Good turnout at MAHA 2008

DESPITE it being a weekday, the number of visitors to the Malaysian Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism Exhibition 2008 (MAHA 2008) received overwhelming response.

According to a spokesman, the rodeo show is the crowd-puller to the exhibition which is being held for the third time since 2006.

All eyes: The biggest attraction to the exhibition is the rodeo show.

The event is the government’s effort to redevelop and reposition the agricultural industry as well as for investors to gather the latest information. The rodeo show, the first in the country, also served as an impetus to draw in the crowd.

The MAHA 2008 is being held from Aug 11-23 and for those who have only watched rodeo on television and on the big screen, this is the perfect time to catch one.

It is learnt that the rodeo show would be a permanent feature in future events as a means to attract the crowd.

Proudowner: Awomanshowing her24-month-oldJamnaparigoat duringthe MAHA2008 inSerdang.

The word ‘rodeo” was borrowed from the Spanish cowboys or vaqueros, which means “to surround” or “round-up” and the word was used to describe the act of gathering cattle before a cattle drive.

The Rodeo is a sport made up of several different events, each with their own style of competition, rules and rewards.

The nine main events recognised as standard events in most professional rodeo are; Bull Riding — the most dangerous and pits the cowboy’s courage and riding skill against the speed and power of a bull.

The others are — Steer Wrestling, which is the quickest of the rodeo; Tie and Rope, which is calf roping; Bareback Riding – Rough and explosive rodeo event; Steer Undercoating – Female version of steer wrestling; Breakaway Roping – Female version of calf roping; Saddle Bronc – Classic event of rodeo; Team Roping – Only team event in rodeo and Ladies Barrel Racing – the arena is cleared as cowgirls compete in the arena against each other and the clock at full speed.

And while visitors were amazed with the hour-long demonstration from these Outback cowboys, at another end visitors were shown an actual demonstration of prized cattle and goats being auctioned off.

The mobile auction barn, the first of its kind ever held in the country, presented the unique opportunity to witness and experience real livestock auction.

A 10-day livestock auction will involve the public sale of cattle and goat beginning on Friday.

Old hand: A cowboy demonstrating the tie and rope, known as calf roping, aclassic West ranch chore during the rodeo show.

According to Tropical Camel Ranchers Holding Sdn Bhd (TCR Holdings) chief executive Romni Yusoff O’Tootle, the auction programme is an avenue for generating consensus on breed development and grading of cattle or specialised livestock.

The auctioning was of Australian style and was demonstrated by Ben Houlihan of Top X Australia, a big name in the auctioning circle.