I am honored to bring greetings to The Ole Farmers Association North America Inc. (OFANA) as you celebrate your 15th Anniversary. I note that you represent graduates of The Jamaica School of Agriculture, The Government Farm School and its successor colleges, COA and CASE. Your dedication to educational pursuits and your many accomplishments in that area is a testament to your desire to give back and to make life a little easier for those who follow in your footsteps. The way in which you pivoted during COVID19 to provide electronic devices – laptops to current students, as in-person learning became impossible, is a testament to your resiliency. Denzel Washington once said, “At the end of the day, it’s not about what you have or even what you’ve accomplished… it’s about who you’ve lifted up, who you’ve made better. It’s about what you’ve given back.” OFANA has shown that it is committed to giving back, and to the upliftment of others.

The Jamaica Diaspora Northeast USA congratulates the entire Ole Farmers Association, North America Incorporated (OFANA), on its outstanding legacy of producing agriculturalists who exemplify scientific and technical excellence. The College of Agriculture, Science, and Education (CASE) is incredibly blessed to benefit from the philanthropic ecosystem created and sustained by OFANA. We especially salute the presidency of Norma Jarrett. She is the quintessential embodiment of servant leadership as she recognizes the role of science, technology, and education in OFANA’s commitment to revolutionizing and modernizing the agricultural landscape in Jamaica.

I am pleased to bring greetings to the President, Mrs. Norma Jarrett, and Executive of the Ole Farmers Association, North America, Inc. (OFANA) on the occasion of your virtual 2021 Annual General Meeting. I take the opportunity to laud OFANA for adhering to its mission to support the advancement of the academic aspirations of students pursuing careers in agriculture and related fields at the institutions devoted to those purposes in Jamaica. The Government of Jamaica has placed much emphasis on food security in a bid to ensure that we “eat what we grow” and “grow what we eat”. As such, the mission of OFANA has never been more relevant, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic which has disrupted every sphere of life, including the agricultural sector and food supply chains.