A common belief persists that farming primarily belongs to the older generation. However, 18-year-old Dante Blackwood is defying this perception with his early entry into agriculture, challenging stereotypes, and standing as a vivid illustration of youthful commitment and an enduring love for livestock farming.

In the close-knit community of Bogue in St Elizabeth, is an even smaller farm managed by Blackwood who has been deeply involved in the farming business since the tender age of six. Born into a family deeply rooted in agriculture, farming was the cornerstone of his upbringing, and he developed a passion for it. Blackwood was, however, the first in his family to start livestock farming after his cousin gifted him his first sheep.

“I sold cassava and bought a goat for $6,000 in those days,” Blackwood said, while reflecting on his early experiences of expanding his farm.

As a small-bodied Blackwood escorted the Jamaica Observer team to show us his farm, the young livestock farmer, donning muddy boots and a crisp white T-shirt, cut a distinctive figure against the rustic backdrop of his farm. There were two humble, yet functional, havens for his seven goats and eight sheep, which were fashioned by hand when he was 16 years old.

“It took three days to build this,” Blackwood said while pointing at his first pen, which was constructed for his goats. “Nobody really helped me with this design. A pen used to be here, so I just took it down and built a smaller pen,” he told the Business Observer.

The pen, far from professionally constructed but brimming with character, tells a tale of resourcefulness and passion. The structure features a mix of repurposed materials, such as sturdy wooden planks and metal wire fencing. Nails and screws, some perhaps a bit crooked, securely hold the elements together. The wooden planks reveal the marks of manual labour, bearing the evidence of a young farmer’s hard work. “I watched YouTube videos and took some of the designs off the videos and just built them,” he added. His second pen was constructed with a slotted floor specifically for his goats, repurposing the first pen for his sheep.

Blackwood’s entry into the public eye occurred this year when he received an invitation to participate in the Denbigh Agricultural, Industrial, and Food Show in Clarendon. It was his first visit, and he proudly displayed two sheep, one of which won a prize for its health and appearance.

His farm may be small, but it boasts a diverse range of animals, including chickens which he allows to roam freely, pet rabbits, and guinea pigs. “When I went to Denbigh, I decided to buy them [rabbits and guinea pigs] as pets. When they start to breed and someone wants a pair, I’ll sell them. I have no plans with them; it’s just something I love,” Blackwood shared.

To sustain his animals, Blackwood chops cane grass that he received as contributions from friends who plant it. He uses this grass as feed for his goats and rabbits, manually chopping it each morning with a machete. He does this to compensate for the inadequate amount of feed, as his main challenge is the rising cost of bagged feed. “To get it, one bag of feeding is $2,500. The price has gone up; before, I was okay. So now I have to improvise,” he lamented.

The price has moved up from $1,500. In addition to the cost of feed, Blackwood faces difficulty negotiating fair prices for his animals. “The sale of the goat and the sheep, when a buyer comes in, they are giving me less than more for it,” he explained. He stated that a sheep should ideally sell for $55,000 or more, depending on the breed, but buyers often offer less than $40,000.

Given these financial constraints, he can only afford five bags of feed per month at $12,000. This limited supply forces him to feed his animals once a day.

Despite the challenges he faces, Blackwood remains undeterred. “When I go out and see other big farmers, I feel motivated to continue. And we talk, and they say, ‘You’re going to make it’,” he said with a glimmer in his eyes.

As a recent graduate of high school, Blackwood acknowledges the role farming has played in keeping him out of trouble and making him more productive. When the Business Observer asked Blackwood about his plans to keep his farm sustained, he responded, “with love and passion and Hi-Pro bag feed.”