For David Lopes, livestock is a way of life and the Agricultural Exhibition has been an important part of that life since he was just a boy.

The 72-year-old dairy farmer hasn’t missed a show since he first participated in the early 1950s aside from the rare year it was cancelled for various reasons. He has many fond memories showcasing an abundance of livestock including his cows, horses, poultry and rabbits.

What’s more, he has every confidence that there is a place for the annual fixture in the future despite Government’s recent announcement that it would not be funding the event this year.

It is anticipated that a show of sorts will take place regardless thanks to a combination of a growing community effort and the dedication of some of the show’s mainstays, including the Bermuda Poultry Fanciers Association and the Bermuda Equestrian Federation.

Mr Lopes, who will be participating this year as part of the Bermuda Poultry Fanciers Association, believes that while the event is not as big as it used to be, it is still as important to the Island as the day it was founded by former Governor Sir William Reid in 1841.

“We didn’t have what kids have today — the Ag Show is a big thing today but it was even bigger back then,” he recalled. “It is a part of our heritage and it showcases the quality of livestock and produce we can produce in Bermuda.

“I don’t think agriculture is irrelevant today — in fact, I think you will find there are more and more people who are looking to grow some of what they eat these days.”

Mr Lopes has always loved animals — perhaps it was thanks to the goat his father bought for him when he was three. Stretching back his memory to his early days at the Ag Show, Mr Lopes recalls participating as a keen 15-year-old showcasing pet rabbits and poultry. His foray into dairy farming in 1956 led him to start competing with cattle and then in the mid-60s it was the hackney ponies and show horses.

“There was a real interest at that time and the horse show,” he said. “Malcolm Ralph Terceira got this started. He was the type of guy that when he bought something, he bought the best and he wasn’t afraid to sell it to you the next day then turn around and buy something better.

“When he came out, he came out right. We had the proper viceroys, buggies and harnesses — everything was top class and everybody wanted beat him. He would sell out — you thought you had bought a champion and the next day he would buy something better and it would be on the next boat or plane coming to Bermuda.

“Ralph eventually got out of it all together and we didn’t have a person to keep it going. I was very involved until it died out. Once harness racing came in the guys realised they could get more bang out of their buck with a racing pony that would race five or six months out of the year as opposed to the show pony that we only had three or four shows every year.”

Mr Lopes’ livestock have earned him countless awards and trophies over the years, including a particularly special Ayrshire cow.

“This cow was the best Ayrshire in the show. The Olin Linnwoods Trophy was the most contested trophy because it was this beautiful rose bowl — Sir Howard Trott and Bob Terceira had imported cows from Olin Linnwoods farm so they put up a trophy I won that trophy more than anybody — probably eight or nine times.”

Mr Lopes is hopeful about the future of the Ag Show, recently renamed the Annual Exhibition, to reflect a broadening of focus outside of agriculture.

“The exhibition means different things to different people — for me it’s the livestock and the agricultural aspects. For other people it can be the food and the crafts or the flowers and the plants. The show also provides organisations and charities with a way to make money.

“There is absolutely a future for the Ag Show. Someone has to take the bull by the horns, if you will pardon the pun, and make this show at least be able to cover its costs and that can be done.

“I would like to see a committee of people who have no affiliation with Government whatsoever to run the exhibition and a show director who would be responsible for the show.

“The Government would just provide the gardens. How would it be funded? We would have to work that out. I think people who are involved in the exhibition and know how to run it are the people who should be running it.”