THE HISTORY OF THE JAMAICA 4-H CLUBS…
Introduction:
The following is a condensed history of what
is probably Jamaica’s most prolific youth organisation, the Jamaica
4-H Clubs.
It is hoped that this will assist you the
visitor to the website understand the inception and achievements of
this august organisation which is now in its 60th year.
This revised extract was adapted and
revised from The History and Philosophy of the Jamaica 4-H Clubs by late
4-H stalwart Harold E. Folkes.
The Pioneer Years.
The genesis of the Jamaica 4-H Clubs is strongly
linked to that of its parent body, the Jamaica Agricultural Society
(JAS) as it
was during the JAS’ era of growth and
development, that this baby was born.
That was over 60 years ago.
Today, the Jamaica 4-H Clubs, which now
has over 35,000 “clubites”, is a force to be reckoned with, as it is
highly considered as the leading youth organisation in the island.
The JAS in the 1940’s declared as its major
objective the training of farmers in good farming techniques.
In its efforts to achieve this, a staff
comprising of agricultural instructors and supervisors was created,
which would become responsible for training and encouraging farmers to
adopt new, improved and modern techniques and skills in various farming
practices.
This however, would be an uphill task.
In most cases, new ideas were not readily
accepted and old habits died hard.
Against this background, pioneer instructor,
O.P. Martin created the idea of branch nurseries or “Juvenile
Branches”.
Rural areas such as Brown’s Hall, Macca Tree
and Ginger Ridge in St Catherine were selected for the burgeoning
experiments.
Martin also sought co-operation and support
from school principals in these districts, particularly from T.A.
Golding, John Thompson and F.R. Ricketts, all of whom were deeply
involved in the JAS, agriculture and youth.
Juvenile Branch members were selected mostly
from elite schools and its meetings were patterned from those of its
adult branches.
Principals became self-appointed leaders and
directed agricultural programmes such as the school gardens and
vegetable or animal projects at members’ homes.
Accompanying displays and exhibitions staged
in tandem with these activities soon followed.
The Juvenile Branches also formed the
catalyst for a new breed of agricultural training, aimed at developing
skills and techniques in practical tasks at a time when there was
constant deterioration of recreational and social amenities in rural
areas.
This initiative also found favour in
Clarendon, where several Juvenile Branches were also formed under the
stewardship of principal of the Red location for promotional
agricultural training.
The school and its curriculum were soon
introduced to the neighbouring community.
A small committee comprising three vice
presidents – J.W. Maxwell, O.P. Martin, H.G. Dunkley, and secretary
Captain Arthur Thelwell was subsequently named by the JAS Board of
Management to make recommendations for the extension of work done among
the youth.
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