Young Farmer Turns Passion into Award-Winning Success

From a tender age, 2026 National Young Champion Farmer, Ricardo Genus, cultivated a passion for farming that has blossomed into a lifelong pursuit of innovation, excellence, and transformative leadership.

With approximately 145 acres under cultivation, Mr. Genus, who formally entered the agricultural sector at the age of 19, has embraced modern technology, diversified his crop production, and adopted practices that have enhanced both productivity and sustainability.

Over the years, Mr. Genus, who proudly describes farming as being in his DNA, has embraced an inclusive business model that empowers his workers by giving them a stake in the enterprise.

The National Young Champion Farmer was announced and garlanded during the 72nd staging of the Denbigh Agricultural, Industrial and Food Show in May Pen, Clarendon, in August.

In expressing gratitude for the award, Mr. Genus, who previously won the coveted title twice, says he remained confident throughout the process in the work he had invested in on his farm.

“I feel ecstatic, it’s an honour. Well… based on over 145 acres of production… I was very confident, because it is properly managed and it is efficient, involving a lot of technology. I [have now won the title for] three years straight,” he tells JIS News.

Mr. Genus, who hails from Golden Grove, St. Ann, explains that, beyond the specialised tools, machinery and vehicles used for crop cultivation and livestock rearing, he also utilises technology such as drones, cameras and trained dogs to support his farming operations.

He acknowledges the need for additional equipment to further expand production, including a harvester, a D4 or D6 bulldozer for land preparation, two Bobcats and a hay baler, which would enable him to produce hay for his animals and supply other farmers.

The Ferncourt High School alumnus, who celebrates his 35th birthday this month, tells JIS News that although he initially focused on livestock rearing, he has since diversified into crop cultivation.

“I have a love for cattle. From I was a boy growing up, I’ve always loved animals; so when I got into it, I started a large volume of animals. But then I realised that I needed the crops [to improve] cash flow, so I ventured into crops [such as] sweet potatoes, pumpkin, hot peppers, cabbage, tomatoes, and sweet peppers. For goat, we do goat milking. I’m doing cattle dairy [as well]. So it’s an innovative farm where we’re doing different fields of agriculture,” he says.

Mr. Genus shares that, although farming comes with its challenges, he remains committed to continuous growth and improvement.

“Currently, I have a location of 50 acres where I am doing crops… but I am also doing dairy. So what I’m doing now is I’m trying to put in two or three ponds… I’m trying to do a lot of water harvesting, trying to get into greenhouse, trying to be efficient where I can produce, and also plant grass for the cows, do soilage making, plant corn, plant sorghum… so I can feed the cattle. It’s all about being efficient, because when you have the crops, it generates a quicker income… when you have the cattle, it’s a long term.

“I like when a farm is efficient and can be productive in the sense that it can maintain itself and grow also. So I try to maximise all available resources that I have,” he tells JIS News.

Describing farming as something he genuinely loves, Mr. Genus says he takes great pride in sharing his knowledge and expertise with fellow farmers who turn to him for guidance.

“In my area, I have a lot of farmers who approach me for advice, in terms of what to spray their crops with and what’s the best chemical for nutrition. I have a lot of them approaching me to market their farm produce. So I try to be as helpful as I can to other farmers for them to improve,” he indicates.

The former bellhop, who turned down an opportunity to work aboard a cruise ship and instead committed himself fully to farming, shares that there is a sense of excitement in being in full control of his enterprise and having access to the technology and equipment needed to grow it.

He notes that key players from organisations within the sector have been crucial to his success over the past years.

“I went to a meeting at the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) in Claremont, and I met some people from the Jamaica Dairy Development Board…. and they were instrumental in terms of motivating me to go goat dairy and cow dairy. RADA has played their part and a couple people from the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) have been instrumental [as well],” he informs.

Mr. Genus said he has set a goal of acquiring his own property within the next 10 years, noting that while he currently leases the lands on which he operates, land ownership remains one of his key aspirations.

The young farmer adds that he hopes to establish tunnel housing for chicken farming and utilise manure from the poultry operation as part of a more integrated and sustainable farming enterprise.

Believing that success is most meaningful when shared, Mr. Genus has sought to empower his workers by creating opportunities for personal and economic advancement beyond the farm itself.

“I have people around me for 10 to12 years, so I have established a relationship where I try to motivate them and let them feel a part of the business. So I have a goat herd, and I allow them to have animals in it… just to keep them motivated so that they are more efficient,” he tells JIS News.

The National Young Champion Farmer encourages individuals interested in pursuing a career in agriculture to surround themselves with positive, productive and efficient people, noting that farming has the potential to both make and break an individual.

“You have to find a way to be motivated and to be inspired by what you are doing. So if you know you have 10 bulls, you can say to yourself… ‘this is $3 million, I’d like to double it to $6 million’. Just try to make it more appealing and inspiring to yourself and, from there, you’ll grow to love it. Money can be made from agriculture, but you have to be motivated,” he shares.

Mr. Genus highlights that the Agro Parks initiative, administered by the Agro-Invest Corporation, is contributing to the growth of the agricultural sector while creating opportunities for more people to become involved in farming.

Agro-parks are specialised agricultural zones established to increase agricultural production, reduce imports and strengthen food security.

They provide infrastructure such as irrigation systems, roads and storage facilities to support farmers and investors.

“I like where agriculture is going at the moment. But there is a lot of land out there with good potential that is underutilised. I think those things can be capitalised on,” Mr. Genus shares.

The National Young Champion Farmer Competition was introduced in 1990 to encourage young people to become involved in agriculture and to recognise those who demonstrate excellence in farming practices.

While it employs the same judging criteria as the National Champion Farmer Competition, the programme is specifically geared towards farmers between the ages of 18 and 35.

To qualify, participants are not required to own the farms they operate, as leased or family-owned farms are also eligible.