Cayman’s repeatedly cited as the Culinary Capital of the Caribbean, but none of those plaudits would be possible without the producers.
The 45th annual Agriculture Show takes place at the Grounds in Lower Valley on Wednesday, 22 February and promises activities for the entire family.
The gates open at 7am and it’s anticipated that more than 10,000 people will head to the celebration of craft, food, entertainment and vendors during the day – which, of course, is Ash Wednesday, a public holiday.
Check out the cattle, pigs, goats and poultry while you watch or take part in horse drills, jumps and pony rides.
Of course, the Stacey Watler Agricultural Pavilion is not just about agriculture but also focuses on cultural issues so it’s not just produce on offer. Of course, the farm and livestock element is central, where we’ll all get the chance to see (and purchase) the greatest of what Cayman farmers have to offer. Those farmers are also involved in some friendly competition for best animals and produce at the show and be sure that this is something that really does spur them on to greater individual and collective heights.
Local produce
For the children, there is a petting zoo, pony rides, maze, games, storytelling, arts and crafts, a milking demonstration and bouncy castle. Their special play area is going to be ace and makes Weekender wish we were 20 years younger (so we would be 2 years old). A new feature for 2012, noted the Cayman Islands Agricultural Society, is an interactive focus on locally-grown ingredients and how they make its way from the ground to our plates. Youngsters will create menus and serve samples of local produce in a cooking demo and competition, starting at 11.30 and featuring students tutored by some of Cayman’s top chefs.
Weekender is also something of a hungry Horace and the Ag Show is a delight for the stomach, too; here’s where we’re gonna seek out the very best in Caymanian cuisine. There’s nowhere else that you will find such a wide selection of the food on which the territory was built. The only problem is whether to go for Cayman beef, rundown, cow foot, conch, snapper, or the staples of jerk, barbecue and the ubiquitous burgers and dogs. Or how about some Lion Fish?
Traditional art demonstrations, cultural exhibits, a marching band and scavenger hunt are just a few of the activities that people may enjoy, alongside the Beautiful Baby Contest at 11am. A popular feature is the plant sale, featuring plants from local nurseries and the Department of Agriculture.
There’s a rodeo hosted by the Wranglers Association starting at midday 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 ride.
Entertainers are JR Douglas and Impulse Bands, Gospel Explosion, the Cayman Islands Marching Band and Gideon Pathfinder Drill Demonstration and Drum Corp.
The Grand Cayman Agricultural Show takes place on Wednesday, 22 February, before the fun moves to the Agricultural Grounds in Cayman Brac on Saturday, 25 February and Little Cayman on 24 March. Entry to the Grand Cayman show is $10 and $5 for children aged two to 12. Tickets to the $20,000 grand prize raffle are $25 including the entrance fee. Ticket 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.
For more information on the Grand Cayman Show, please visit cias.ky or call Kerry Forbes-Townsend at 947-3696 or 917-5198
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