Seven hectares of Viceroy wheat, used for milling, went in the ground on September 15 and will be ready to harvest as part of a display event during the Mid Canterbury Vintage Machinery Club’s Wheat and Wheels rally in early April.
Mr Hampton is hosting the rally, on April 2 and 3, at his farm in Lauriston Barrhill Rd, at the northern side of Mid Canterbury.
He was especially keen to host it as it was timed to celebrate the 175th anniversary of Massey.
Mr Hampton, a third generation farmer, is a huge Massey fan and has an impressive collection of Massey machinery and vintage tractors.
His particular favourite is Massey-Harris tractors.
But he is not averse to the odd Allis-Chalmers, or even a Case.
His Masseys, which he has been collecting and restoring for more than 40 years, will be joined by others owned by club members — and not just Massey; there will be hundreds of machinery entries on show, ranging from vintage classics to ultra-modern, as well as some of New Zealand’s largest tractors and combines. There will be working demonstrations and static displays.
The Wheat and Wheels rally has been years in the planning with crop rotations on-farm managed so wheat is ready as part of a harvest display.
And other paddocks can be used for a centre ring for parades, another display area, food and craft stalls and car parking.
The event will have everything from traction engines, to vintage and classic tractors, cars and trucks on display.
Mr Hampton runs a cropping operation with his wife Julie, on their 570ha farm.
He was the first generation on the farm, which he bought more than 40 years ago. He has two sons and a daughter, and has been involved in cropping all his life.
Before irrigation was available on the farm, he also had a crop and sheep operation. Now there are more crops and up to 6500 store lambs.
The wheat field will be used by members who want to run their headers at the rally.
Some of the new headers had bigger capacity to harvest, Mr Hampton said.
He said Massey-Harrises were his tractor of choice, in part because Massey-Fergusons were used on the farm.
The dealers also provided excellent service, he said.
The last time the club ran the event was at Wakanui in 2016. It drew more than 6000 people over its two days and more than 800 entries of a vast range of machinery.
There was also a sizeable donation made to Ronald McDonald House. This time rally profits will go to the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Trust.
