This was during a walkabout of the Department’s exhibition at the annual Bloem Show on Freedom Day.

Khoabane, joined by his wife Winkie, looked in on projects ranging from the Hlasela Tlala Ka Diratswana food garden project to a hatcheries project, as well as land care, agro-processing and animal health initiatives, among others. He says exhibitions like this are very important:

"We have to do more than we do, but I am impressed that at least we are able to show people what we are doing. I think it's education more than anything else - about the things we are doing and what people can do for themselves. This is where they have to start."

Meanwhile the agriculture programme at the show is already in full swing. Melissa Moore from Kentucky in the USA is one of the judges at this year’s national SA Saddle Horse Championship,  underway until Saturday, 30 April. She was full of praise for the horses on show:

"I love the South african Saddle Horses. I was over here in 2004 and actually purchased three and exported them back to the United States so they are very near and dear to my heart.

"There is a difference to them - they are more sturdy, they are hardier horses. So they are a great cross for our Saddle Horses in the Unted States and I love coming over here to see what new and exciting horses you have - it's a lot of fun."

The small stock have also started strutting their stuff with the Merino five ewe herd competition and the Free State Ram of the Year already finalised. Still to come this week are the Merino nationals, the Suffolk nationals and the Border Leicester provincials, as well as the exhilarating national sheep shearing championships.

On the cattle side, competition has been fierce in both the Dexter and the Jersey national championships. Hanro Uys from Bredasdorp was ecstatic after his cow Nora took top honours as the Champion Heifer. He says there were some top quality animals on show:

"It's incredibly strong competition. We have about 130 entries and they are unbelieveable animals - I think everyone has brought their best. It's not like you walk into the ring and can immeduately pick out a cow that you think will win, so I think the judge has his work cut out for him."

Sabrina Dean/OFM News