A beloved Eastern Bay tradition is gearing up for another big year, as preparations begin for the 2026 “Farming Like Grandad” country fair, an event born nearly a decade ago from the Waterwheel Historic Trust’s mission to preserve the region’s disappearing industrial and rural heritage.

What started in 2017 as a fundraising idea between trust co‑chairs Stephanie Johnson and John Galbraith, and Clydesdale owner Glen Sutton, has since grown into one of the area’s most anticipated family events, celebrating the skills, machinery and way of life that shaped early settler farming communities.

“Trust members, with like-minded organisations, were supplied land to hold the event by local farmer Mike Van Beek,” says Stephanie.

After successful events from 2017-2020, a 2021 Covid cancellation and a January 2022 flood cancellation, the event was moved to the Easter school holidays at the racecourse on Grieve Rd, Te Teko.

It will be held again at the racecourse on Saturday, April 18, from 10am to 4pm.

The vintage machinery is always fascinating to young and old. Photo / Waverley Klein Ovink

Visitors will be treated to an extensive display of vintage tractors, cars and machinery and their enthusiastic owners who have lovingly restored them to working order. Modern machinery will be on hand for comparison.

To showcase the skills of the past, there will be craft stalls and demonstrations with hands-on activities.

The axemen and women competition highlights how fit our forebears were to achieve what we take for granted, manually cutting wood for building and fires.

The sheep shearers demonstrate their skills using a 100-year-old shearing plant.

“For the children, we have pumpkin lantern, potato figure and sand art competitions, an animal petting area, a gymkhana and old-style kids’ games and races,” says Stephanie.

The vintage wagon rides with Bruce Fowler and his Clydesdales are always popular. Photo / Waverley Klein Ovink

The Clydesdales, the gentle giants that worked tirelessly in the fields during the early settler days, are always popular and give rides in the vintage wagons from the Waterwheel Historic Trust’s collection.

“We aim to have something to interest everyone. There’s a produce competition, Best Dressed Scarecrow competition, Steam Punk displays, line dancing, live music and food trucks.”

In true country fair style, the Whakatāne Scottish Pipe Band will lead the Grand Parade.

A line-up of vintage tractors. Photo / Waverley Klein Ovink

“We rely heavily on volunteers to make Farming Like Grandad happen,” says Stephanie. “Volunteers man the gates, direct parking and traffic management.

“It’s a big effort bringing this event together, but it’s worth it seeing the enjoyment and interest it offers. It also raises much-needed funds for the Waterwheel Historic Trust so we can continue saving and restoring vintage machinery and objects to preserve our rural history.”