Two spectacular weeks of agricultural immersion at Tuskegee for Jamaican high school students

TWELVE students and three teachers from a collection of Jamaican high schools were blown away by their recent immersion in agriculture, as part of the Tuskegee University Agri-Trek Summer Programme in Alabama, United States. The schools included Cornwall College, Maldon High, Knockalva High, Herbert Morrison Technical High, Montego Bay High and Cambridge High, all from St James. They spent two weeks receiving hands-on learning across agriculture and education, during which they were given a chance to experience the rich history and culture of Tuskegee University and the surrounding Tuskegee area.

The students were effusive in their reflections on the experience which, they all concluded, had positioned them for greater things that would provide them with valuable educational, cultural, and personal development opportunities, bound to redound to the benefit of Jamaica. In their joint report on the trip, Cornwall’s Jeremiah Bent, Samijani Gardener and D’Andre Granston, and Maldon High’s Deontae Forrester, and Dave Brown described the Tuskegee University Agri-Trek Summer Programme as “an unforgettable experience”, meeting with the 140 participants, Jamaica being the only other country outside the United States. Through mentors in different fields the students participated in research activities, laboratory exercises, discussions, and poster presentations that helped develop teamwork, communication, and critical thinking skills.

“We learned how technology can be used to collect, analyse, and display geographical information. Others explored biotechnology and learned how scientists can extract DNA from one plant and transfer it to another. “Students involved in veterinary science learned practical skills such as measuring goat weight, determining body condition scores, and conducting FAMACHA scoring to assess animal health,” read the joint report.

FAMACHA is a method used to assess anaemia risk in livestock by examining the colour of an animal’s eyelid against a five-point scale. Participants in the Tuskegee University Agri-Trek Summer Programme getting ready to enjoy rafting on the Whitewater Maldon science teacher Glenveil Wynn (right), who chaperoned students including Deontae Forrester and Dave Brown. One of the most rewarding aspects of the programme was interacting with students from the various states across the USA, they noted, adding that they proudly s…