DENBIGH, Clarendon — Although scaled down the livestock barns at the recently held Denbigh Agricultural, Industrial and Food Show has inspired a young farmer, who one day dreams of showcasing his animals at the annual event.

According to 15-year-old Hayden-Wade Cole, while this was not the best showing he has seen at the show he was still pleased with the turnout and he plans to one day display his animals in the hope that he will win a title.

“It was not the best but it was still a good show. I have seen more animals but I guess because of the storm it has been scaled down but I’m still happy nonetheless. There aren’t enough cows but the goats are lovely,” Cole, a deCarteret agricultural science student, told the Jamaica Observer.

Cole, who does goat rearing, was dealt a major blow when hoodlums stole 10 of his animals some time ago.

“I did feel down because that was money lost and that was my only source of money at the time, and to lose all the rams really made me feel down. They took 10 in all, six were rams so I was left with only four goats,” said Cole as he pointed out that he lost more than $300,000 to the thieves.

“I was down and depressed and sometimes it bothered me because the money could have been used but it doesn’t bother me much any more,” added Cole.

He told the Observer that the theft of his animals has not deterred him as he does his best to focus on what he has left while aiming to make his mark on the agriculture sector.

“My goal is to carry some of my goats to showcase at Denbigh one year and win one of the prizes based on the categories, but for now, I have to take it one step at a time. I have to start from somewhere to later enter one of the livestock competitions but it will take some time but I’m willing to do the work,” said Cole.

In the meantime Cole’s father Alwyn was also satisfied with what he saw on display at this year’s show.

“We are from Manchester and I just came to Denbigh with my son to look at the show. I know it has been scaled down but we are satisfied with what we see. The main thing that we come to Denbigh for each year is to look at the goats and those we saw were looking good.

“We didn’t expect to see this type of show but it is looking good so far. What I have seen here doesn’t show that a hurricane had passed through but I think more people would have come out,” said the senior Cole.

“I am excited about the farming aspect of the show and I look forward to seeing the cows and the goats. I do a little livestock farming, my son has a few goats but I am involved in both farming and goat rearing,” added the senior Cole who has been in farming for more than 30 years.

“I have been coming to Denbigh every single year and from I have been coming I have never missed a show except when there was the pandemic and there was no show. I was also a little disappointed when they said the show was only for one day this year, even though I only come for one day per year. But I am always satisfied with what I see on that day,” declared the senior Cole.