The Field Day is a huge event for our small town, and our local eating establishments have risen to the occasion with extended trading hours and special options to help cater for all those coming for a fantastic weekend.

See below for choices:

Balingup Small Farm Field Day Specials

Friday Night Meals 20 April 2018

Packing Shed Café: Pizzas - dine in or take away

Main Street, Balingup

Open til 7:30pm

Mushroom No 61 Café: BSFFD Special - Fish & Chips $15- dine in or take away

Main Street, Balingup

Open til 7:30pm

Taste of Balingup: A range of wholesome meals available- dine in or take away.

Main Street, Balingup Licenced.

Ph: 9764 1344

Open til 8:30pm

Balingup Tavern Rib & Steak House:

Brockman St, Balingup A range of pub food available & full bar facilities.

Kitchen closes at 8:30pm Seating inside and outside.

Ph: 9760 2115 BSFFD Specials -Chicken Parmigiana + pint of beer $25

Fish & Chips + pint of beer $20

Saturday Night Meals 21 April 2018

Balingup Tavern Rib & Steak House:

Brockman St, Balingup A range of pub food available & full bar facilities.

Kitchen closes at 8:30pm Seating inside and outside.

Ph: 9760 2115 BSFFD Specials - Chicken Parmigiana + pint of beer $25

Fish & Chips + pint of beer $20

Shamrock Hotel

Blackwood Road, A range of pub food available & full bar facilities.

Greenbushes Seating inside and outside.

Ph: 9764 3512 Dinner available from 6pm – 8:30pm

This very popular attraction is once again available for kids, with 5 sessions of 45 minutes being held throughout the day.

Registration for these sessions happens on the day at the Kids in the Kitchen tent, so visit them early to ensure your kids have a spot. Numbers are limited to 25 kids per session.

Session 1: 10:00 - 10:45am

Session 2: 11:00 - 11:45am

Session 3: 12:00 - 12:45pm

Session 4: 1:00 - 1:45pm

Session 5: 2:00 - 2:45pm

Children are fully supervised during their session, so parents are encouraged to make use of the time to explore all the Field Day has to offer.

Chef Tracei Taylor from the Shamrock Hotel in Greenbushes will guide the children through the creation of a Bento Boat, a Japanese inspired single meal in a sectioned box. They will create their own Bento with sticky rice, chicken sticks and a crunchy salad - all nut, gluten and dairy free.

Tour Balingup and visit three unique local producers, then finish off with a lunch made from fresh produce sourced from the participating farms at Jalbrook Estate. This is a great opportunity to immerse yourself in another aspect of what makes Balingup so special. Rokewood Olive Grove, Southampton Homestead & Farm and Bossy Boots Organic Farm are excellent examples of 'small farms with big ideas'.

The fresh produce from these farms will then be created into a culinary feast by Lynley from Lady Marmalade. If you follow Lady Marmalade on Instagram or FB then you know you will be in for a treat for both the eyes and the belly... Lynley's presentation is impeccable.

Sunday the 22 April, a fully air conditioned coach bus, provided by Royal Gala Tours, will depart at 8am sharp. The local growers will be your guides at the three farms. Lunch will be served in the exquisite grounds of Jalbrook Estate, allowing you to truly enjoy the farm to table experience.

To book a place, please phone the Balingup Visitors Centre on 9764 1818 or visit balinguptourism.com.au

BIG tip: to help organise your time at the carnivale head straight to the tent and book an available session. Bookings are essential and time slots book up fast.

Kids in the Kitchen has become a favourite with children and a positive option for parents to leave their children under quality supervision while they tick of some of their 'must see' at the field day.

The Balingup Small Farm Field Day have been priviledged to have some exceptional local chefs devote their time to teach children some fun and nutrious meals to prepare and sample.

There are four three quarter of an hour sessions available:

Session 1 - 10 to 10.45. Session 2 - 10 to 10.45.

Session 3 - 12 to 1.45. Session 4 - 1 to 1.45.

Stay tuned for an update this year's chef and what they'll be preparing.

Watching Andrew Gorton direct his working yard dogs around a flock of sheep is a highlight of the Balingup Small Farm Field Day and a must see.

Andrew and Wendy Gorton are breeders of high quality working dogs. Their aim is to breed dogs with exceptional temperaments and great work ethics for both yard and paddock.

Their breeding program is centered on breeding dogs with the natural ability to cast, cover and hold stock but above all else they work very hard on breeding dogs with the right temperament for the the job.

Their Kelpie line is based predominately on Ramulam bloodlines going right back to some great Karrawarra dogs. When selecting dog's for breeding they always try to choose dogs that will complement each others strengths. Andrew doesn't believe in compensatory mating's, for if one or both of the dogs have faults thast he believes require correction, perhaps they should not be used for breeding in the first place.

Andrew was very lucky that his first Border Collie was an exceptional bitch from the stable of Tony Boyle. A very natural, big casting, strong heading bitch. She has bred on very well, producing pups that would be equally at home on 3 sheep at a trial or 1000 sheep on the farm. A true utility line that is as good in the yards as they are in the paddock. Andrew also believes when selecting Border Collies for practical farm work that you should be choosing dogs that are short coated with plenty of pigment around the eyes and nose.

Andrew and Wendy Gorton are located in the Boyup Brook shire and can be contacted on:

0428 283 057 or email wellingtonwd@bigpond.com