Western Landcare NSW Inc.

Agriculture and Innovation Together at Agfair Broken Hill

Western Landcare proudly took part in Agfair 2026, bringing community, agriculture and environmental education together in a fun and interactive space. Across the two-day event, many of the 6,791 attendees stopped by to connect, learn and celebrate what’s happening across the west.

Capacity building - LEP23-021-34

The issue

Western Landcare wanted to find new and engaging ways to connect with communities spread right across western NSW. With such a large region, opportunities for people to meet face-to-face, learn about local projects and discover available support services can sometimes be limited. Agfair 2026 provided the perfect chance to bring people together in one place — but the challenge was creating a space that appealed to everyone, from local school students and families to farmers, landholders and industry partners. The goal was to make environmental stewardship, agriculture and community wellbeing approachable, interactive and fun.

The solution

Western Landcare transformed its Agfair site into a lively hub of conversation, creativity and connection. Visitors explored the stunning Life & Light photography display, chatted with Coordinators from across the region and learned about exciting projects including International Year of Rangeland Pastoralists and collaborations with DPI Farms of the Future. Over 400 Local school children jumped into hands-on Junior Landcare activities, keeping the team busy throughout Friday. Community members also enjoyed entering the raffle, which received over 300 entries! Alongside valued partners, Rural Adversity Mental Health Program and Rural Financial Counselling Service NSW, the team created a welcoming space where people could learn, connect and share ideas.

The impact

Agfair 2026 was a huge success for Western Landcare, creating meaningful connections with hundreds of community members across the event. The busy site sparked conversations about sustainable agriculture, environmental stewardship, rural wellbeing and future opportunities across the west. Young people were actively engaged through Junior Landcare activities, helping inspire future environmental leaders. The strong response to the raffle and displays highlighted genuine community interest in Landcare initiatives and regional collaboration. Most importantly, the event reinforced the importance of partnerships, community spirit and working together to support resilient rural and remote communities.

Agfair 2026 attracted over 6500 people over the two days.

Author: Tracey Lauritsen

Key facts

  • What worked
  • Interactive displays and activities drew strong visitor engagement.
  • Junior Landcare activities were a huge hit with local schools.
  • Face-to-face conversations strengthened community relationships.
  • Partner collaborations created a welcoming and supportive atmosphere.
  • The raffle encouraged people to stop by, connect and learn more.
  • Having Coordinators from across the west allowed for localised conversations and knowledge sharing.
  • What didn’t
  • The popularity of the site meant the team couldn’t spend as much time with every visitor as they would have liked.
  • Coordinating staff and resources from across such a large region required significant planning and logistics.