OCHO RIOS, St Ann — An excited Annakay Campbell and her friend Sasha-Kaye Small clutched a goat tightly in their arms as they exited the Minard Livestock and Beef Festival show ground in Brown’s Town, St Ann, on Thursday. The animal was Campbell’s prize for winning a goat scrambling competition at the event and they were taking it to join other livestock on her mother’s farm.

Campbell, a sixth form student at Brown’s Town High School, told the Jamaica Observer that winning the goat was her main reason for attending the event.

“From me deh primary school my mother want me to catch a goat. I caught one while I was in grade six and I got a certificate to come back and collect it but when I came they told me that they [the goats] were finished. So I came back for my second chance now,” the young girl said, unable to contain her excitement.

Capturing the animal was no easy feat. She competed against 20 other students just as determined as she was to grab one of seven animals placed in a pen.

“It was very difficult because I fell so many times, but I’m happy that I won. When I caught the goat I was like, ‘Thank you Jesus!’,” she said with a huge grin.

“My mother raise goat, chicken, and rabbit, so I’m just going to give it to her to raise it for me and I can sell some when the time is right,” she added.

She was among students, teachers and parents who turned out for the 21st staging of the Minard Livestock and Beef Festival on the company’s estate. This year’s theme was ‘Smart Livestock Production: Safer, Cleaner, Better’. Throughout the fun-filled day, patrons learned about the importance of sustaining the agricultural sector and related career choices. The event had been missed when it was forced to take a two-year break because of COVID-19.

Shirley Suckrajh, a livestock farmer from St Mary who ventures to Minard annually, was among those elated that the show was back. Interacting with the younger patrons is her favourite part of the show.

“I cater for children when I come here. Just to see them bungle up and the excitement to see and play with animals means a lot to me,” she told the Observer as she entertained a booth filled with parents and children excited to either purchase or learn about her variety of animals.

“This is my hobby, to raise my animals and to visit places where I can get to showcase them. So I thank God that we can come back to Minard and have the show because it has been a while and we really missed it,” she said.

As she spoke, little Ayden Grey gripped her arm as he urged her to hold onto one of her birds so he could get a closer look.

“Miss, catch him mek mi see, catch him, catch him,” he begged.

She obliged and Grey was so intrigued that he quickly decided to partner with a friend to purchase a pair of birds. Their plan was to add the caged birds to the passengers on their school bus back to Clarendon.

State minister in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Franklin Witter was happy to see youngsters like goat herder Campbell and bird enthusiast Grey at the event.

“The turnout here today is amazing. I didn’t expect to see this large turnout and most importantly the involvement of the young people. From what we are seeing here today I believe we are doing well in making sure we involve the young people in whatever we do as it relates to agriculture in Jamaica,” he said.

First-time patron Pamela Avis, a Clarendon parent whose children convinced her to attend, said she will be back for future shows.

“It is very educational and my children are grateful for the experience so I will be coming again next year,” she told the Observer.

Executive director of the 4-H Clubs Dr Ronald Blake, who was also a guest at the event, urged students to take something meaningful from the day’s proceedings.

“While you enjoy the show I hope that as you go back to your schools you will have something positive to take away, ensure that you are educated about livestock farming and how important it is to food security,” he said.

“I want to say congratulations to the Minard team, this, again, is an activity well done,” he said.