CHAIRMAN of the local and regional 4-H club movements, Norman Grant, yesterday recorded his commitment to continue the work of the 66-year-old club under newly-appointed Minister of Agriculture, Dr Christopher Tufton.

“I would like to place on record my congratulations to the newly appointed Minister and say – subject to his jurisdiction, of course – that the 4-H movement continues to be committed to work with (him) as it relates to the advancement of youth in agriculture,” said Grant, who is also president of the Jamaica Agriculture Society.

He was speaking at the 4-H’s press launch of the seventh annual Nyamming and Jammings Food Festival, now the Tropicana Nyammings and Jammings food festival, which will take place at the Catherine Hall entertainment centre on Heroes Day, October 15.

Yesterday’s launch, which took place at the Gloustershire Hotel on Montego Bay’s ‘Hip Strip’, was attended by representatives of some two dozen corporate sponsors who expressed pleasure at being a part of the festival which is aimed at raising funds to further the work of the organisation.

Last year’s festival was a family affair which saw the conventional likes of the Fab Five band and several gospel and secular artists. The event enabled the organisation to commit $500,000 to a scholarship trust fund which will be extended to 4-H clubbites who face financial challenges. The fund will be launched within weeks and will be adminstered by a group of trustees which include Council Members, Enel Brydson, 4-H regional manager, Barbara Lawrence; Brian Miller and Marlene McGregor.

The festival is produced by broadcaster Marline Stephenson-Dalley and will feature several new features designed at preserving its indigenous flavour. Foremost among these will be the 4-H food court featuring traditional Jamaican cuisine.

The local 4-H movement caters to some 67, 000 youth between the ages of nine and 25 island wide. The main aim of the organisation, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Agriculture, is to facilitate the development of the youth in the field of agriculture. Grant also thanked Roger Clarke, the former agricuture minister under the recently deposed People’s National Party for his service to the organisation.