The Innovation competition at the 2010 New Zealand National Agricultural Fieldays has seen backyard inventions emerge from the farm shed.

Over two categories, 56 submissions entered the competition, all with the premise of winning the coveted Golden Standard award. The types of inventions in the competition varied from a biodegradable possum baiting station to a multi-task sprayer. The judges were astounded with the impressive array of innovations.

The Golden Standard Award was won with the highly praised invention, the Maxi-trak Quatro invented by the talented Kalvin Singh. Being named as the Invention of the Year, the judges felt the Maxi-trak Quatro will gain major traction in New Zealand and overseas. Its novel approach achieves the transfer of weight to the front axles, thereby increasing operational efficiency.

The Equipment category Entry of the Year was awarded to the Gallagher Group Ltd with the SmartFence, an all in one portable electric fence system.

The Young Inventor of the Year was narrowly won with the Adjustable Drenching Race by Rupert Barton. The modified drenching race is width adjustable to accommodate drenching of various sized stock.

The Premier Feature (Innovation for Future Profit) Award was awarded to Simon Priest with his Soft Rider Bin Trailer.

The James & Wells Award was rewarded to FTEK Ltd for their Tek-Lift 3.0 Horticulture Lift.

The Merit Award for the Equipment Category was won by TrackGrip Ltd with their self titled invention TrackGrip.

The Merit Award for the Inventions category went to Ian Adams for his Hand Held Grafting Shears.

Guest speakers at the ceremony discussed the reputation of New Zealand being an innovative country and the need to keep inventing for a strong robust future. Ceri Wells pointed out, “Our economic prosperity depends on us delivering and developing new and better products and services.”