The Agricultural Show will mark its 80th anniversary this year — by going to the dogs.

Jeff Sousa, the spokesman for the Ag Show, said that Canine Stars, North America’s top dog stunt show, would headline the show at the Botanical Gardens in Paget.

Mr Sousa said: “We have four dogs who are coming in and these are some of the best dogs in the world.

“We have a dog coming from South Korea, we have one coming from Belgium, we have one coming from Canada and one from the United States.

He added: “If people have seen the videos online, then they know how impressive the show is.”

Mr Sousa said he was convinced the Canine Stars would be a huge hit because of the island’s fondness for animals.

He said: “Bermudians love dogs. We have every breed you can imagine here, because we all want to have something different.

“We are totally dog people if you think about it. Just go down to Noah’s Ark pet store on a weekend and you’ll see it.”

Mr Sousa said the stunt show would be held in the event’s main ring twice a day but that spectators would also be able to meet the dogs after the show.

He said: “Our host hotel for the four dogs and the trainers is the Fairmount Southampton, who have very generously taken care of their accommodations. Fairmont Southampton is a dog-friendly hotel now.

“With any international act like this being flown in there are, of course, lots of expenses and we would like to thank our sponsors for this special international attraction to help us celebrate the 80th Ag Show.”

Mr Sousa said Sousa’s Landscape Management and Sousa’s Gardens were the main sponsor for the stunt show, but other sponsors stepped forward including the Gibbons Company, the OIL Group of Companies, Harrington Hundreds supermarket, Care@Home Services, Stoltzfus Feed and Supply, Kirk Kitson, Neil and Carla Stempel, Gilbert Lopes and Alan Burland.

He added that the dog stunt show would be only one part of the three-day event.

Mr Sousa said: “We’re still going to have the pigs.

“The poultry barn will be packed with every type of bantam that you have ever seen and some that you never knew existed.

“There will be the orchids, which are always amazing to see. Some people skip over them, but there are the roses which people really shouldn’t miss.

“There are the cakes, the arrangements, the art and in the lower area we will have all sorts of entertainment for the full three days of the show.”

Mr Sousa also promised a wide range of food, from fried fish to Portuguese doughnuts — malassadas — with a portion of the profits from all of the stalls going towards charity. He said: “Over the years, thousands and thousands of dollars have been donated to worthwhile charities.”

The Ag Show will start next Thursday and run until Saturday.

Mr Sousa said the show was usually held later in the month, but that organisers decided to bring it forward to avoid conflict with the MS Amlin World Triathlon Bermuda.

Mr Sousa said the Ag Show had evolved over the years and was still an important event on the Bermuda calendar.

He said: “There really is something for everybody. To me, it’s the largest community event in Bermuda.

“You really see the mosaic of Bermuda not only come out but participate.”

Mr Sousa added that 80 years ago men would have been out on the field with their horses to demonstrate their ploughing skills.

He said: “Their grandchildren are now out there jumping with world-class show horses.”