4-H Clubbites vie for Honours at National Achievement Day

Sandwich making, cattle judging, meal preparation and table setting were just some of the many competitive events held on day one of the Jamaica 4-H Clubs National Achievement Day, yesterday (April 27) at the Denbigh Agricultural showground in Clarendon.
The two-day event, which ends today (April 28) showcases activities held during the year in the areas of home economics, agriculture, agro-processing, public speaking and environmental challenge, and will see clubbities competing for top awards in the various categories. Approximately 400 clubbites from more than 650 4-H clubs islandwide, are expected to participate.
Judging of the sandwich making and meal preparation competitions began at approximately 2:00 p.m. with some 30 clubbites participating. Participants in the sandwich making competition were asked to make four types of sandwiches; the pinwheel, checkerboard, ribbon and an open sandwich for children at a party.
Judge Sandra Ramsey told JIS that the judges would be looking for dainty, attractive sandwiches that have clean cuts with appropriate fillings, which would be eaten by small children at a party.
“I am impressed because they (the clubbities) are young – nine to 12 years old – and you could see that they are working very hard preparing sandwiches. They are doing what persons over the age of 17 years are being paid to do in restaurants, so they are doing very well,” she said.
In the meal preparation category, the participants were told to prepare a one-course meal using fish as the main dish. Before entering this event, Miss Ramsey said, participants had to prepare a project book stating why they were entering the competition and listing the recipe and other vegetables and juices to go with the meal. She noted that the skills learnt by the clubbites prepared them to be self reliant, built self-esteem and equipped them to start income generating projects.
“This will teach them to have entrepreneurial skills from early because we have to face the facts, not everyone can be employed, so we teach them to become self sufficient,” she added.
Manager of Field Services and Economic Development at the Jamaica 4-H Clubs, Linton Barnes, told JIS News that clubbites would compete for prizes in 19 competitive events such as budding and grafting, skirt making, trash to cash, rabbit care and poultry care and public speaking. He noted that clubbites had participated in four competitive events, including three in the home economics category and cattle judging, at the Bodles Research station on the first day.
He thanked the many agencies and organisations for sponsoring the event, particularly Knox Community College in Clarendon, which took in clubbities that could not be accommodated at Denbigh.
In terms of meals for the participants, Mr. Linton said, “we try to be very creative. We produce some of the foodstuff at our centre and utilize our staff in doing the cooking and serving the clubbites in order to put on the function.”
Mr. Barnes also called on parents of clubbites to visit the schools to see what the students were doing and to understand the operations of the 4-H movement.