Alongside the almost eclipsing tractors at Henty Machinery Field Days sit hidden gems selling everything from emu oil to matchmaking services.
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Elsa Ackland of Choppa Chops Gourmet Pet Bakery does a roaring, or barking, trade during field days with her unconventional product.
She said people are normally amazed when they see the biscuits which she makes entirely herself – from drying meat to grinding peanuts into peanut butter.
“When I started no one was making good-class healthy biscuits for dogs with human grade ingredients,” Ms Ackland said.
“People would buy a can of pet food and put it into biscuits.
“With these if a child eats them it won’t hurt them.”
Ms Ackland said when she tells people she’s a baker of gourmet pet biscuits for horses, birds, cats, rabbits and dogs, people tend to amazed and interested.
While matchmaker Sarah Schmidt of County Dating said even in her eighth year at field days, people still tend to either have a bit of a chuckle or run away from her booth.
“I do find really awesome members here, I even met one of my babies who was 10 months old this morning,” she said.
“What we do is serious, finding love, but today is a bit of fun, you ask people if they’re single and you get some silly crazy comments like ‘I wish’ or ‘Only for today, the wife is at home’.”
Amid the dusty avenues and dry grass on site was an unexpected oasis, in the form of Into The Woods Glamping.
Owner Tabitha West said the Albury-Wodonga business’ first field days and an interesting cross-section of people had visited them for a chat.
“Some people don’t know what glamping is, and plenty of others have heard of it but not seen it in person,” she said.
For international circus star Marcela Scheuner, performing the field days is a welcome change.
The Henty born girl moved back home weeks ago, and said the audience was always especially supportive and fun at home.
“When I first started with Fruit Flies I had no idea it could be a full time career, then more and more I realised – this could be my job,” Ms Scheuner said.
“I love it, I only got home a week ago and it’s been so calm and relaxing.
“I’ve performed the last five field days.”
Ms Scheuner, 23, joined the Fruit Flies in 2004, graduating in 2013.
A former tumbler, injury saw Ms Scheuner change to hula-hooping at 13 – which took her across the country and world, including San Diego.
“I’ve performed all my life,” she said.
“But being home is great.”
Digital journalists with The Border Mail.
Digital journalists with The Border Mail.
