Something for all the family at 39th Agricultural Show

A happy family leaves the Agricultural Show, with
arms full of flowers and fruits, which took place at the
Agricultural Pavilion on Ash Wednesday. Always a
popular day out this year was a true family show. In
the picture are Yolaydin Ebanks, Oscar Sanchez, Josué
Ebanks, Ramon Sanchez, Cousto, Nilda, and Jasti who
all had a great time. Photo by Christopher Tobutt.

Donna and Violet, like many who visited the show,
were busy looking for plants to buy

Michael Powell, known as Big Kahuna, communes
with the cattle

There were many different breeds of goat at the show

Friday,  March 3, 2006

Thousands of people flocked to the Cayman Islands Agricultural Society’s 39th Agricultural Show, at the Agricultural Pavilion in Lower Valley on Wednesday 1 March.

Besides the prize animals and plants, there was really something for everyone in the family at the show.

The many different attractions that continued all day long included pony rides, darts, dominoes, a children’s sand box, a merry go round, and video games.

The Acting Governor, Hon George McCarthy, OBE, cut the official ribbon.

The Leader of Government Business and Minister of Agriculture, Hon Kurt Tibbetts gave the opening speech, during which he paid tribute to the work of the Cayman Islands Agricultural Society for continuing to support the show, as well as the staff of the Agricultural Department. He also outlined some of the new developments in agriculture here.

Immediately after the official opening, the Cayman National Dance Company gave a dazzling display of contemporary dance; they were just one of the many performing groups who entertained the visiting crowd throughout the day.

Later, there was traditional Cayman music from the North Side Kitchen Band, and some drama sketches from the Back Yard Caboose Theatre Company.

The Cayman Horse Association put on several competitions during the day, with the highlight being the fancy dress competition for riders and horses.

Grace Murphy was dressed as Cruella de-Ville, from 101 Dalmatians. She appeared to be riding on a huge, horse-sized Dalmatian. Sarah Murphy was Little Bo Peep who had lost her sheep, (in this case two ponies covered in white cloth and cotton wool), and although she could find them, catching up with them seemed to prove quite difficult, as they seemed intent on discarding their sheep’s clothing as fast as possible.

There were all kinds of livestock on display at the show: poultry, cattle, goats, rabbits, and horses.

Everywhere, parents were showing their children all the different animals, and children could be seen pointing, and sometimes stroking the animals.

The poultry section was a particular favorite, with the many different breeds of chickens, and turkeys.

As always, there was a breathtakingly wide range of horticultural produce on display, including both the prize fruits and vegetables and produce for sale.

Although too long to list in detail, the list included tomatoes, peppers, breadfruit, oranges, grapefruit, coconut, cassava, sweet potato and plantain, and sour sop.

Prize-winning vegetables and fruits included giant cassava, huge marrows, and melons.

Many had come to buy plants, either ornamentals or food plants.
Two women, Donna and Violet were enjoying themselves looking at everything the show had to offer, and also looking for bargains.

“I bought some scotch bonnet and tomato plants, lemon and lime plants, and a money tree,” said Donna.

There was an extensive craft section at the show. At one of the craft stalls, Marie Comrie was busy making items out of silver thatch, including baskets and hats, which were proving popular with customers.

“I’m making a basket out of silver thatch now, in the traditional Cayman way, but me and my sister make all these things,” she said, pointing to a wide range of carved wooden items.

Adasenith Ebanks and Lucille Douglas had a stall selling traditional cakes. “We are selling plantain-cake, potato cake, papaya and cassava-cake,” Ms Ebanks said.

The Cayman Islands Fire Service were giving people a lift, literally, taking families high about the ground in one of their lifts attached to a fire-engine.

Tired but happy families could be seen leaving the showground, holding many different kinds of plants and flowers, fruits and vegetables.

christopher@caymannetnews.com

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