Looking to try out a new telehandler, front loader, pickup or ATV? A new hands-on driving event from Farmers Weekly will allow you to try different makes at the same venue.

Register to take part

This isn’t a stand-and-watch affair either. It’s a professional materials handling event for farmers and contractors only and you’ll be driving the machines. So you’ll need to tell us you’re coming beforehand and bring your handler certificate (or similar) with you on the day.

We’re expecting good numbers of farmers and contractors on each of the two days, but the good news is that you won’t be swamped with thousands of tyre-kickers. Instead, you’ll be in the seat with muck, wheat, bales, potato boxes and gravel to shift and a chance to try different makes back to back.

When is it happening?

Wednesday 22 April and Thursday 23 April 2015. The event opens 8.30am and will close at 5pm.

Where is it happening?

Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire CV. We’ve taken over a big area by the old cattle yards with separate zones for different types of machines. There’s plenty of parking.

What will be there?

• Muck handling zone – See how effectively the different machines lift, grab and tear out muck. Meanwhile, smaller machines reveal how agile they are when it comes to getting around the inside of the sheds.
• Clamp zone – Handlers from different makers will be showing their effectiveness on the clamp with wheat, gravel and brewers’ grains. It’s a chance to assess power, visibility, hydraulic output and ease of use.
• Indoor zone – This static area is the place to see other types of equipment, including trailers, pickups, ATVs, lighting, seating, safety, muck and slurry equipment, security, tyres and wheels and fuels.
• Attachment zone – An opportunity to see how quickly and easily attachments can be put on and taken off.
• Bale handling zone – Here you can assess the machines’ visibility, reach and agility.
• Ride and drive zone – A chance to test drive machines on a range of tasks involving bale-stacking, muck handling, and pallet and potato box work.

What machines will be there?

The main focus of the event is handling, so JCB, Merlo, New Holland, Dieci, Avant and Massey Ferguson will be there with a variety of models and Zetor and Valtra will have front-end loaders to try out.

But handling isn’t just about handlers, so we’ll also have an area where you can try out the latest pickup trucks and get your hands on farm trailers, slurry tankers, muckspreaders.

What will it cost?

It is free to attend – all you need to do is register.

Will I really get the chance to drive?

Yes, you can drive up to three machines a day and each person will get 15-20 minutes in the cab on each drive. Don’t worry if you’re unfamiliar with a particular machine – there will be someone on hand to guide you.

Where do I go when I first arrive?

Go to the check-in desk. Staff there will know which machines are being used and which ones are ready to drive. During the day, it’s best to get to your chosen machine 30 minutes beforehand in case it’s free earlier.

Do I need to bring my telehandler certificate?

If you’re planning to drive a telehandler, you will need to bring your certificate with you on the day or complete a short competence check on the day.

How many machines can I try?

You can do three drives each day, so six over the two days. We’ll also be giving a prize to the best-driven machine at the event.

Farmers and Mercantile

Farmers and Mercantile insurance brokers are the main sponsor of the Farm Handling Experience. The company provides independent machinery inspections across the UK that cover the Puwer and Loler requirements for telehandlers and other equipment. We are proud to be part of this hands-on experience and want to support farmers in improving their levels of safety.