An exciting and interest-filled three day visit to Hanover and Agritechnica started for Irish dairy farmer Michael Phelan, County Kilkenny when he took a day off in September this year to visit the National Ploughing Championships at Athy in County Kildare. At the event, Michael stopped by the German Agricultural Society (DLG) stand and filled-in a card for a prize draw with the winner getting a free trip to Agritechnica.

And Michael beat 750 entrants to win that first prize. He took his brother-in-law Gerald Doyle, also a dairy farmer, for the November 9 - 11 trip for two covering flights, two nights in a four star hotel and visits to Agritechnica including an exclusive invitation to the Max-Eyth Evening opening ceremony.

Their reaction to the world’s biggest farm equipment show? “Gigantic,“ commented Michael. “There was so much to see.” This was the first time they had visited Agritechnica and a point was made of calling in on Irish exhibitors there. The pair were so impressed that they’re already considering getting a group of friends together for a trip to EuroTier at Hanover in 2010.

Second and third prizes in the DLG draw at the Ploughing Championships were €100 vouchers from a tractor manufacturer for merchandising articles and these were won by Raymond O’Reilly, County Cavan and Pat McGuinness, County Louth.

And fourth and fifth prizes, each €50 vouchers for Siku farm machinery models, went to Margaret Ryan, County Kilkenny and Donal Fitzpatrick from County Kildare.