Big field, big dreams - now just bring on the big boys.
It may be a field out the back of Gore but come next February it will be the place to be in the South.
And not just for checking out tractors and discussing the gate price.
The Highlanders will take on the Crusaders in a pre-season match on February 11 next year, as part of a promotion involving the southern franchise, Farmlands and Southern Field Days.
The match will be played right across the road from the Southern Field Days site in Waimumu, in a freshly sown paddock.
Highlanders commercial manager Mike Kerr said that the idea had been hatched after the last field days.
''We were standing round a few hay bales and someone said wouldn't it be great if we could play a game here,'' Kerr said.
Mr Booth quickly agreed, everyone else was in support and the plans were put in place for the game.
The field, which has a natural embankment for spectators, has been cultivated and is now flat. The grass was sown and although there has been plenty of rain about lately, it should be looking in great shape by next February.
Field days chairman Logan Evans said it was a great chance for locals to see top-class rugby and he hoped community groups would get involved and do some fundraising around the event.
With 38,500 attending the field days over three days, he hoped a crowd of up to 8000 would attend the match.
The teams will play for the Farmlands Cup, in what is expected to be a regular fixture on the pre-season programme.
The idea is similar to the Hurricanes playing a match in a paddock at Mangatainoka over the past few years.
