Exhibitors gave the field days the thumbs up, saying that inquiry and sales at the venue were the best they have experienced and most have rebooked sites for the next field days at the Walkamin site in 2011.

Secretary of the FNQ Field Days Committee Colin Masservy said he was extremely pleased with the running of the event even though there would be things that needed to be changed for 2011.

"There are always some things that can be done better, but overall I am very pleased with the result," Mr Messervy said.

He said this was the first time every site was taken and there had been a waiting list of exhibitors in case of cancellations.

Machinery and equipment companies did great business, possibly on the back of the Federal Government's promised 30 percent tax rebate on capital equipment.

Tableland Honda got off to a flying start, selling four ATV motorbikes within three hours of the opening of the first day, and cattle equipment exhibitors and truck sales companies were reporting extremely positive results.

Daniel Hoare, Aus Steel Building Systems, said he was surprised by the amount of interest he received in farm and machinery sheds and it seemed people were becoming more conscious of protecting their gutters, with Aus Sheds Fair Dinkum gutter protector sales very strong.

With grazing practices changing to where most properties mixing their own custom feed mixes, Howard Australia found there was a lot of interest in 14.4cu m Jay Lor fodder mixer and hoped to finalise several sales from the field days.

The record crowds were also treated to a creative display of ice carving by veteran ice carver Tony Hermann from NQ Iceart. Using a chainsaw, Tony carved horses, birds and Eiffel Towers out of 45kg square blocks of ice in a matter of minutes.

With so many positive reports coming from exhibitors and enquiries from companies across Australia, the 2009 Rabobank FNQ Rotary Field Days is now regarded as a permanent feature on the field days calendar.

*More pictures in this week’s North Queensland Register, out Thursday.