Over its 60 years of existence, the Denbigh Agricultural, Industrial and Food Show has gained quite a formidable reputation for showcasing the best in agricultural produce and livestock. This year’s show was for many patrons a tad disappointing. Several individuals attributed the reduced volume of ground produce to the prolonged drought that the country has been experiencing. “There used to be a lot more produce and it was more phenomenal in terms of size of the ground produce and livestock,” stated Donovan Carson whom Thursday Life spotted in the livestock area.

For Winsome Lynch, who had journeyed from Kingston, the celebrated farmers’ market was the one element missing. “I tried to find the farmers’ market and there was no farmers’ market as we know it. The last time we were here they had the different pavilions with the different parishes with their own displays. This time they have the different pavilions, but no farmers’ market, and we miss that. This is the one thing I am disappointed about. I am not disappointed in the show itself because I like the booths with more corporate Jamaica.”

Our beloved farmers continue to try, however, and need to be applauded for their efforts. Low produce, yes, but enthusiasm abounds.The first, second and third prize winners were awarded after field visits and assessment by the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) officers to Manchester, St Ann and Trelawny respectively, for phase one of the competition, and Trelawny, St Ann and St Mary respectively for phase two.

— Donna Hussey-Whyte on location at Denbigh