Plans in High Gear for St. James 4-H Food Festival

Plans are in high gear for the St. James 4-H Clubs’ ‘Nyammins and Jammins’ food festival slated for the Catherine Hall Entertainment Centre in Montego Bay on National Heroes Day, October 15.
The festival, now in its seventh year, is the premier fundraiser for the St. James 4-H Advisory Council, through which money is raised for the implementation of education and training programmes.
At a press conference held recently at the Gloustershire Hotel in Montego Bay, event coordinator, Marlene Stephenson-Dalley, said that the festival has attracted a title sponsor in the form of Pepsi Bottling Company through its Tropicana Fruit Drink product, and as such, has been renamed the ‘Tropicana Nyammins and Jammins Food Festival’.
She appealed for the usual support from patrons, stating that the festival will offer entertainment for the whole family. Patrons, she said, will be able to enjoy an excellent musical show, lots of mouth-watering food, fun, games, prizes and surprises, while there will be a special 4-H food court, which will serve traditional food items.
Mrs. Stephenson-Dalley said she was heartened by growth of the festival over the years, “and the fact that we (4-H) have been able to achieve in large part many of our objectives, which also involves the bringing of families together, because . research shows that where we have strong families, we have strong communities, and where we have strong communities, we have a strong nation.”
The festival will get underway at 10:00 a.m. and continue until 10:00 p.m. The entry fee is $500 for adults and $200 for children under 12 years.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Jamaica 4-H Movement, Norman Grant, said the St. James food festival “has come of age” and is rivaling the national event held at Denbigh each year, in terms of popularity and attractions.
He lauded the St. James Advisory Council for its foresight and vision in staging the event and for utilizing the proceeds to advance the training and education of young people.
There are approximately 67,000 clubbites and 2,500 leaders and volunteers in the 4-H Movement islandwide.