That was the strategy behind Otago Federated Farmer’s contribution to the federation’s annual national Farm Day on March 13.

Organisers focussed their efforts on introducing urban people from Dunedin City, who may never have been on a farm in their life, to what happens on a real farm.

“We really wanted to focus on Dunedin people who may never have been on a farm before,” said Otago Farm Day co-ordinator Eloise Neeley, a Catlins dry stock farmer.

Mrs Neeley said Telford Farm, now part of Lincoln University, was the ideal venue for a farm day because it offered so many aspects of farming on its sheep and beef, deer, dairy and farm forestry units, all on one 880ha property.

“We couldn’t bring Telford any closer to Dunedin, so we thought we could bring Dunedin a little closer to us,” she said.

“We came up with the idea of putting on free buses and getting people to register for them and that went really well.”

One school group studying what it means to be a New Zealander filled one bus and organisers had to put on a second and third bus to cater for about 130 passengers who registered.

Organisers promoted the Farm Day at the Dunedin Farmers’ Market and encouraged some stallholders to set up their food stalls and wares in Telford’s massive indoor arena.

“We’re really thrilled with how the day has gone,” Mrs Neeley said with about 300 visitors coming and going through the day.

robtipa@clear.net.nz