Craig Oates
Farming is oftentimes said to be the lifeline of our country, but many persons don’t believe in farming. This is especially true for our younger generation, which prefers to eat foreign-grown food. This foreign-oriented appetite of our residents has seen to our country buying far more from other countries, racking up our balance of payments, increasing our debt and making life more difficult for us as a country. In Hanover, however, one young lady is seeking to turn the tide and move forward into farming.
Denae Patterson has been blazing a trail of glory and was just awarded 1st place in cattle judging dairy at the Jamaica 4-H Club’s Achievement Expo 2018. The event was held at the Denbigh Show Ground, located in Clarendon, where first place winners from the Parish Achievement Expos compete for recognition.
The Jamaica 4-H Club is a youth-training organization committed to developing outstanding leaders with marketable skills to succeed in today’s society. Its mandate is to train young people between the ages of five to twenty-five in the areas of agriculture, home economics, leadership, social skills, entrepreneurship, environmental awareness and healthy lifestyles.
The cattle judging competition entails making a careful evaluation/analysis of animals and measuring them against a standard that is commonly accepted as ideal. There are two aspects to it: theory and practical. In theory, one would require the knowledge of animal husbandry, diseases, pasture management and record keeping. For the practical, one should know the parts of the cow and speak the language; know what are regarded as ‘desirable traits’ and must develop the ability to observe, compare, come to logical conclusions and then defend their placing in an audible, accurate and convincing manner.
Eighteen-year-old Denae from Santoy, Hanover said, “Cattle rearing, for me, is a passion; it is a major part of me. Every weekend, I accompany my father and siblings to our small farm where we would milk our Jamaica Hope Cow, Daisy, and check on the rest of the herd.”
Denae is a former student of the Rusea’s High School. She now attends the Montego Bay Community College. She is a well-rounded student who aspires to become a pathologist and dairy farmer. If we have more students like Denae, it will be safe to say that our country would be on a path of sustainable food security. It’s not very often that our bright young students have the passion for agriculture; I wish her all the best in her endeavours.
HANOVER ALSO CAUGHT UP IN WORLD CUP FEVER
Not to be outdone, Hanover is caught up in World Cup Fever. Flags can be seen flying everywhere with the usual popular teams – Brazil, Germany and Argentina leading the pack if flags sales is anything to go by. What is obvious is that the World Cup has given us entertainment that will probably keep some of our idle youngsters attentive for the next month. It is my wish that these good vibes continue and the rivalries remain friendly.
