Charlie Webb’s Back Up Charlie flexible sheep movement system has won the Machine of the Year Award at this week’s Henty Machinery Field Days, making it a top attraction for the 60,000 visitors expected to walk through the gates.
About 850 exhibitors converged on the 105-hectare site for the event’s 40th anniversary. They were showing every imaginable piece of farm equipment, as well as giving glimpses of some new technology that will be available in the future.
With the prediction of less than favourable weather on its way a massive crowd filed through the gates on day one eager to take advantage of a window of fine weather.
Food and beverage outlets were run off their feet all day and there was even a helicopter service offering joy flights to those who wanted to get a more spectacular view of the site and surrounding countryside from the sky.
Always attracting plenty of interest is the presentation of the Henty Machine of the Year Award. It is judged by an independent panel of primary producers and, like last year’s Flatrac wheel track renovator, the winner goes on to become a standard piece of equipment on farms.
Back Up Charlie consists of a forcing yard leading into an adjustable dual race system for the movement of sheep into sheep handlers, crutching plants or scanning machines.
The key to its effective and humane operation are the lightweight hock bars in each race which allow constant forward movement but prevent the sheep from backing out.
Urana producer Charlie Webb said he designed the machine to reduce fatigue and increase labour efficiency on his own property, Lakeside.
Second place, with high commendation, went to the Miller Nitro 6365 self-propelled sprayer with Spray-Air technology. The Spray-Air boom combines the benefits of air assist and anatomisation into one spray nozzle system.
It is claimed that the new model is up to 30 percent more fuel efficient than similar sized machines.
Of particular interest was the new 5500 air-drill launched by NSW tillage and seeding equipment manufacturer Flexi-Coil. Available in 60, 70 and 80-foot widths the Flexi-Coil 5500’s new folding system allows it to fold down to a width of just 18 feet for transport.
Overall, exhibitors and dealers told TradeFarmMachinery.com.au that they’d experienced strong buyer interest, with many claiming better-than-expected sales from day one.