Bermuda's Agricultural Exhibition has quite a reputation, the Royal Gazette was told yesterday by a delegation from the Cayman Islands.

Chief agricultural and veterinary officer, Alfred Benjamin, Errol Watler, Agricultural Society president, Marjane Ebanks-Fellows and Rudy Myles, treasurer are here to observe and take part in Bermuda's annual agricultural celebration.

Presently, the Cayman Islands holds a one-day agricultural show, but for their quinquennial celebrations next year, are planning on extending their event and have come here for ideas to improve the show.

Mr. Benjamin was particularly impressed with the way Bermuda children were involved in the bio-diversity displays put on by the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo.

Ms Ebanks-Fellows said: "We would like for our children to be more involved to carry on the traditions of both agriculture and caring for the environment."

Acting Director of Agriculture and Fisheries, John Barnes said: "It is really a pleasure to have the Cayman Island group here at this time. They have been involved from the beginning of the week and have also handed out a few prizes at the exhibition."

The group have been here since Monday, watching the exhibits being set up; they return home tomorrow morning.

Mr. Watler said: "I quite liked the Bermuda Connections/Folk Life Festival; we'd like to something similar.

All loved the vegetable critters and suggested that it was a good way to get children involved.

Mr. Watler was impressed with how many people he had met who had first become involved as children and now work for the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.

Mr. Watler said that their show is not sponsored by government, so it has to make a profit. They are planning to see if they can get funding so that they can have more volunteers and more involvement with children and the public.

The Cayman Islands has a population of 40,000 and is 100 square miles, of which two-thirds is swamp land. Financially they are very much like Bermuda with international banking and tourism as the main industries.