If you've ever thought about getting out of the rat race and setting yourself up on your own patch of dirt - or if you're already living on the land and need some inspiration - pull on your RMs, your moleskins and your Drizabone and head off to Mudgee's Small Farm Field Days on the third weekend in July. Run by the Australian Rural Education Centre (AREC), this annual event is primarily education-focused, but there's a definite carnival atmosphere over the two days. More than 25,000 people attend the annual event, and it just keeps getting bigger. Be warned - book your accommodation early. The field days began in the '70s, when rural areas around towns like Mudgee were subdivided into 25-acre blocks, which were bought by people who wanted a taste of country life. Mudgee is hobby-farm heaven. Most blockies, as they're affectionately known, were enthusiastic novices with little knowledge of how to grow crops or raise animals and turned to the Department of Agriculture for advice. The Small Farm Field Days grew from there and are now popular even with the traditional cockies, many of whom are looking to diversify. You turn up at the field-day site (a couple of kilometres north of town) and study the program of more than 300 seminars, workshops and displays to work out which ones will be of interest. Topics include biodynamic farming and sustainable grazing. There are goat-milking and working-dog demonstrations. Olive and grape cultivation are big on the agenda and there's a strong focus on organic farming and soil and water conservation. The seminars are generally on an introductory level and given by local experts in the field. You'll get realistic advice and a chance to ask questions. They're a pretty friendly bunch and can be good contacts down the track. Once you've worked out your timetable, use the gaps to check out the 500-plus exhibitors. You name it, anything to do with living on the land can be found at the field days. The farmhouse display has cooking demonstrations with local produce. You can learn how to make goats cheese and pickle olives. There is a huge arts and craft pavilion, wood-turning and blacksmithing demonstrations and a beekeeper who'll tell you how to look after your hive - plus harvest the honey and make candles with the wax. Kids will love the animal nursery and the working-dog trials, and the game ones might even go for a camel ride. Some particularly smitten attendees have been known to hang around the alpaca enclosure for hours. The demonstration by the snake man is a definite must-see - this is as close as you'll ever want to get to a red-bellied black snake. The milking and shearing demonstrations are great for city-slicker kids and there's loads of information for horse-lovers and breeders. For the little ones there's face painting and if all else fails there's a crèche. The very popular fashion parades (usually booked out) are great fun and some of the clothing is created by companies which have stands at the show. Watch local models of all ages strut their stuff - the kids in particular are great. Another popular event is the tractor-pull. No, this is not a bunch of hunky Mr Universe types lugging large machinery around a paddock - it's a competition to see which vintage tractor has the most grunt. Staged by the Cudgegong Valley Antique Machinery Club, the display is one of the most popular at the event. Thrill seekers may prefer the helicopter joy flights. You can do plenty of bargain hunting too. Come with a shopping list of tools and supplies as most exhibitors have excellent field-day specials on offer, and there's plenty of local produce, plants, food and animals for sale at low prices. Hang around at the end of day two and the prices get even lower. If you're after specialised information later in your farming career, AREC can assist - they run a number of special-interest seminars on topics such as native-flower farming, aquaculture and berry growing, and hold a two-day garden expo in October. One of the great things about attending the Small Farm Field Days is that you really get to meet the locals - most of the work is done by a small army of volunteers from the area. If you're thinking of making a move onto the land it's a great opportunity to talk to others who have done it. And if your rural fantasy seems too good to be true, going to the Small Farm Field days is a good chance to live out your dreams - even if it's just a for a day or two.