Plenty of farm shows allow you to sit in a handler cab and kick the tyres, but this is the first time in many years there’s been a professional event where you actually get to try out different makes.

It’s for farmers and contractors only, so you’ll need to tell us you’re coming beforehand and bring your handler certificate with you on the day.

See also: Farmer-tested: Five telehandlers on trial

And the really good news is that you won’t be swamped with crowds of people. Instead, you’ll be in the cab with muck, wheat, bales, potato boxes and gravel to shift and a chance to try a range of makes back to back.

When is it happening?

Wednesday 22 April and Thursday 23 April 2015

Where is it happening?

Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire. We’ll have separate zones for different types of machines.  

• Muck-handling zone – See how effectively the different machines lift, grab and tear out muck. Meanwhile smaller machines can show how agile they are 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 gives a chance to see other types of equipment, including  trailers, pickups, ATVs, lighting, seating, safety, security, tyres and wheels and fuels.
• Bale handling zone – a chance to assess the machines’ visibility, reach and agility.
• Ride and drive zone – an opportunity 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 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?

There’s no entry charge – all we ask is for you to give a small donation to an ag charity.

I’d like to come – what do I do next?

Ring Tim Porter on 020 8652 4776 or email him at tim.porter@rbi.co.uk. Alternatively, check out our website at www.farmhandling.co.uk