It may have come in under many people’s radar in yesterday edition of this newspaper, but a most heart-warming and motivating news story was that featuring the 2023 National 4-H Champion Boy interviewed at the just-wrapped Denbigh Agricultural, Industrial and Food Show.

“My youth, dip a toe in agriculture, just you toe, [don’t] put the whole foot. Once you dip you toe, the whole foot will follow. And if you don’t know how to start, try 4-H,” said 18-year-old Ishmael Smythe.

He has appealed to his peers to consider the fruits — no pun intended — of a career in agriculture.

In full knowledge that too many of today’s youth care not for the long route of ploughing, sowing, tending, waiting, and then harvesting, his call rings out amid the overlapping high-pitched sounds at the end of two-minute microwave cycles.

As the nation grapples with the business of food security, Smythe gives hope that his generation will not relegate the nation to a growing balance of trade deficit.

The sixth former at Ferncourt High School developed a line of aloe vera-based products that helped him earn the title of National 4-H Champion Boy 2023 and a $1-million prize. Now he is telling all his peers who will listen that they need to go out on a limb and try agriculture.

“They have community clubs, school clubs, colleges and more; there are many ways to get involved. Just put a toe, after that everything will just fall in line, trust me. I did that and look where I am now,” added Smythe in the report.

He explained his own process.

“The teabag, soap, and compost are all made organically from the locally sourced aloe vera plant. The aim was to do my part in combating climate change while being part of the ‘Grow smart, eat smart’ initiative,” he said.

So much can be achieved with the application of the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) tools being advocated by our nation’s educators. The present curriculum that produces students’ Primary Exit Profile is chock-full of elements which encourage thinking outside the box without a cellphone in hand. And, programmes maintained by organisations such as the 4-H movement take it from the pages of textbooks, nurturing interest into vocation.

This is why the efforts of the organisers of the Denbigh Agricultural, Industrial and Food Show must be commended.

No doubt, the expo gives the opportunity for the many players in the space to display their work, but it also shines a light on this less sexy, yet crucially important area of a truly independent State and its ability to feed itself.

We in this space hope it was not all for show, and that minister of agriculture, the energetic Floyd Green, will truly implement the policy components to support the promulgation of the methods and systems that will undergird this nation’s push towards food security.

That Prime Minister Andrew Holness will include, as part of his legacy projects, programmes that will support Smythe and those of like mind to achieve their full potential.

If it does not gain this pride of place, republican status or parliamentary monarchy will make absolutely no difference, as we would be a State still unable to feed its people. This trumps all grand announcements and speeches.

We must get to work. Young Ishmael Smythe is part of the solution.