Picture the busiest four days on the rural calendar. Thousands of farmers, suppliers and industry partners walking the grounds at Mystery Creek, spoilt for choice on where to stop. This year, more than 3,200 of them chose to stop at AFFCO. And at the end of it, AFFCO took home Best Outdoor Site (Large – 300m²+) at Fieldays 2026. The best part? It was AFFCO’s first time entering the category.
Here’s how the right Fieldays site design turned a first-time entry into an award-winning stand, and what it takes to build an event site that stops traffic and works hard for your business.
AFFCO’s Fieldays Site Won Best Outdoor Site in Its First Year
Entering the Best Outdoor Site category for the first time is a bold move at New Zealand’s largest rural event. It puts your stand up against some of the most established brands and biggest builds at Fieldays. AFFCO backed itself, and the judges agreed.
Over four days, more than 3,200 visitors came through the AFFCO hospitality tent, making it AFFCO’s biggest and most successful Fieldays yet.
Why Your Fieldays Site Design Is Worth Getting Right
Fieldays isn’t just another date on the calendar. It’s four days where your customers, suppliers and partners are all in one place, ready to talk. Get your Fieldays site design right and you don’t just look good, you build the kind of relationships that keep paying off long after the gates close.
But a winning stand doesn’t happen by accident. The Fieldays sites that stand out are the ones people actually want to spend time in. That comes down to the story you tell, how people move through the space, and what gives them a reason to stay. That’s where we came in.
How We Designed a Fieldays Site That Stopped Traffic
First, we started with the story. AFFCO is about the people, places and produce behind New Zealand’s premium beef and lamb, so that’s what the site celebrated. We highlighted the real story of where the food comes from and the people who make it happen.
Then we designed the space around it. Every call in the site design, from the layout to the flow of foot traffic, was made to draw people in and give them a reason to stick around.
And we made hospitality the hero. The hospitality tent gave visitors somewhere to sit down and enjoy premium New Zealand beef and lamb, with outstanding food cooked on-site by Bacon Bros. Great food turned a busy site into a place people came back to, and talked about afterwards.
The Result?
Over four days, the AFFCO Fieldays site delivered on every front:
- Best Outdoor Site (Large – 300m²+) at Fieldays 2026, won at the first attempt in the category.
- 3,200+ visitors through the hospitality tent across four days.
- AFFCO’s biggest and most successful Fieldays yet.
Numbers like that mean thousands of real conversations with the suppliers, customers and partners who matter most. That’s what a Fieldays site is really for.
A Team Effort
Work like this is never down to one person. A special thank you to Jane Migounoff for once again raising the bar with an exceptional site experience, and to everyone who helped bring the AFFCO site to life. And thank you to the AFFCO team for the trust and collaboration that made it all possible. A well-deserved win.
Fieldays Site Design: Common Questions
How far ahead should you plan a Fieldays site?
The earlier the better. Give yourself a good run before the event so there’s time to nail the concept, design the layout and lock in the build without anything being rushed. The best stands are planned well before the gates open.
What makes a winning Fieldays stand?
A clear story, a layout that pulls people in, and a genuine reason to stay — often hospitality and great food. It’s less about being the loudest site and more about being the one people want to spend time in.
Do you design sites for other field days and rural events?
Yes. As well as Fieldays at Mystery Creek, we can design and build event sites for other major New Zealand field days and rural events. If you’re exhibiting, we can help you make an impact. We have also worked on event sites for Ballance, Zespri and Overseer.
How much does Fieldays site design cost?
Every site is different, so cost depends on the size, scope and extras involved. Tell us what you’re trying to achieve and we’ll put together an approach that suits your goals and budget.
Planning Your Own Fieldays or Event Site?
The best stands are planned well before the gates open. If you want a Fieldays site design that stops traffic and works hard for your business, we’d love to help you build it.
Talk to us today.