Dear Editor,

With the passing of Lenworth Fulton Jamaica has lost a true agriculturalist, dedicated advocate for our farmers, and visionary for food security.

His work in the agriculture sector — from the Jamaica 4-H Clubs, the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), and the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), institutions that he headed — has left a lasting legacy of hope for sustainable growth.

He was an industry leader who was always putting forward innovation for community building, and he will be remembered as a true steward of the soil who planted ideas as much as he spearheaded the cultivation of crops.

Although his life was deeply intertwined with the soil, he also dedicated himself to nurturing talents in many spheres, and was more than a farmer or scientist, but a mentor and friend whose hands shaped not just fields, but futures.

About 15 years ago, I along with former Executive Director of the Jamaica 4-H Clubs Dr Ronald Blake and Fulton travelled from Mandeville to a section of St Elizabeth where the 4-H Clubs had a peanut farm. Throughout the journey all we talked about was agriculture and why arable land must be reserved for farming. We did not get a chance to talk about anything else. Fulton controlled the discussion, and even when we stopped at a location for a sip and I tried to divert the talks into music and other things, he found ways to steer us back to agriculture.

From that day, and on the occasions when we met at a certain place in Spanish Town, as well as through his writing in the newspapers, I regarded him as one who planted, and the seeds that he sowed will continue to blossom for generations.

Thank you, Lenworth Fulton, for your commitment, your inspiring leadership, and for leaving us a legacy that will forever nourish our island. Rest in eternal peace, my Bredrin.

To you I dedicate this poem, A Farmer’s Farewell, by an unknown author:

“A farmer’s farewell, with laughter and cheer,

For you, dear friend, we’ll raise a beer,

A life of mud and muck and dirt,

A funny tale, no time for hurt.

You taught us how to laugh and smile,

Even when the work stretched mile by mile,

Your humour kept us going strong,

Through endless days and nights so long.

So, here’s to you, our funny friend,

A farmer’s farewell, but not the end,

In fields of green, and skies so blue,

We’ll laugh, remembering the life of you.”

Garfield L Angus

Spur Tree PO

Manchester

garfieldangus@gmail.com