Around 2,000 visitors and 500 or so Fendt tractors were expected to descend on Niederwil, Switzerland on the first weekend in August. On the day, it was more like 10,000 visitors and 812 Fendt tractors! In the glorious sunshine, tractors took part in 12 exhibition categories, while the visitors were also well catered for.
10,000 visitors, 800 Fendt tractors and plenty of prizes to be won – the International Fendt Convention in Switzerland
Around 2,000 visitors and 500 or so Fendt tractors were expected to descend on Niederwil, Switzerland on the first weekend in August. On the day, it was more like 10,000 visitors and 812 Fendt tractors! In the glorious sunshine, tractors took part in 12 exhibition categories, while the visitors were also well catered for.
Fendt 942 Vario with Tigo 75 XR
All shiny clean and adorned with flowers, hundreds of Fendt tractors from Switzerland, Austria, Germany and the Netherlands gathered on the 3rd and 4th of August at Ernst Brunner's farm in the Glattburg region.
The oldest Dieselross there was made in 1938 and met up with its 2019 descendent, the Fendt 942 Vario. "This model was launched for the first time in front of an even bigger crowd in Switzerland," said Ernst Brunner. The Fendt 942 Vario was soon in action in a demo presentation, teamed up with a Fendt Tigo 75 XR.
The highlight of the show was of course the prize-giving ceremony for tractors at 4pm on the Sunday. The tractors put themselves to the test, competing for "best-looking toy tractor", "most original Fendt", "workhorse champion" or against others in their series. There were gifts not just for the winners; everyone who took part received a souvenir including a medal, a straw hat or sunglasses, and a drinks voucher. Prizes that went down very well in the heat. Besides the large brunch, visitors to the event enjoyed an early bar with live music, and, for the younger ones, a bouncy castle, a petting zoo and an obstacle course. "The weekend was a great success. We're delighted that so many people turned up," says event-organiser Ernst Brunner, proudly.
A field day for Fendt tractors
The Fendt event has been held every 4 years for the last 16. Since 2015 it always falls on the first weekend of August and has now opened up to participants from other European countries.
Ernst Brunner had the idea for the event when he was at Agricultural College. He pledged that, "If, in ten years' time there's no convention for Fendt tractors, then I'll get a team together and we'll organise one ourselves."
He was true to his word, and just going by the sheer number of participants alone, it's clearly hailed a great success.
