600 Clubbites to Compete in 4-H Clubs National Achievement Day

Some 600 participants from several schools and community clubs across the island will compete in this year’s 4-H Clubs National Achievement Day on April 26 and 27 at the Denbigh Agricultural Showground in May Pen, Clarendon.
Speaking at a recent JIS ‘Think Tank’, Executive Director of the Jamaica 4-H Clubs, Lenworth Fulton, noted that this year’s event would be held under the theme: ‘Transforming Jamaica through Youth Development’.
According to Mr. Fulton, the concept behind the achievement day is to teach the participants networking, leadership and life skills as well as the importance of fostering proper values and attitudes.
He added that the participants would be judged in some 20 areas, including public speaking, home economics, goat, poultry and rabbit care and management; agri-processing and an environmental component.
“We will have an environmental challenge section, which carries a research project, a field trip as well as a skit. The skit is to teach children to make songs and poems about environmental degradation,” the Executive Director said.
Mr. Fulton pointed out that the 4-H Clubs had long been a pioneer organization engaged in environmental restoration, as was evident in the tree- planting efforts of many of the club members. However, the clubs have sought to broaden its scope by engaging in other activities geared at protecting the environment.
In keeping with the 4-H clubs’ pledge which speaks to the importance of healthy living, the organizers will be setting up a health booth at this year’s event.
“This will be a distinctive feature at our National Achievement Day. We will have a distinct tent highlighting healthy lifestyles, showing things that our children should not do, including hazardous practices, and foods,” Mr. Fulton said.
Adults will also be able to donate blood at the health booth, which will be manned by personnel from the Jamaica Blood Transfusion Centre.
The national competition is a culmination of the 14 parish achievement days where the winners from the various parishes compete against each other for national honours. Prizes will include cash, trophies, medals, and certificates for all participants.
Patrons are invited to view the displays and observe the competition on Friday from 10:00 a.m. The event will be staged at a cost of some $5 million.