“To excel and grow in the future, innovation and change is vital.
“It is an exciting and challenging time for the industry, but with good leadership we have great opportunities,” he said.
The 2017 National Fieldays run from June 14-17 at the Mystery Creek Events Centre, near Hamilton.
Nation said NZ was a world leader in agriculture and primary production, and NZ National Agricultural Fieldays also led the way as a place where businesses and individuals come for the latest in agricultural innovations and technology.
“We hope Leading change is a theme that our partners and exhibitors will embrace,” Nation said.
“The dairy downturn has been challenging for many but with visionary leadership and fresh, innovative thinking we can transform the future of primary production in this country.”
Leading change supports the National Fieldays pillars of education, internationalisation and innovation, which are represented at the event with the Innovations Centre, the Careers and Education Hub and the Business International Centre.