Guernsey’s South Show boasted a variety of the southern parishes best produce with both home grown and home made exhibits on display.
The event looks to continue for many more years too, with the Show President commending its organisers, entrants, and attendees for all of their hard work and support.
John Ogier was brimming with pride after a successful start to the two-day Show on Friday, with a great influx of around 1,000 entries exhibiting in this year’s displays.
He said the start of 2025’s show has been a success.
“I think it’s gone really well. We’ve got near on 1,000 exhibits across all the different classes, and everyone’s come together as a team, and it’s a great community parish event.”
Amidst the hall full of the South’s Best, the President of the show highlighted some of the high quality horticultural entries, noting the winning fruit basket with its tremendous, and even some Mediterranean fruits grown locally due to Guernsey’s changing climate.
He also mentioned some of the fantastic crafts on display, and was particularly moved by a poem written by a child about the 80th anniversary of Guernsey’s Liberation, which connects the present with the past through a conversation with a grandparent.
The South Show started on Friday with the judges assessing the 1,000 entries in the various agricultural, horticultural, and craft competitions.
Saturday’s highlights included live music from the Guernsey Jazz Orchestra and accordionist Michael Kinnersly, along with a performance by the Guernsey Majorettes.
The Guernsey Dog Show took part over the weekend too with the GSPCA hosting the event as part of the South Show.
Mr Ogier has been involved with the South Show for a number of years, and grew up in St Martin’s.
He said the show has still got it’s roots in agriculture and horticulture, but has had to evolve.
“(I) still remember when it was a big show and it was all about cows and people with hundreds of feet of glass houses and big trays of tomatoes and things like that, and that was great, and we want to keep that connection with plants and that, but we’ve got to change it as well.
The origins of the event are still at the shows heart though, with a keen focus on promoting healthy eating, cooking and crafting.
“We’ve had to change with the way, but it’s also still about having people grow their own food, and about that actually being good for your well being, and for community and for children,” said Mr Ogier.
“I think it’s got a real future as well.”
For families, there was a lot to do, with appearances from Sleeping Beauty and Rapunzel, a Petite Funfair, face painting, and a willow craft workshop, and of course the café, stalls, and raffle were all open across the two days.
Mr Ogier lastly sent a big shout out to the southern parishes community.
“I’d like to send a big message of ‘thank you’, and let’s keep going, let’s keep creating, and let’s keep doing this for our parishes, our island, and our community.”