Youth Innovation Shines at St Mary 4-H Parish Achievement Expo

Youth creativity and innovation were on display as primary and secondary level students matched their skills in various competitive events at the St. Mary 4-H Parish Achievement Expo.

Held recently at the St. Mary High School grounds under the theme: ‘Youth in Agriculture: Shaping the New FACE of Food’, the event included competitions in agriculture, home economics, leadership, environmental management, among other areas, with students winning trophies and other prizes.

Kymani Parkins from St. Mary Technical High School, and St. Mary High School’s Nickelia Ramdon, won the coveted 4-H Boy and Girl of the Year awards, respectively, for their outstanding projects.

Seventeen-year-old Kymani took home the award for his porridge mix, which he told JIS News, can also be used as a punch.

He said that the product, made from locally grown ingredients was an update of his entry from last year in the category of product development.

“It was made from plantain, peanut and cinnamon; those were the main ingredients. Now this year I revamped it, I created a new label, I added other ingredients such as stinking toe [locust fruit] as Jamaicans might know it and a hint of pumpkin,” he told JIS News.

Kymani said that his grandfather was the main inspiration behind his project.

“Currently, I live with my grandpa, and he has a farm and it’s just the two of us. He has plantain, pineapple, ackee, everything you can think of. So, I [thought] why not just use these and enter the competition, which was my goal last year and this year, I really pushed to be the Boy of the Year,” he said.

Nickelia, who copped the Girl of the Year crown for the second straight year, entered the competition with her Nature’s Secrets business, which creates body products and spices such as curry.

She expressed pride in the project, highlighting that it has enabled her to effectively utilise locally available products like turmeric.

Nickelia said that her involvement in the 4-H movement has enabled her to harness her artistic, home economics and leadership skills to create valued-added items from agricultural produce.

Regional Manager for the Jamaica 4-H Clubs’ Eastern Region, Charlene Edwards- Marshall, was pleased with the efforts and creativity on display.

“We want young people to understand that agriculture is important, and we want them to understand that as young people they need to get into agriculture or else there is no future. That is why we are looking at how they can shape the ‘New FACE of Food’,” she told JIS News.

The Jamaica 4-H Clubs annual achievement expos, held across the 14 parishes, allow students to showcase their innovative skills in agriculture and entrepreneurship.

These events culminate at the National Achievement Expo, which this year, will be held on May 10 at the Denbigh 4-H Centre in Clarendon where the parish winners will compete at the national level.

The National Expo offers a platform to highlight advancements in agricultural practices, youth development and food security across Jamaica.