Mark Titus, Freelance Writer

André Largie (left), brand manager of Tropicana, the title sponsors of Nyammins & Jammins, shares a joke with Norman Grant (centre), president of the Jamaica Agricultural Society, and Calvin G. Brown, chairman of the St. James 4H Advisory Council, during the launch of the annual food festival in Montego Bay, recently. - Photo by Mark Titus

WESTERN BUREAU:

Having etched its name on the entertainment calendar as one of the biggest family fun days in Jamaica, the St. James 4-H Advisory Council recently launched the 2007 Nyammins and Jammins food festival in Montego Bay.

The event will for the first time have a title sponsor in Tropicana and the organisers are hoping to surpassthe approximately 20,000 patrons in attendance at last year's event.

In launching this year's event, Norman Grant, president of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) and chairman of the 4H clubs islandwide, said: "The partnership between the sponsors and the 4H movement is the kind of cooperation that must be engendered between the private sector, the government entities and all Jamaica.

"The Jamaica 4H Clubs, at this time, presents to the country a tremendous vehicle to attract younger and younger people into the sector (agriculture)," he said. "What we now need to do is to ensure that we have the proper funding mechanism that can move them from clubbites into successful entrepreneurs."

Tropicana's three-year commitment

Brand manager of Tropicana, André Largie, told those in attendance that the decision to become the main sponsor was an easy one. "Given the track record of success and the stellar reputation of the organisers, we have committed to being the title sponsor for the next three years, 2007 through to 2009," he said.

Slated for National Heroes Day, the festival will showcase an array of Jamaican delicacies, and a 4-H food court, which will highlight a wide range of traditional goodies, along with the offerings of concessionaires.

Artiste line-up

The Catherine Hall venue will see acts such as popular DJ Assassin, the indomitable Taurus Riley, veteran singer Ernie Smith, along with the top two finalists in the 2007 Rising Stars competition, all backed by the Fabulous 5 Incorporated.

The gospel showcase will feature the 2007 JCDC gospel festival winner Garfield Reid, the Children's Gospel Festival winner Nicolene Brown, the soul-stirring Sister Scully, and winner of the Youth for Christ talent search 2006, Marsha Blagrove.