TAREE'S hosting of the Grassland Society of New South Wales 24th annual conference has been hailed a huge success, with the state president declaring it "up there with the best by any standards".
Two hundred and ninety two people from across NSW attended the two days of activities centred on Manning Entertainment Centre.
This was about 50 more than originally anticipated, and 60 more than at last year's conference at Tamworth.
"This is not just in my own opinion but from feedback I heard near the end of the conference," NSW president Mick Duncan said afterwards from his home in Armidale.
He said the results were particularly satisfying considering this was the first time in the conference's 24 years that it has been held in a coastal NSW location.
"Conferences traditionally are held in the tablelands and slopes and good conference programs usually attract between 150 and 250 people.
"I thought Taree's program made a very good mix of pasture and property development added to current aspects of climate change and associated issues.
"The field trips were equally well received, not to mention the scenic Manning Valley."
Mr Duncan asked co-ordinator Ray Johnston, the area's dairy livestock officer, to pass on to the organising committee his thanks and congratulations for "one of the best Grassland conferences that I have been involved with."
Mr Johnston said the organising committee had put together an extremely interesting and varied program, with many highlights especially for those "west of the range".
A particular success was the conference dinner held at the function centre at Taree racecourse, where gold medal winning paraOlympian Heath Francis proved a motivating and excellent speaker.
"Heath played some of his gold medal winning performances from Sydney 2000 and again from 2008. It was an absolutely wonderful feeling to hear him speak, and he received a standing ovation," Mr Johnston said.
"A lot of visitors got a real buzz out of seeing what is happening in the agricultural industry in the Manning Valley. The conference served to highlight that we really do have some top farms in our area.
"It happens in a lot of cases that agriculture's importance is overlooked on the coast but we were able to showcase some of the best farms in NSW, including Peter Neal's at Oxley Island and Bungay at Wingham."
They were visited in field days, however many other area properties including some at Gloucester and Hannam Vale were featured in brief 'window' showcases at the conference location.
Mr Johnston was high in his praise for the assistance given by Greater Taree City Council, from mayor Paul Hogan who performed the opening, "right down to all the help they gave in running the event."
While the majority of visitors attending were beef graziers, dairy farmers and croppers, many from the New England, north-west and southern areas of the state, academics and researchers were also among attendees.
"We had a very big mixture from hands-on farmers to researchers and agronomists wanting to update their knowledge.
"New Zealand researcher Jim Gibbs (from Lincoln University) was so impressed with our local Mid Coast Dairy Advancement Group that he has offered to advise and guide them on their local research," Mr Johnston said.
"That is a real gesture of his acknowledgement that we have right here in our area a proactive group which now has international recognition.
"Tammy Farrell, our female speaker on the subject of men's health, was a real treat and sold a number of her new books.
"Overall it all worked well... it was just brilliant and gave a real buzz to all those involved. I think it achieved something worthwhile for the Manning community."
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