Time is running out for those with a creative flair who want to enter two of Fielday's most popular competitions.

The closing date for entries for both the 2012 Fieldays Innovation Competition and the 2012 Ag Art Wear Competition is May 16.

Ag Art Wear, a competition and sub-event at NZ National Agricultural Fieldays challenges designers to create ‘wearable art' garments from materials found or used on farms or the land. The categories this year are Avant Garde, Avant Garde under 21, Designer Traditional and Landcare Awareness.
In the innovation competition participants can enter one of two categories, invention or equipment. The invention section attracts rural innovations which are not commercially produced but demonstrate ingenious ideas to aid farming processes.

The equipment section invites professionals and businesses to showcase new or improved rural products. Innovations can already be on the market for up to six months before Fieldays, with businesses treating the innovation competition as a platform to firmly launch their product to the industry.

For those new to the competition, The Next Step evening, sponsored by Dairy Automation Limited, provides insight for first time entrants. The forum, held by experienced business leaders, addresses start up challenges often faced by entrepreneurs.

'Competitors not only enter for the substantial prizes but also because they have the ability to gauge public perception, gain media coverage and receive invaluable advice from industry professionals,” says event coordinator Adam Reinsfield.

Interested candidates in AgArt and Innovation competitions are urged to enter on the Fieldays website www.fieldays.co.nz. All entries are kept confidential until they are unveiled on the first day of Fieldays, June 13, 2012.