Shelly-Ann Thompson, Staff Reporter
Dave Whitter of Fairview Farms, Southfield, St Elizabeth with Pepper Dick Dottie. The Red Poll bull which weighs an amazing 2,400 pounds was on display at the 56th staging of the Denbigh Agricultural and Industrial Show in Clarendon on the weekend. The animal copped the award for the champion Red Poll and supreme champion bull in 2007 and was therefore not allowed to enter in any competition this year. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer
DENBIGH, Clarendon:
Hundreds of Jamaican young women paraded in bikinis on the hip strip of Negril, Westmoreland this past weekend, but four girls who donned water boots and crushed overalls said they would not have traded to be anywhere else than at the three-day Denbigh Agricultural and Industrial Show that ended yesterday.
The four girls, ages 18 to 20 - Sherone Brown, Shaneeka Bishop, Keisha Brooks and Donique Ellis - are agriculturalist in training at the Ebony Park HEART Academy in Toll Gate, Clarendon. They chose to celebrate their Emancipation holiday weekend by showcasing their best goats at the 56th staging of the agricultural show at the Denbigh Show Grounds.
They bathed, brushed and fed the goats that the school displayed at the agricultural show, which drew about 100,000 patrons.
Brown sparked patrons' attention as she paraded the livestock area with a 180 pound Boer buck, called Massop.
"Calm down, boy," she said, stepping through a muddy area showing off a weary Massop to admirers.
"He wants to go home," Brown told The Gleaner. The buck grabbed the Supreme Champion prize in the graded Boer buck under two-year-old category.
Brown applauded the Govern-ment for placing an emphasis on youth in agriculture, which she said is fascinating and financially rewarding. According to Brown more of her peers should be educated about its potential.
"Without agriculture many things wouldn't be possible," said Brown.
"We need food to survive, I need to say no more," she added.
Lessons learnt
(From left) Keisha Brooks, 20; Donique Ellis, 18; Sherone Brown, 19; and Shaneeka Bishop, 18; students of Ebony Park HEART Academy showcase two of their favourite goats, Ranae, left, and Massop, that were on display at Denbigh Agricultural and Industrial Show that ended yesterday in Clarendon. - Photo by Shelly-Ann Thompson
Her schoolmate, Bishop, 18, was equally passionate. Bishop admitted that she would want to be partying the holiday weekend but quickly said she chose to be at Denbigh as the lessons learnt at the event are beneficial for her professional development.
"I have to learn to feed myself and my nation before I can party," said Bishop.
"People must understand too that agriculture is important for tourism," she added.
Brooks, 20, who is also studying general agriculture said being at Denbigh and seeing the smiles of patrons as they viewed their prized goats and cows was just as much fun as partying.
"You know you have to party every now and then, especially with school, to release the stress, but agriculture is just as important," said Brooks.
The girls spoke highly about their institution and said more Jamaicans should visit the school to get an appreciation for the sector. Ellis said agriculture is more than weeding and planting, and pleaded for the Government to continue its emphasis on the sector for it to gain popularity and international recognition.
In the livestock category, Ebony Park won five first-place awards presented at the show. The school also grabbed four second-place, one third-place and an award for champion doe.
The Clarendon-based school specialises in agriculture, hospitality and information technology.
The four girls were part of a 34-member team from the school, which exhibited agricultural produce in crops, livestock, ornamental and horticultural and agro-processing items at Denbigh.
shelly-ann.thompson@gleanerjm.com
