Westmoreland teacher cops Farm Queen crown

Christopher Serju, Gleaner Writer

A 23-year-old teacher on Saturday earned the distinction of being the first parish representative from Westmoreland to win the National Farm Queen title, topping the field of 13 contestants on the opening night of the Denbigh Agricultural and Industrial Show in May Pen, Clarendon.

Sharna-Gay Brown copped two sectional prizes - Best Personality and Most Agriculturally Aware - en route to winning the 2011 title at the 59th staging of the annual event which showcases the country's best in agricultural produce, agri-processing, livestock and technology.

The western parishes made a clean sweep of the top three places, as well as dominated the sectional prizes, with first runner-up being Miss Trelawny, Renae McKessey and Miss Hanover, Natashia Kelly taking the second runner-up spot.

Kelly was adjudged to have written the best technical paper, with McKessey taking the award for best oral presentation of a technical paper.

Sharna-Gay Brown, who succeeds Olivia Derrett of St Mary, is a graduate of the College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE) and holds an associate of science degree in agricultural education and a diploma in secondary school education.

Her philosophy, interestingly, reflects the thinking of Jamaica's first National Hero, Marcus Garvey:

"He who has no confidence in himself is twice defeated in the race of life, but with confidence, you have won even before you have started," the 2011 National Farm Queen confidently declared, impressing chief judge Major Jonathan Lamey of CASE, Paulette Lyons-Dodd of the Ministry of Agriculture and agricultural consultant, Florence Young.

Miss St Mary, Jodene George copped the prize for Best Talent presentation, and Miss St Thomas, Kimone Harris, was voted the Most Congenial contestant.

christopher.serju@gleanerjm.com