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Ag Show gears up for Superkids, Racing Pigs

This year will be a very special occasion for the annual Agricultural Exhibition as it will mark the 60th anniversary of the popular event.

Perhaps it is no coincidence that, as Bermuda's open spaces shrink with every passing year, numbers of exhibitors and attendees are reaching an all-time high.

"In recent times, we have seen a re-birth in things `green','' says Agriculture and Fisheries director John Barnes. "Horticulture, for instance, is really booming and I think the whole world has become a little `greener' as awareness has grown and people have been trying to come up with solutions to shrinking land space. Even people with tiny gardens -- or no gardens -- are actively involved in the Show and I would like to think that the Agricultural Exhibition has been an important part of that trend. We seem to have a great many people in Bermuda with `green thumbs'. And, nowadays, I think every single school enters in one way or another.'' This year, he reveals that the Professional Culinary Section is being re-vamped, to bring it more into line with international standards. "We're not sure how this will work out but we have taken advice from and worked with the Chefs' Assocation and I'm glad to say that they seem to be very keen.'' Mr. Barnes, who is also director of the Show, feels one of the reasons for the overall re-surge of interest has been the inclusion, for many years now, of the Island's schools in a large art exhibition. "For many of the children who bring their paintings along, it represents the first time they have actually been exposed, at close quarters, to nature -- farm animals, such as goats and chickens, rabbits and horses, as well as spectacular displays of plants and flowers.'' The numbers would seem to support this view, as about 20,000 people attended the three-day event last year, with a record number of exhibitors: 2,912 as opposed to the previous record, which was 2,314 in 1993.

It is Mr. Barnes' belief that the Ag Show, as it is generally known, is probably the biggest community event in Bermuda's calendar. "It really does cut across every walk of life. Everybody goes to the Show -- locals, expats, blacks, whites, young and old -- everybody! I think it's also true to say that we have something for everybody. There are equestrian events, and judging of cattle, goats, pigs, poultry, rabbits and pigeons. We have flowers of almost every imaginable kind, food products, woodcrafts, aquariums, even kites, a `Petting Zoo' and, of course, many food stalls! Fortunately, we have literally hundreds of volunteers who do so much to make this a success. You have to remember,'' he adds with a somewhat rueful laugh, "that this Department is not really in the business of putting on shows -- you could say it's an added vexation to our main work! We have a full slate of year-round duties that have to be performed, whatever else is happening, so without our volunteers (especially groups such as the St. John Ambulance Brigade), the Show would probably never happen. I think it's true to say there is not another event remotely like it in terms of community value.'' To give some idea of the overall scope of the Show, nine judges are invited from overseas to assist the local experts which number around 250, with 300 stewards who also assist in the procedure. A total of 236 Annual Awards are made with major trophies being presented in the Main Ring, with Rosettes presented to each person who gains a First, Second or Third as well as Best in Show, Best in Class and Highly Commended. Cash prizes are offered in cattle, pigs, goats, carriage horses and farmers' collections of vegetables. A total of 21 major agricultural, horticultural and equestrian societies and organisations are involved in this year's Show.

To help celebrate this special year, the internationally acclaimed Flying Superkids from Denmark and the return of Robinson's amazing Racing Pigs from Florida will provide some outstanding entertainment for the three-day Show.

Wherever they appear -- and this young group of dynamic gymnasts have appeared in venues all over Europe, the US, Canada, Israel, Japan and South Africa -- the Flying Superkids have won the hearts of their audiences. Ranging in age from eight to 20, the select group of 40 boys and girls who combine a cocktail of rhythmic acrobatics and ballet performed to classical and pop music, along with vaulting, tumbling, trampoline, singing and magic numbers, are accorded superstar billing in their native Denmark.

Founded in 1967, the team, which trains for about eight hours a week, is the only amateur group who have ever been awarded the Grand Circus Award, considered to be the `Oscar' of the circus world. At the Television Grand Prix Show in Israel they were elected best group out of 17 nations and on their last visit to Tokyo in 1995, they gave 70 sold-out performances in one of the world's largest amusements parks in the world.

The Racing Pigs are back! By popular demand, this year also sees the return of those remarkable Racing Pigs, first seen at the Ag Show some eight years ago.

Decked out in their bright racing silks and thundering down their 150-feet tracks, the teams of steaming pigs captured the imagination of Bermuda just as they have done in the US. Strenuously running and grunting their way to fame when they raced into the hearts of 12 million viewers of Johnny Carson's Tonight Show back in 1986, the pigs have been in constant demand all over the US ever since.

These little pigs hoof it out at a remarkable speed of 15 m.p.h., taking only about seven seconds to `win by a snout'. Sweating it out for no more incentive than a delicious Oreo cookie, the Robinsons' sweet-toothed pigs nevertheless lead charmed lives, with no danger of going, like those other little piggies, to market. On the contrary, even when these pigs grow too big to race, they are used for breeding. Boy pigs, on the other hand, have to be neutered, "otherwise they have been known to try and mate with sows in public'', says Carlota Robinson who, with her husband Paul, founded this swinish attraction back in 1984, "never dreaming it would take off the way it has.'' She gives due warning to potential audiences that they will be expected to root for the pig of their choice in each race when pig pushers, caught up in this entertaining form of `swine fever' are likely to be heard chanting, "Bertha, Bertha, she's our ham/If she can't do it she'll wind up spam!'' The very first Agricultural Show in Bermuda actually dates back as far as 1843 when Governor Reid arranged an event at his Mount Langton home in an effort to stimulate interest in local agriculture. The first feature attraction of that show was apparently a ploughing match -- the plough having just recently been introduced to Bermuda. It was only in 1992, incidentally, that the Farm Horse class was no longer required to demonstrate ploughing.

In 1888 a group called the Bermuda Agricultural Association was formed and under that name, 20 shows were held in the grounds of the old Rosebank estate (now the site of the new Bank of Butterfield building), the last being in 1908. When the group floundered in financial difficulties, the then Board of Agriculture paid their debts and, at the same time, undertook responsibility for future shows.

The first of these was in 1913 (still at the Rosebank location) and again in 1914, but the advent of World War I and the ensuing hardships meant that the third show would not be held until 1922.

It was in that year that the Exhibition moved, for the first time, to its present location in the Botanical Gardens. Despite its local popularity, the Show was deemed virtually irrelevant in terms of advertising in relation to the burgeoning tourist trade and was again discontinued in 1934. In 1994, however, it was revived on a biennial basis and, since 1955 has, with a few exceptions (such as the Island-wide strike of 1981) been held each year.

The 60th Agricultural Exhibition takes place in the Botanical Gardens, Paget, on April 24, 25 and 26. Enquiries should be addressed to The Agricultural Exhibition Office, PO Box HM 834, Hamilton HMCX, or telephone 236-4201, extension 220 or 223. Close of entries for Horses and Junior Art is Friday, March 7 at 5 p.m. and for all other divisions, Friday, March 21 at 5 p.m.

CROWD FAVOURITE -- The Racing Pigs from Florida will be in Bermuda -- back by popular demand. Decked out in their bright racing silks and thundering down their 150-feet tracks, the teams of steaming pigs captured the imagination of Bermuda just as they have done in the US. These little pigs hoof it out at a remarkable speed of 15 m.p.h., taking only about seven seconds to `win by a snout'.