Agriculture Show returning for first time in 3 years

21 February 2023

The goats, cows and chickens are in place; the plants for sale are neatly lined up; and food stalls are all ready to start supplying some good home cooking. It’s time for the Agriculture Show.

The much-anticipated annual event will be held on Ash Wednesday for the first time since February 2020, and thousands are expected to attend.

COVID-19 caused the cancellation of the popular event in 2021 and 2022, but the ‘Ag Show’ is back in action this year with a day jam-packed with exciting events.

Countess Sophie of Wessex, who is on an official three-day visit to the Cayman Islands with her husband Prince Edward, is expected to open the show at 10am, by ringing the traditional cowbell.

Organisers say they are expecting more than 8,000 people to attend the 54th annual show, which, as it falls on a public holiday, always attracts a large crowd.

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There will be plenty of fruit and vegetables on display. – Photo: Taneos Ramsay

Throughout the show, there will be plant sales, food stalls, heritage displays, livestock, live music, local crafts, bumper cars and lots of games for the kids. The Chicago Boyz Acrobatic Team, a professional gymnastics troupe, and members of the Cuban Circus are also scheduled to perform.

The theme of this year’s show, which is hosted by the Cayman Islands Agricultural Society, is ‘Agriculture for the future’.

While the Grand Cayman event is the largest of the agricultural shows, the Sister Islands have not been forgotten. They will have their own shows, on Cayman Brac on Saturday, 18 March, and on Little Cayman on Saturday, 29 April.

Agriculture Minister Jay Ebanks, in a statement issued earlier this month, said, “I want to encourage everyone to turn out for the agricultural shows. They provide an opportunity to support our hardworking farmers as they sell their produce, display their livestock and just showcase the best of what we have in agriculture.”

The livestock at the show is always a draw. – Photo: Taneos Ramsay

Ticket sales

Tickets for $25 can be purchased beforehand at eventpro.ky or at the gate on the day. This ticket enters the purchaser into a draw for a grand prize of $20,000.

Other prizes include an A. L. Thompson’s Home Depot home-and-garden package; a cow from the Cayman Islands Agricultural Society; a half-day luxury yacht charter from Family Time Water Sport; a $1,500 gift voucher from Roots; a two-night stay at the Westin; a trip for two to Stingray City from Outcast Charters; and a round-trip ticket to Miami on Cayman Airways.

Attendees also have the option of buying tickets for $10 (adults) and $5 (children) at the Agriculture Grounds gate, but those will not be eligible for entering the raffle.

Getting there

Police have advised that, to assist with traffic flow, there will be an extra lane added between Homestead Crescent and Daniel Drive, and between Agricola Drive and Will T Drive, from 6:30am to 8:30pm, for use by motorists attending the Agriculture Show:

Attendees travelling east, from George Town, will detour in the vicinity of Homestead Crescent, just past Hirst Road, and enter the Agricultural Grounds via Daniel Drive and Lottery Road.

Motorists travelling west, from the eastern districts, will be detoured in the vicinity of Will T Drive, and enter the Agricultural Grounds via Agricola Drive.

Drivers not attending the show or requiring access to Agricola Drive or other local roads, can travel along Shamrock Road as normal, and will not be permitted to turn onto Agricola Drive during these times.

Police said there will be signage in place, and motorists are advised to follow all instructions given. Motorists should also budget extra time for travel in the area, especially during the morning hours.

In a bid to alleviate some of the inevitable traffic jams seen during every Agriculture Show, free Park ‘n’ Ride buses will be available from a number of locations, including: