The ever-popular Cayman Islands Agricultural Show on Ash Wednesday will be here in only a few short weeks, and preparations are well under way to make it the best show ever.
Now in its 39th year, this day-long event held at the Stacy Watler Agricultural Pavilion Grounds in Lower Valley attracts more than 8,000 people visitors each year and is packed with activities for the whole family, said a GIS press release. Also returning this year is the popular raffle. This year’s grand prize is a 2006 Ford Explorer XLS.
Hosted by the Cayman Islands Agricultural Society with support from the Ministry and Department of Agriculture, the 1 March show includes agricultural displays; music by local bands; quadrille dancing, story-telling and equestrian events; and a children’s play area with a bouncing castle, face painting, a sandbox, pony rides and other games and activities. To help sustain the hungry crowd, food vendors from across the island will sell local dishes.
Each year, professional and hobbyist local farmers from districts across Cayman (including the Sister Islands) display their livestock, and their locally grown produce, fruits and vegetables, for judging. Other categories include local handicrafts such as macramé, crochet, straw work, artistic renditions in various media, and cut flowers.
Local crafters and merchants are encouraged to get involved this year, Department of Agriculture Marketing Co-ordinator Brian Crichlow said in the release. ‘Stalls are still available on a first-come, first-serve basis for those who want to display and sell crafts, artwork and other wares.’
Stall vendors can pick up contracts at Funky Tangs: Categories and costs: Food – $200, Plant – $175, Jerk – $125, Miscellaneous/Arts and Craft – $75.
Livestock entry forms are now available from the Department of Agriculture and those wishing to enter an item for judging in any of the other categories at the exhibition must do so on Tuesday, 28 February from 6pm to 10pm at the Agriculture Pavilion. Categories include crops, fruit, vegetables, arts and crafts and homemade products.
Agricultural Society President Errol Watler said the show is their most important fund-raising event of the year. ‘The proceeds help maintain the pavilion building and grounds, and they support the society’s activities, including our scholarship fund,’ he explained.
Volunteers are also an important part of the show’s success, and Mr. Watler encourages society members and new volunteers to get involved in preparing the grounds over the next few weekends.
In addition to the food and fun, non-profit organizations (such as the Orchid, Garden, Cancer and Humane societies) and government departments and authorities (including Environmental Health and Environment as well as Health Services, the Turtle Farm, the Botanic Park and the National Trust) will have educational displays, the release said.
People interested in Cayman’s agricultural history can walk through the Agriculture Hall of Fame, which shows the development of agriculture in the Islands from 1773, along with photos of the hall of fame inductees.
This year’s raffle is for a 2006 Ford Explorer XLS. Raffle tickets are CI $25 and include one admission to the show. Tickets are on sale now at Funky Tang’s, the Department of Agriculture Office, the Agricultural Society members and local supermarkets.
Entrance on day of the show is $7 for adults and $5 for children (12 and older) and spot and quiz prizes will be offered throughout the day.
For more information on the Agricultural Show, or to volunteer, call the Department of Agriculture at 947-3090 or Errol Watler at 916-3014.
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