St Mary Agri Expo plans taking root

PLANS ARE progressing smoothly for the 25th staging of the annual St Mary Agri Expo, to be held at the St Mary Sports Club in Annotto Bay on Easter Monday, April 25.

The event, which is being organised by the Jamaica Agricultural Society, will be held under the theme: 'Grow What We Eat - Eat What We Grow'.

For the second consecutive year, the show will be held as a one-day feature, in contrast to former years, up to 2009, when it was staged as a two-day event spreading over Easter Sunday and Easter Monday.

Among the major offerings will be a number of displays, including horticultural exhibits, livestock parades, a kiddies village and competitive events such as a youth in agriculture contest, the St Mary Farm Queen contest and display booths by JAS branches in St Mary.

The event's major sponsor is the Jamaica Producers Group, and among the organisations which will be mounting displays are the Jamaica Livestock Association, Nutramix, Hi-Pro Feeds, Newport-Fersan, the Coffee Industry Board, the Coconut Industry Board, the Cocoa Industry Board and the Rural Agricultural Development Authority.

Entertainment package

An entertainment package, featuring cultural performances by a number of organisations and individuals from St Mary, will also be among the events planned for the occasion.

JAS parish manager for St Mary, Lavon Murdock, said planning for the expo is being spearheaded by a committee, headed by hotelier Jeff McKitty, adding that every effort was being made to ensure that it is as successful and rewarding to patrons as those in the past, despite being reduced to a one-day event.

- JIS