Society promises entertaining farming show

(CNS):Visitors can look forward to a great day out next Wednesday organisers of the 45th Annual Agriculture Show said. The Ash Wednesday show at the Agriculture Pavilion in Lower Valley, is the oldest and the biggest one day event in the Cayman Islands and Cayman Islands Agriculture Society president Errol Watler said everyone was keen to be there. All participating farmers will be bringing out their best livestock and crops to display or sell. Art and craft, and of course, a variety of local foods will be on sale. The show begins at 7:00 a.m. and the entertainment from rodeos to cooking contests will run all day.

Following the official opening at 9am there will be a host of activities throughout the day, including the farmer’s interactive tent that gives members of the public a chance to ask farmers tips on crops, the best fertilizers for different types of soil and what’s new in the farming community.

“Just about everybody in the agriculture business is eager to be here. This is going to be a very exciting show,” said Watler.

Livestock farmer Paul Bodden said this was his favorite day of the year. “The public can get to see the best of agriculture in the Cayman Islands. This is the one day of the year that the community can see what we farmers do.”

Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, the minister responsible for Agriculture, encouraged the public to support the show. “It is all about everyone working in harmony to achieve a product that is sustainable and beneficial to the islands, its economy and people and the farming community. The farmers and the public come to see who will get bragging rights and we must all work together to move agriculture forward,” she stated.

There will a rodeo, petting zoo and a cooking competition hosted by the Youth Services Unit. The rodeo will be hosted by the Wrangler’s Association and starts at 12:00 noon with a host of events, including barrel races, team penning, pole bending, flag races and calf roping. Children will also be able to participate in sack races and pony rides, said Shanna Pandohie who organises the rodeo portion of the show.

Entertainers are JR Douglas and Impulse Bands, Gospel Explosion, the Cayman Islands Marching Band and Gideon Pathfinder Drill Demonstration and Drum Corp.

The beautiful baby contest will begin at 11:00 a.m. Already there are 10 registered entrants for the contest, which will feature four age groups: 10-18 months; 19- 24 months; 25-36 months and 37-48 months. In addition to the title prize of Most Beautiful Baby, entrants will compete for the Best Smile and Personality titles.

One of the new features this year is the Youth Service Cooking Competition, which starts at 11:30 a.m. The public will be able to watch eight students who have been coached by some of Cayman Islands top chefs. The cooking competition is the culminating event of a four-year culinary programme which aims to prepare high school students for careers in the culinary field.

Tickets for the show cost $25, which includes entry into the raffle, with a grand prize of $20,000. General admission tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children aged two to 12 years.   Tickets outlets are Funky Tangs, Rembley Reid and Audley Williams of A.L. Thompson’s, Agriculture Society members, Seymour’s Jerk Chicken, Welly’s Cool Spot, Blue Marlin Restaurant Meringue Town and Cayman Coating.  Visit our website at www.cias.ky for more information.  Like us on Facebook at Cayman Agriculture.