Byron McDaniel, Gleaner Writer
Patrons attending the annual Trelawny yam festival view yams on display at the event on Easter Monday. - BYRON MCDANIEL PHOTO
WALDERSTON, Manchester:
The rustic charm of the rural community of Albert Town in southern Trelawny, came alive on Easter Monday as thousands of people converged on the small rural town for the annual yam festival.
"This yam festival is not the largest in attendance, but among the top in terms of quality," said Adam Rhoads, a United States Peace Corps volunteer assigned to STEA. An estimated 10,000 to 12,000 people attended the show.
Thirty-four old Leroy Gillings emerged winner of the yam digging competition, one of the more popular events at the festival. He dug two hills of yam in four minutes. The four time winner was presented with an agricultural fork, $8,000 in cash and a gift package.
Mr. Gillings said he has been a yam farmer from age 15 and now cultivates 1000 hills of yam.
Yam farming is the main source of income for the more than 6,000 farmers in the area and is a valuable foreign-exchange earner for the country through exports to international markets.
The festival is organised by the Southern Trelawny Environ-mental Agency (STEA) annually to highlight and share with the rest of the island, as well as with tourists, the Cockpit Country's main agricultural produce and its various uses.
