The sun was shining and car parks were full as thousands flocked to the opening day of the agricultural-based event, held every two years, near Gore.
From handmade soap and woollen socks to mismatched shoes and tractors worth more than quarter of a million dollars, there was something for all budgets.
Otago Farm Machinery and Southland Farm Machinery had cleaned out showrooms in Mosgiel, Cromwell, Gore and Invercargill, the stock all destined for their combined site.
Tractors and an assortment of other machinery arrived over the past 10 days, resulting in an extensive display worth ‘‘a few million dollars'', Grant Chalmers, from Southland Farm Machinery, said.
Despite difficult times in the farming sector, Daniel Thomson, from Otago Farm Machinery, said he ‘‘certainly wouldn't call it all doom and gloom'' and the mood was reasonably buoyant.
Traditionally, ‘‘a lot'' of tractors were sold at the field days, although he would not reveal figures, and there had been heaps of inquiries, he said.
Alliance Group chairman Murray Taggart, who was greeting shareholders at the co-operative's marquee, said it had been a ‘‘disappointing'' year but farmers he spoke to were understanding.
‘‘I wouldn't say they are happy, but they appreciate there's only so much we can control,'' he said.
There had been quite a bit of communication about why the market was where it was at.
Farmers were obviously disappointed but they understood what was behind it.
An early lamb kill meant there was likely to be a lighter kill at the tail end of the season.
Tightened supply would tend to suggest a ‘‘bit of a lift'' later.
The catch was the timing of that lift was uncertain and it looked as if it would be too late for the bulk of the lamb crop, he said.
Mr Taggart was pleased with progress on what the company could control, such as ‘‘rebuilding the business in a better fashion''.
A group of 10 women on toilet cleaning duty might have not had a particularly glamorous job, but their smiles were wide.
For five of the women, members of the Southland Gold leisure marching team, it was a valuable fundraiser for trips away.
They cleaned about 130 toilets, every hour, and they were relieved the weather was fine.
Last field days, people tracked mud into the toilets - and some forgot to flush, Evelyne Adamson, of Invercargill, said.
Southern Field Days secretary Sharon Paterson, who was looking particularly relaxed, said exhibitor numbers were down from 806 to 768 but the event was 2ha bigger this year.
She was delighted with how things were going - cellphones were working, there were no queues at the gate or at the ticket booths, and what had been planned for two years was ‘‘actually paying dividends''.
While official crowd numbers were not yet known, it was estimated the first day's crowd was similar to 2014, at between 10,000 and 12,000.
A big crowd was expected today, with the Super Rugby clash tonight between the Highlanders and the Crusaders at the adjacent Fred Booth Park.
