Organisers upbeat about St Mary Agri-Expo Show

Christopher Serju, Gleaner Writer

ANNOTTO BAY, St Mary:The annual St Mary Agri-Expo Show to be held at the Gray's Inn Sports Club on Easter Monday, April 25, will be worth going miles to see, according to Jeff McKitty, chairman of the show committee. This year's show will be held under the theme 'Grow What We Eat, Eat What We Grow'.

"We are very upbeat about the whole thing. We normally put on a good show and this year we are going to deliver a class act. There is no question about it," he told The Gleaner.

The show, which is now in its 25th year, has emerged as a major prep venue for St Mary farmers, ahead of the annual Denbigh Agricultural Show. Despite the prevailing harsh economic climate, the show's reputation has seen it receiving solid support from corporate Jamaica.

Jamaica Producers Group will be the main sponsor while Capital & Credit Merchant Bank will be operating from an air-conditioned tent, advising farmers about its many services and how they can access funding.

"One of the main reasons we are participating is to build a relationship with the farmers in the area," Shelly-Ann Henry, public relations and advertising manager, told The Gleaner. She explained that while the bank does not have a branch in the area, it has participated in the show before, welcoming the opportunity for staff members from Ocho Rios and Kingston to interact with potential clients. In addition to raising awareness about its range of services, she said the show also gives staff the opportunity to learn about the needs of clients, and allow them to retrofit or tailor products, to fit these needs.

Health fair

Meanwhile, the Lions Club of St Mary will collaborate with one of its sister clubs to host a mini health fair. In addition to information on HIV/AIDS and health tips, farmers will also be able to access free health checks for blood pressure, diabetes and other illnesses. The Rural Agriculture Development Authority (RADA) will use demonstration plots to share some of its best practices with farmers, while the Youth in Agriculture feature will return this year.

Questioned as to whether his optimism about the show was in any way tempered by Agriculture Minister Dr Christopher Tufton's disappointment with the recent Hague Agricultural Show held in Trelawny, McKitty answered with an emphatic "No".

Leaving the show without declaring it open, Tufton expressed concern about the organisation and quality of that show; but the chairman of the St Mary show is not in the least bit bothered.

McKitty, who has been a regular visitor to the Hague show over the years, did not attend on Ash Wednesday, but says the St Mary show has stuck to its mandate of showcasing not only the parish's best produce but also the skills and talent of participants. He explained that the show will remain true to its obligation of being an agricultural show of the highest quality, and will not be allowed to descend to become a flea market where household and hardware items compete with farm produce.

Best of St Mary

"We have taken that approach that we don't want anybody to be selling or doing anything like that. The highlight really will be the farmers displaying their produce, and we are going all out this year to ensure that we have the best of St Mary on display," he said.

"We are bringing back also the Youth in Agriculture programme through the schools, and that, again, is another highlight of what we are gong to be doing. We are very upbeat about the whole thing."

Meanwhile, Trevor Stoddart, chairman of the Livestock Exhibits Committee, is satisfied with the level of entrants to date, with the Bodles Research Centre, Minard Estates out of Brown's Town, St Ann, and Greencastle Estate in St Mary, and local small farmers confirming their participation in the cattle segment. The small stock competition, "especially the goat side of it, is always well represented and we are trying to increase the number of sheep," Stoddart explained.

The small stock segment, which includes pigs, is also getting good support, with Hi-Pro again sponsoring the sheep and goat competitions. Nutrimix will cover the cattle segment, providing cups, trophies and cash prizes.

Governor General Sir Patrick Allen is patron for the show that will include the crowning of the Miss St Mary Farm Queen, as well champion farmers in different categories. There will also be live entertainment all day.

christopher.serju@gleanerjm.com