Merchants and suppliers saw buoyancy in the market this year at the annual Ruralco Instore Days, Ruralco chief executive officer Tony Aitken says.
The two-day event, likened to a mini field days in Ashburton, saw more than 2500 people attend and plenty of interest in the farm related products and services showcased.
“This year’s event has been incredibly positive, with great attendance from our farming community,’’ he said.
“Our focus this year has been on staying local and on strengthening our local connections as part of our ongoing commitment to supporting Mid Canterbury farmers.
“We have certainly achieved that, and it has also been great to see these connections realise sales for ourselves and our merchants and suppliers. It shows some real confidence starting to return to the farming sector and that is great for the whole district,” he said.
“We work hard to focus on what matters most, lowering the cost of farm inputs for our local farmers. We do that by providing great deals and by connecting our members with the products, knowledge and innovations that support their business, helping prepare for the season ahead.”
This year’s Best Exhibitor Site winners reflected that sentiment, he said.
Best Retail Site winner was Skellerup Dairy, promoting their new Thriver teat range while Best Partner Site winner, Resene, chose Instore Days to make a presence in the rural sector to showcase its paint systems designed for dairy sheds.
“It’s wonderful to see our merchants and supplier partners come together to deliver real value for our members and help us create an event that celebrates the importance and innovation of agriculture,” Aitken said.
Ruralco was founded by Mid Canterbury farmers in 1963 who sought to lower input costs for their farming operations and that local ownership and core focus remain just as strong as we look to the future, he said.
