Eleven community organisations have benefited a big donation after this year's Tocal Field Days.
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On Wednesday, Tocal Field Days manager Wendy Franklin handed over a record $40,000 in grants to those who helped put on the annual event.
Ms Franklin said the funds came from ticket sales at the event, and would go straight back to the local community.
"We couldn't put on the event without the support of the great people in these organisations," Ms Franklin said.
"We run a very tight ship when staging the event so we can maximise the amount of money we can give back to these local organisations to help local people.
"Not only is Tocal Field Days a great day out that [puts] farming on show, it benefits hard working local organisations that often struggle for vital funds."
The grant recipients included:
- Newcastle Mens' Shed
- Vacy Public School
- Maitland Rugby Club and Maitland Lions Club
- Slow Food Hunter Valley
- Paterson and Bolwarra Scouts
- Maitland Community Care
- East Maitland Kiwanis Club and Woodville School of the Arts
- Tocal Homestead
Paterson Public School is also received $1000.
Ms Franklin said the school is the closest to Tocal and has been a great exhibitor for decades.
"We have a multi-year arrangement to the currently homeless Newcastle Mens' Shed to provide them with some income certainty to help them meet rent payments." she added.
She said the nearly 22,000 people who attended on May 3-5 have helped make a difference to local people by purchasing a ticket to Tocal.
More than 350 exhibitors were at the event selling everything from farm machinery, produce, art and crafts as well as plants and gardening equipment.
"With local farmers doing it tough in the current drought, Tocal Field Days also provides an important opportunity for community members to understand what life is like on the land and appreciate the contribution agriculture makes to our community," Ms Franklin said.