Preparations for this year’s Ag Show at the Botanical Gardens are well under way, according to organisers.

The 2017 event, which will take place between April 20 and 22, will see the return of the tug-o-war competitions as well as the usual collection of farmyard and agricultural favourites.

This year’s Ag Show will be the second event orchestrated by the Ag Show Ltd, which was formed from public-private partnership with Government and Ag Show devotees.

At the end of last year, the two parties signed a three-year memorandum of understanding safeguarding the event until 2019.

Antwan Albuoy, president of the Ag Show Ltd, told The Royal Gazette that the 2017 catalogue outlining competition details and deadlines would be out within days.

“We are putting the final touches to the catalogue and it should be out by next Monday at the latest,” he said.

“This will contain all the details about the contests and the different divisions, as well as the requirements and conditions of all the competitions.

“Last year was the first Ag Show we had organised and there were a lot of successes, but there are also a few improvements that we want to make for this year.

“The general layout of the show worked well last year, and we are not going to change that. There will be an open area around the pig stalls, allowing people to look into the entertainment tent.

“This year we will be bringing back the old favourite of the tug-o-war competition.”

Organisers hope to hold three days of tug-o-war competitions for schoolchildren, police and other public services and also local gyms and businesses. Prize money from the contest is expected to go to charity.

David Lopes, the Ag Show Ltd’s chairman, added: “The infrastructure is in place from last year, so will be ready to go again this year; the only difference being, the event takes place a week later because of the way Easter falls.

“We hope to have the Bermuda Regiment Band with us this year and are working on a few other surprises too. We will be ready to go and hope everyone gets behind us again.”

The Ag Show returned last April after a one-year hiatus following Government’s decision to cut funding to the event.

Grounds at the Botanical Grounds were packed to capacity for the revived event, which included traditional favourites such as farmyard animals, highly trained horses and dogs, botanical displays and food stalls.

It also included a children’s art exhibition, as well as home-grown entertainment that proved popular with attendees.