Smiling faces could be seen everywhere as visitors to the 45th Agriculture Show at Lower Valley took home armfuls of fresh produce, or potted plants such as scotch bonnet peppers, huge vines of tomatoes, and herbs of all kinds back to their cars.

There was plenty for everyone – young and old, to see and buy, from stalls, beautiful bright yellow and orange squashes, melons and bananas and baby fruit trees to the very best of Cayman’s cattle, pigs, goats and poultry.

There were horses too – and a real-live cowboy rodeo, courtesy of Cayman Wranglers Association

Deputy Premier Hon. Mrs. Julianna O’Connor-Connolly, Minister for District Administration, Works, Lands and Agriculture, said: “This event is a timely reminder of our connection to the land and to each other through food and our heritage.”

H.E. The Governor, Mr. Duncan Taylor said: “This is an event which I look forward to enormously each year. It is vibrant, educational and fun. Farmers are key members of our society: they contribute to our food security, to the quality of food which we eat and to our health.”

Displays carried home products including many different kinds of home-made bread and delicious candies, as well as bottles and jars of pickles, preserves, and hot sauces.

Handicraft stalls featured traditional crafts – such as silver-thatch work, needle and crotchet work, and marvelous things made from shells, including a series of amazing sculptures made from the pink lining of conch shells by Luelan Bodden.

The District Stall section was filled with colourful fruits and vegetable from each district (including Cayman Brac). Bodden Town had a “map” of all three Cayman Islands, each one filled with the most colourful peppers you’ve ever seen.

[nggallery id=261]