The Agricultural Exhibition has been given the go-ahead for the next three years after the AG Show Ltd signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Bermuda Government. And the group has further agreed to help finance the revitalisation of buildings at the Botanical Gardens over the coming years using proceeds from the event.

According to ASL chairman David Lopes, the first target for work will be the Education Building, with ASL donating $75,000 to restore the building.

“The building is not in very good condition,” Mr Lopes told a press conference yesterday. “It is one of, if not the oldest buildings at Botanical Gardens.

“During the exhibition, the building is used to display the primary school-aged students entries. The building is in need of repair and ASL has agreed to donate the proceeds from the 2016 gate admissions for the repairs to ensure that the building can continue to be used for future shows.”

Antwan Albuoy, ASL president, added that the building’s roof would be the main focus of work, with Cole Simons, Minister of the Environment, saying: “This is a community event and these buildings are for the community. For the event to be successful, we need proper facilities and ASL have come up to the wicket, fundraising for us.”

Mr Simons said that ASL had requested a five-year MOI, but staff at the ministry felt confident that within three years it would be in an economic position to host the annual event to the same standard as has been achieved by ASL.

While the Annual Exhibition was cancelled in 2015 due to financial constraints, it returned this year with ASL at the helm.

Detailing the 2017 show, scheduled to run from April 20 to 22, Mr Albouy said that plans for a bigger and better show by reintroducing crowd favourite events like the tug-of-war competition are under way, and ASL is already accepting proposals for the provision of goods and services from charities.