10 June 2024

 Viral Artists People of New Zealand: Fieldays Edition

Caricatures of Fieldays stereotypes have been encapsulated by viral artist Sam Moore, of Ugly Ink just in time for the June event kicking off Wednesday this week.

The amusing illustrations have been done in his recognisable style that you’re bound to have come across on social media over the past few years.

But it’s his recent ‘People of Fieldays’ editions that have us ready to roll out the red or should we say green carpet for somewhat hungover sales executive Tom, nose-at-the gate Reece, list checker Becky and old timer Gerry.

With more than 100,000 followers on his Instagram @ugly_ink, Sam’s illustrations of Kiwi personas have gone viral more than a few times.

This time his Fieldays mates are gearing up to make the trip to Mystery Creek and we heard there’s no shortage of things to buy, see, do and eat with something on offer for everyone.

Take Reece, he’s taking a day off the farm and getting up at 3am to drive to the Waikato. He doesn't need much sleep though; when he's not tending to the girls, he can be found in the shed replacing a spring, or a suspension bush on the trusty rusty 4x4.

Come Wednesday, you can bet he's nose-at-the gate from 6am, he knows to the millimetre the distance from Food Court 3 to the Tractor Pull and then few wiry strides to the Little George pop up bar. At the end of the day, his ute is one of the last to leave to the carpark – but its ok, he used to park these paddocks as a Young Farmer, and he knows a shortcut. 

Fieldays Instagram: Fieldays | NZ Young Farmer Reece doesn't need much sleep; when he's not tending to the girls, he can be found in the shed replacing a spring or a… | Instagram

Then there is Sales Executive Tom, he will be slinking through the Fieldays gate a little after 9am, despite promising his boss he would be ready to roll at 7am. He’s slightly hungover but knows it will only take a coffee or 5 to be back on his game. 

He will have sledged his sales targets so will have plenty of time press the flesh and fill the funnel for the next quarter.

Fieldays Instagram: Fieldays | Sales Executive Tom, can be seen slinking through the Fieldays gate a little after 9am, despite promising his boss he would be ready to… | Instagram

Gerry, the self-proclaimed expert on everything Fieldays, having attended religiously for over 50 years, yup he will be back.

Gerry loves a good yarn and sharing memories about the good ol' days. He might not be fast on his feet but is quick to lose the wife should she clock his nutritional choices.

He gets a four-day ticket so he can take his time, lean on the odd piece of equipment and bend the ear of the salesman about how in his day there wasn’t much that couldn't be kicked into gear, or fixed with a 2inch socket wrench.  

Fieldays Instagram: Fieldays | Gerry is a self-proclaimed expert on everything Fieldays, having attended religiously for over 50 years. Gerry loves a good yarn and… | Instagram

Lastly, there is Becky. Becky never misses Fieldays, you’ll see her layered and ready, she knows you need multiple socks and gel heel pads to make the day. 

She purposefully adds things to her checklist just so she can cross them off. Her girl boss voice only becomes slightly strained when taking a call from the branch to say the delivery driver with the exhibition equipment is stuck at inductions having not texted Safety to 549 like she told him!

Fieldays Instagram:  Fieldays | Becky never misses Fieldays, you’ll see her layered and ready, she knows you need multiple socks and gel heel pads to last the day. She… | Instagram

“Fieldays has long been a breeding ground for the development of rural stereotypes. Although we usually say that it is, in fact, a really diverse audience that attends, these caricatures are such a fun and jovial representation of people who come through the gates”, said Taryn Storey, Head of Customer and Strategic Engagement.   

“Several years ago, mullets had just been made popular again; we had an influx of visitors sporting mullets, so much so that we had mullets of Fieldays that went viral”.

Take a look at the ‘People of Fieldays’ series on Facebook and Instagram