Kenneth King with his 'champion Boer buck' at the Denbigh Agri-Industrial Show in Clarendon, last year.
-File photo
Ahead of the 52nd staging of the Denbigh
Agri-Industrial Show (July 31- August 2) in Clarendon dubbed 'We Are What We Eat, So Lets Eat Jamaican', The Gleaner presents a series of articles on outstanding participants at previous shows.
Monique Hepburn, Staff Reporter
WESTERN BUREAU:
KENNETH KING of Anchovy Farms in Trelawny has become a household name in the local livestock industry.
King, who has been a successful competitor at the annual Denbigh Agri-Industrial Show for the past six years, is currently the champion goat farmer, winning the small stock exhibitor, junior buck and junior doe display competitions and the prizes for the supreme champion goat, the best buck and best doe for the past five years.
At the Hague Agricultural Show in Trelawny last year, he was also awarded the champion farmer prize. In an interview with Farmers Weekly, Mr. King said competing at the Denbigh Show over the years has always been challenging, especially given that the show's organisers do not provide adequate facilities for exhibitors.
He said, "This year is going to be a little different because most farmers are cutting back as transportation and feed costs have gone up. As farmers we don't think we are getting good deals, everyday you go to the feed store the price increases."
For Mr. King the highlight of the Denbigh Show is to get advice from livestock experts. "When we enter the competitions it's just for comparisons (of animals) but the organisers usually take time out to bring in quality experts that we really appreciate," he said, adding that organisers should begin to provide adequate water and more comfortable accommodation for farmers.
"The organisers argue that we the farmers are part of the show but we do not get that feeling. We don't feel wanted," he said.
Notwithstanding, Mr. King said he would be taking about 25 goats and 10 sheep to the show this year. Already he has began to groom the animals for the showdown.
