Event manager Joanna Taylor said the road show programme gave pupils hands-on experience in the routines of running a farm and was aimed at recruiting more young people into rural jobs.
Small groups of pupils were "buddied up'' with mentors working in the agricultural and horticultural industries, and were shown that farming was more than just mud and gumboots.
Careers and activities showcased during the six-hour programme included research science with AgResearch, farming with sheep and beef, rural banking, shearing and the wool industry, fertiliser consultancy, and electronic identification and recording data with beef.
While the thought of chasing stock around boggy paddocks was a turn-off for many city-based pupils, Taieri College pupil and self-confessed "townie'' Alex Keith (14) said he had gone out of his way to be at the field day.
He biked 10km from his house in Mosgiel to the event at Invermay's run-off property at Whare Flat. The ride would have been shorter had there not been confusion about where the event was being held, he said.
"The idea of being up to my armpits in [mud] appeals to me.
"Today is a great opportunity to see the inner workings of a farm. It's not just about chasing sheep around a paddock, it's about stock genetics, types of fertiliser, sprays and drenches - stuff that most people don't think about.''
Mrs Taylor said a highlight was the Agriteens contest run by New Zealand Young Farmers in which teams of pupils pitted themselves against each other in a series of practical tasks such as erecting electric fences and setting up calf feeders.
The event was designed to give pupils an idea of what it was like to compete in the National Bank Young Farmer Contest.
Mrs Taylor said the road show would now move to Nelson on its 13-show nationwide tour.
