenes with the wider event team to ensure the event runs smoothly during the annual four-day event.

Last year, 151 volunteers contributed their time to Fieldays – and the New Zealand National Fieldays Society is looking for a number of new volunteers to join their returnees for this year’s event, to be held on June 10-13 at Mystery Creek.

Fieldays’ people and culture executive Beth Jobin said as valued volunteers relocate or step back after years of dedicated service, they must invite the next generation to come on board. “Our volunteers are the reason we have reached 58 years,” Jobin said.

“Their commitment and passion are what keep the tradition alive. Every year, we look for new faces to join us and become part of something truly special.”

Meeting people

Retired seed industry specialist Peter Fisher has volunteered for seven years. He began volunteering in 2018 at the 50th-anniversary Fieldays event, helping in the New Zealand International Business Centre, and now supports the mobility parking space.

“I had always enjoyed coming to Fieldays during my working life and wondered what it would be like to volunteer. I had good knowledge in the seed industry and an interest in agriculture and felt I could add value,” Fisher said.

“I enjoyed meeting many people from across the world, all coming to Fieldays at the bottom of the world to do business.”

Fisher said he loved working with a great group of people. “Volunteering is a good, social thing to do, enabling you to give back to the community. You make lifelong friends.”

Team unity

Anita van Beek’s connection with Fieldays began in the early 2000s when she was a carpark attendant with New Zealand Young Farmers.

It wasn’t until 2014 that she officially signed up to become a volunteer with the society, volunteering for the full four days. “Those first few years were full-on, helping in the Site Services team. I would start on Gate 2, welcoming exhibitors, then move on to deliveries, then helping with the vintage tractor parades, and then either roaming or area-specific exhibitor assistant, and of course, afternoon traffic management,” van Beek said.

Over the past 12 years Anita van Beek has filled several roles including last year driving the visitor shuttle. Photo / Supplied

In the past 12 years, she had filled several roles, last year driving the visitor shuttle. “I enjoyed chatting with people, asking about their plans for the day or how their day had been so far.”

What van Beek loved most was the sense of team unity, whether it’s with familiar faces or new ones. “It’s incredibly satisfying to be part of something so dynamic and to interact with such a wide variety of people, whether that’s team members, exhibitors, or visitors,” she said.

“Mostly I love the spirit and atmosphere around the site.”

Rookie winner

Keith Flockhart became a volunteer in 2024 and last year won the society’s Volunteer Rookie of the Year Award. “Winning this award was an unexpected honour,” Flockhart said.

After learning that the society relies on volunteers, he joined and has helped with pre-Fieldays signage installation, as well as woolly nightshade weed control throughout the year, he said.

Keith Flockhart became a volunteer in 2024 and last year won the New Zealand National Fieldays Society’s Volunteer Rookie of the Year. Photo / Supplied

The roles the society is looking to fill this year included event support, ticketing, hosting, administration, customer engagement, parking and more.

“Volunteers are integral to the society as a charitable organisation, and to Fieldays, supporting all aspects of the event operations and driving its core mission of advancing agriculture in New Zealand,” Jobin said.

Fieldays welcomes volunteers with all backgrounds and experience levels, as training and support are provided. Applications are open and close March 27. To learn more at: visit www.nznfs.co.nz/working-with-us/volunteering.