National Farm Queen competition vital to changing perceptions of agriculture, says organiser

MAY PEN, Clarendon — Sixty years after its inception, the National Farm Queen Competition is being repositioned for a new generation, with organiser Velonique Bowen determined to establish the event as a premier agricultural platform in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean. Bowen, who spearheaded this year's staging alongside co-ordinator Jameika Johnson, described the 60th staging of the competition as a “resounding success”, saying the team had succeeded in increasing its visibility while improving the quality and relevance of the event. The Diamond Jubilee staging was held on July 31 at the President's Pavilion during the 72nd Denbigh Agricultural, Industrial and Food Show in May Pen, Clarendon, where St Thomas native Kapri Scott was crowned the 2026 National Farm Queen.

But for Bowen, the significance of this year's competition went beyond crowning a new queen, noting that it was also an opportunity to reflect on the competition's history and the challenges it has faced over the years. Velonique Bowen, organiser of the 2026 National Farm Queen competition. “In assessing those 60 years, we would have seen some gaps and found that the competition was mistaken for Festival Queen or persons simply did not know about it,” Bowen said.

She said one of the primary objectives this year was therefore to distinguish Farm Queen as a standalone agricultural competition while demonstrating the impact participation can have on contestants and their communities. “We have revitalised the competition and ushered in a new era of Farm Queen while honouring the 60-year legacy,” she expressed. That revitalisation included a stronger corporate push, with Serge serving as the main sponsor and BYD coming on board as the official transportation sponsor for the queen's year-long reign.

Under the partnership, Scott will have BYD transportation available for her official duties throughout her tenure. For Bowen, securing corporate backing was among the most satisfying aspects of this year's staging, given the competition's historical struggles in attracting sponsorship. Co-ordinators of the national farm queen competition Jameika Johnson (left) and Velonique Bowen.

“One of the things Farm Queen struggled with over the years was a lack of sponsorship, a lack of buy-in from corporate Jamaica to support the competition,” she said. She expressed particular pride in seeing companies recognise…