Young farmer’s business continues to thrive

While most 13-year-olds are enjoying the final days of their summer holidays, one is using the opportunity to rake in a few extra dollars.

STAR readers will easily remember Conroy Shakespeare, who warmed the hearts of Jamaicans at home and abroad after revealing his plans to ease his mother's burdens.

Conroy wanted to start his own business with seven chickens, which he was hoping would help put food on the family table.

His chicken stock would eventually increase to as much as 300 after he received donations from various entities.

Early this week, THE WEEKEND STAR caught up with the young farmer, who was busy plucking a few dozen chickens for sale while his two dogs wagged their tails while waiting anxiously for the chicken heads.

"I have killed a lot of them already and buy back. Is two coops I have now. Sometimes my mother and neighbour help mi kill and clean them up, but mi madda busy bad now because of 'back to school'. So I am killing them with my neighbour now. Dem always encourage me and tell mi to continue to do what mi a do. All mi teachers them tell mi say is a good ting mi a do," he said.

His mother, Simone Spence, said that the youngster's business, which is officially named Lucky 7 Farms, continues to thrive despite a few setbacks caused by delinquent customers.

"The persons who buy the chickens for their households will pay on time, but some of the persons who operate business will delay the payment, and that is what is slowing up business at bit. What we did is to keep the stock at 150 (chickens) all the time because it doesn't make much sense he keep killing them and when he is to buy back, there is a problem," she said.

The chickens, which sometimes weigh as much as six pounds, are sold for $190 per pound, and, according to Spence, there are persons who owe for more than 100 pounds.

As a result, she and her son are on the hunt for new customers.

"Right now, there are persons who owe Conroy from May, and I have to be behind them. Just recently, I had to 'drape up' someone just to get a portion of what he owes him. A lot of persons don't understand that he is just trying to do a business like anyone else, and when they delay payment, they are slowing up his progress," she said.

When THE STAR last interviewed Conroy, he said that he would be adding to his farm, and the youngster has done just that.

In addition to the chickens, he now owns a cow, a pig with seven piglets, two rabbits, and several birds. He also has plans to extend his farm by adding goats in the near future.

Conroy initially constructed a small coop to house the chickens in his backyard in Gutters, Old Harbour, St Catherine.

However, upon seeing the boy's business savvy, First Union Financial Group assisted the family by erecting a coop in their yard last October, while Hi-Pro provided 100 chickens.

Other corporate and private entities then reached out to offer their assistance.

Conroy was also recognised Youth Entrepreneur of the Year at Life Yard's entrepreneurship meets Live Music event in Kingston.