THE 65 students at Baxter’s Mountain Primary School are celebrating new opportunities after the handover of a canteen, tuck shop, and poultry house populated with 150 ready-to-lay hens donated by feed brand Nutramix.

At the recent handing over ceremony, principal of the 93-year-old institution, Sherene Harris Burrell became emotional as she described the years of appealing for support before the feed brand stepped in.

“We are, indeed, grateful. We have faced these challenges for some time and reached out to several stakeholders without success. This canteen, tuck shop, and poultry house will make a real difference, especially in strengthening our breakfast programme. From all of us here at Baxter’s Mountain Primary, thanks a million for this gracious and well-appreciated gift,” she said.

The facilities will not only improve daily meals but also provide practical learning opportunities for the students.

Councillor Hugh Bryan (Jamaica Labour Party, Annotto Bay Division) welcomed the development: “Baxter’s Mountain is a rural community, and it is not often that they receive this level of corporate support. The principal saw the need for a breakfast programme, and now it has become reality. This gesture truly exceeds expectations.”

The project began when Samuel Jones, sales manager at Nutramix, shared the school’s need with company leadership following a site visit. Construction, which included the poultry house and a new canteen and tuck shop, took close to eight months.

Nutramix Regional Sales Manager Winston Thomas emphasised that the initiative reflects the company’s value and wider commitment.

“As a feed company we depend on communities to support what we do, and in turn we want to give back. Projects like this help feed the next generation of farmers and adults in Jamaica. This is part of our long-term plan to continue building facilities like these for schools across the island,” Thomas said.

For Baxter’s Mountain Primary, the donation marks not just the addition of new buildings but the strengthening of a community determined to nurture its children.

Layer hens inside the poultry house will assist with the breakfast programme at Baxter’s Mountain Primary School.

Christon Jones, technical sales representative – Northern Region, Nutramix, pours feed into a bucket for layer hens.