Clubbites in St. Mary display talents at 4-H Achievement Day

PORT ANTONIO — Members of 4-H clubs in St. Mary displayed their many talents at the annual St. Mary 4-H Achievement Day, held at the Llanrunmey Estate near Port Maria, on April 7, under the theme: ‘Value added agriculture for youth transformation’.

The event featured various projects prepared by the various clubs, the staging of competitive events among the clubs, and the presentation of a lunch hour concert with performances from students of participating schools.

Among the competitive events were public speaking, cake baking and decorating, sandwich making, agro-processing, rabbit care and management, poultry care and management, budding and grafting, circumposing and potting, and the St. Mary 4-H Boy and Girl of the Year contest.

Romaine Duncan and Ava-Gail Lindsey, both students of St. Mary High School, were chosen as the parish's 4-H Boy and Girl of the Year, respectively.

Among the entities which erected display booths were: Ministry of Energy and Mining, Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), National Family Planning Board (NFPB), National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), Cocoa Industry Board, Jamaica Fire Brigade, Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), the Social Development Commission (SDC), and the Jamaica Constabulary Force.

Officer in charge of  St. Mary Police, Superintendent Cedrick Allen, who addressed the opening ceremony, congratulated the Jamaica 4-H clubs for the exemplary work it is doing to mould the lives of young people, and encouraged the clubbites to remain steadfast and committed to the ideals of the organisation.

Pointing out that the experience they will gain from membership in the 4-H movement will help to make them responsible and independent citizens, Superintendent Allen said the programmes conducted and the principles promulgated by the organisation will also help to provide critical support for the campaign being conducted to encourage Jamaicans to “eat what we grow and grow what we eat."

The 4-H Parish Development Officer for St. Mary, Charlene Edwards-Butler told JIS News that the Achievement Day was a success, and congratulated the teachers and community leaders who prepared the clubs for the event.

She also commended the clubbites for the high quality of the displays they mounted, and the outstanding performances they gave during the competitive events.

Mrs. Edwards-Butler exhorted residents of St. Mary to continue to support the various clubs in the parish.

By ASTON G. BAILEY, JIS Reporter