Posted: 18th May 2019

Posted in: News

NORCO Primex has moved into a new era with this year’s expo marked down in ‘one of the best ever’ categories.

Director Bruce Wright described today’s final day massive crowd as close to the biggest in the event’s 35-year history.

The event is closing in on some record milestones.

Crowd numbers were still be assessed late today, but are expected to surpass the predicted 25,000-mark for the three days.

The number of exhibitors edged past 380, an 18% increase on last year’s 320 and Wright is already predicting next year’s event to break the current record of 420, set more than a decade ago.

“The visitors and exhibitors have seen the changes we have made and they are liking it,” he said.

“This is truly a watershed year across so many aspects of Primex. The women-in-business breakfast we held on Friday was an incredible success. Expect to see more and bigger events like this.

“The Livestock Essentials Congress proved that Primex is at the forefront of gaining and delivering information and education to the thousands of  primary producers who we service.

“The Paddock to Plate was the major hit that we thought it would be.

“Across the site the feedback I continually received from exhibitors that I have known for a long time was that visitors liked the wider appeal that Primex now delivers. The customer experience has improved a lot.”

Wright said the success of Norco Primex 2019 was encapsulated in the premier exhibitor award, the Alf Fletcher Memorial Shield – Spirit of Primex Award.

This shield is awarded to the exhibitor whose display best exemplifies what Primex is all about.

This year it was awarded to the Ongmac Trading exhibit, who sell farm machinery and have been associated with Primex for about 20 years.

“Ongmac provide a professional, quality exhibit,” said Wright.

“Their customer service is first class and their advice and equipment is extremely relevant to the people coming to buy.”

Dean March, who owns the Lismore-based Ongmac Trading with brother Shane, said he was honoured to win the prestigious Primex award.

“We invest a lot of money in our Primex display because it brings results,” he said.

“We recently signed off on a five-year deal with Primex, which included the construction of a ($30,000) shed on one of our three Primex sites. We have a lot of confidence in the future of this event.”

Norco Primex 2019 Exhibitor awards:

Best Agribusiness Outdoor site   – Days Machinery;

Best Agribusiness Indoor site      – Flow Hive;

Best Paddock to Plate site – Our Cow;

Best Automotive site      – Frizelles Sunshine;

Earle Bulmer Memorial Shield (Best Presentation of Beef Breed/Stud site ) –          Little Valley Braford Stud;

Alf Fletcher Memorial Shield, Spirit of Primex (Supreme Site award) – Ongmac Trading.

Caption: The Ongmac team from left, Bruce Wright (Primex director), Dean and Shane Marsh (Ongmac owners), Rob Johnstone and Brendan Disson.