If you've been doing a double take as you drive around the region of late, then you're not alone.
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Cows are appearing in shop windows and on road-sides around the Hunter and they are not the kind you usually expect to see.
The timber out cows are there to remind us that our favourite time of the year - Tocal Field Days is coming soon.
Event manager Wendy Franklin said the life size timber cows can be seen at the following locations:
Hunter Street Mall, Newcastle.
Main Rd, Cardiff.
Pacific Highway Sandgate (near the Inner City Bypass).
Griffiths Road, Lambton (near O'Briens' Glass).
Hunter Expressway before the Lovedale Road turnoff.
Aberglasslyn Road near the Melville Ford Bridge.
New England Highway Lochinvar (opposite Airds of Lochinvar) and Flat Road between East Maitland Bolwarra.
Tocal's theme this year is 'animals'.
"People will be able to milk a cow, shear an alpaca, and watch piglet races. There are horse rides for adults and pony rides for kids," said Ms Franklin.
She went on to say that this years' event is expected to be bigger and better than ever with more than 350 exhibitors selling everything from farm machinery, produce, art and crafts as well as plants and gardening equipment.
"People will be able to enjoy great food and wine as well as Tocal's favourite activities such as the billy boiling competition, cooking workshops, gardening talks, livestock demonstrations, the 'Bake or Burn' competition, and the ute muster," she said.
Entertainment will be provided by local school students through the Talent @ Tocal program.
"With farmers doing it tough, Tocal Field Days provides an important opportunity for other community members to understand what life is like on the land and appreciate their contribution to our community."
The event will be held at Tocal Agricultural Centre from Friday May 3 to Sunday May 5.
Daily tickets are $18 for adults, $2 for children aged 5 years to 16 years.
Children under 5 years are free. A Comeback Pass to re-enter the following day is $12.
Friday is Seniors Day with $15 entry for seniors with government issued ID. Tickets are now for sale online, visit: www.tocalfielddays.com
"Once you have bought a ticket, many activities and competitions are free, making it an affordable day out for the family," Ms Franklin said.
A free park and ride shuttle bus from Maitland Railway Station via Lorn will run every hour to make it easy for people to leave the car at home and get to the event.