By KATRINA BRANDON
THE Thorpdale Potato Festival again brought tens of thousands of people to the region to celebrate the humble spud.
Last Sunday’s biannual event welcomed people from far and wide, hitting the grounds of the Thorpdale Recreation Reserve.
More than 100 events and stalls were available throughout the day, with multiple staging areas keeping people entertained, with the most popular event being the juniors and amateur spud-picking competitions.
The heat didn’t slow people down, as thousands rolled in to try and catch bags of potato chips dropped from the sky.
Other events included working dog demos and professional wood chop, which worked well for attendees as they could glance over the available businesses circling the area.
Up above wasn’t just for the chip drop, but also helicopter rides for families to enjoy the sites and heights of the Thorpdale area.
Chainsaw wood carving, motorbike shows, children’s activities organised by local scouts and Country Fire Authority (CFA) demonstrations added to the occasion. Mirboo North CFA demonstrated how they secured people out of vehicles after road incidents, which was a crowd pleaser.
Around the outer ring of the festival were keen businesses selling food, farming products (including drones and tractors), local produce and festival goods. Inside the oval was three stages for a host of potato-related events, shearing and music.
An industry tent featured Grand Ridge Organics, Peppermint Ridge Farm, Eimear McNeils, and Mirboo North’s Jacican.
The on-farm, rural, and city folk who attended the day evenly enjoyed the different aspects, having a go and watching demonstrations and events despite the 35 degree heat.
One staged event that most people enjoyed was ‘Hessian on the Field’ fashion show, in which contestants showcased their sewing skills by creating clothes from potato bags.
A highlight was the committee-ran competition for local schools in the area to create a cover for this year’s souvenir program.
