AGROFEST 2013

AGROFEST is the National Agricultural Exhibition in Barbados, sponsored annually by the Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS).  It is the premier Agricultural Exhibition in Barbados, attracting large numbers of local and international patrons with exhibitors displaying a variety of livestock, vegetables, flowers, plants, craft items and educational items.
It is held in Queen's Park, a lovely location in the Bridgetown area.
Nine years ago, agricultural officials were faced with the dilemma of how to once more get Barbadians excited about agriculture and livestock farming.
As a child growing up, there was a large Annual Agricultural Exhibition which showcased all the best livestock and farming produce on the island. It became extinct, since many folk were drifting away from farming, especially the younger ones, who preferred the "collar and tie" jobs over the "fork and hoe" jobs.
In order to reintroduce this exhibition, the BAS think tanks reinvented the concept and it became AGROFEST....an instant success. From its inauguration in 2005, it has blossomed into one of the most popular events on the local calendar attracting thousands of patrons every year, both young and old.
This year's exhibition was held from February 22-24, 2013 with the theme "Renewable Energy:Leading the Charge into the Future."
Yesterday afternoon, I set off to enjoy myself at this year's exhibition, and enjoyed myself I did.
There was so much to see and do.
I wish I could show you everything, but it's quite impossible to do so.

No need to worry, no smoking is permitted in the park during the exhibition...nice clean air, so come on, let's go.
 

 Renewable and sustainable energy setup

Note the solar panels on the roof of the display

Biogas digester produces enough energy to........

 

 .......run a battery which in turn can power a multitude of home equipment

 

Get back to growing your own food

 

Seedlings of every herb imaginable

 Produce from the land

 Easy planting setup

All manner of farmyard equipment

 Chickens or as we call them here "fowls" and "fowl cocks"

 

 

 Rabbits...aren't they adorable?

Schools are becoming more involved, and some now have full agricultural programmes, or are implementing agricultural projects, like building rabbitries.

There is also a school garden competition which is getting bigger every year.

 Cows

 

"I am taking home a ribbon today"

Barbados black belly sheep

 

Sheep judging competition

 Time for an afternoon siesta

 

Octomum

Wonder where these two are off to?

Oh yes, the children's play area

The kids were having a great time on the mechanical bull

 
There was a children's Petting Zoo area as well.

This little one was intrigued by the turtle

"Does it have teeth?"

All kinds of fish surrounded by kids  yearningly asking, "Mummy can I have one?

It was impossible to take in everything, but of course you know, I HAD to find the plants and the floral displays by the Barbados Horticultural Society.

 So many patrons wandering by, I had to wait a while before I could snap these photos quickly.

 

 

 

 

 Leaving it all behind

 So many areas that I did not get the chance to view like the interactive educational workshops, the demonstrations on plant care & flower arranging, and talks highlighting the journey of agricultural products from the farm to the table.

The exhibition is a great networking tool, and provides the perfect opportunity to meet local vegetable and fruit farmers, livestock farmers, fishermen, as well as persons involved in horticulture and other areas of agriculture.

According to our Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS), James Paul, "it is arguably the best organised agricultural show in the Caribbean."

I hope that you enjoyed this tour of AGROFEST 2013 with me.

Chinese Fish & Dragon Festival 2018

This year, the Chinese Fish & Dragon Festival hosted by The Chinese Association Of Barbados was held at the Garfield Sobers Gymnasium.
Usually it is held at Church Village Green in the city but this year the Agrofest 2018 festival which was being held next door in Queen's Park made it impossible for the festival to be held there....crowd pull, parking logistics etc.
Hence the Gymnasium venue, which in all honesty may not have been the ideal alternative.
The hours for the event were also changed which meant it became an evening festival.
Saturday being my jaunt day, I decided to have an evening jaunt instead.
I took care of my chores early in the day and then headed out to have a relaxing evening.
This year (2018) The Fish and Dragon Festival was honouring The Year of The Dog.

The Gymnasium is a big facility but with such a large crowd, the gym felt small. 
Still just enough room to wander around and grab a few hasty photos from the various displays.

 Toys for the kids.

 They were also several books being distributed to the kids.

 The Tea Station

After wandering around for a little while, I purchased some eats (chicken wontons and fishcakes for you know who), and then found a comfortable seat to await the beginning of the show.
During the wait I watched several fast-paced table tennis and road tennis exhibition games on the court below.
Soon it was time for the show to start.

The Tuk Band and Mother Sally descending into the crowd to perform.

The MC's for the evening.

Chinese and Barbadian interpreters for the crowd of mixed cultures.

The Shaggy Dragons

Chinese Shaggy Dragons Perform the New Year dance for good luck. 

Dragons doing their thing.

The Musicians

The character in the foreground holds a broom to sweep away all the bad luck of the old year.

Martial Arts display by the kids.

Martial Arts displays by the adults.

The Tianjin Arts Troupe

The ladies performed their dance routines with precision whirling their beautiful fans accompanied by the musicians playing the flutes.

The Juggling Hats troupe.

These guys were fantastic as they juggled their hats with expertise.

I know this must have taken dedication to train to perform like this.  The way they had those hats flying through the air at all angles and heights....and never dropped even one....a enthralling act from start to finish.

These jugglers were my favourite act of the evening.

Musician playing the flute.

This performer had the crowd gasping as he juggled and balanced two large and heavy pots with gravity defying precision.

Another of my favourite acts.

All the while I was thinking, I hope he doesn't let those beautiful Chinese pots fall because I could use them to pot some indoor plants for my home and that would be a waste.

Another of my favourite acts.

This beautiful lady sang Chinese songs from the heart.

These cute little stuffed dogs were thrown into the crowds as gifts to honour the Year of the Dog.

All in all, it was a nice evening.
After speaking with a few of my friends who also attended the festival, they too expressed that they preferred the open air spaces of the Village Green.
The outdoor ambience and the wider expanse of displays allows the crowd to be more dispersed.
I hope that next year it will return to its original venue.
Happy Chinese New Year to all!!