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At just 34 years old, Chevan Nicholas Young is among the new faces of farming in Jamaica.

The Bunkers Hill, Trelawny native has been crowned the 2025 Champion 4-H Youth Farmer, and his story is planting hope in the hearts of young Jamaicans across the island. Young is a former student of Muschett High School in the parish. Farming isn't just something he does - it's who he is.

"From I was a youth, I was always farming. In my backyard, right here in Bunkers Hill, I planted pepper and callaloo. At school I did agricultural science and always chatted with farmers about their enterprise and was always encouraged," he recalled.

Though he took up carpentry after graduating, the soil kept calling. And as fate would have it, a six-acre piece of land became available for lease and he jumped at the opportunity.

"It is right next door to the river. I expanded my crops from backyard to widescale farming. I planted more pepper, callaloo, cabbage, and cucumber. Most significantly, I established a piggery," said Young.

Now, his small backyard hustle has grown into a booming business. He employs three people on his farm, and is proving that agriculture isn't just for the older generation. But he warns that agriculture is not for everyone - it's a labour of love that must be nurtured.

"You have to love it because it has its ups and downs. When you have a sow dropping 18 piglets at one time, it is joy, but when the mother lies down and kills three, it is sadness. But you don't give up," he shared.

Outside of agriculture, Young has a deep love for sports, and once excelled at cricket and football. But he had to step away from playing due to an ankle injury.

Currently, Young is focused on expanding his piggery while continuing to cultivate cash crops.

"I have to plant these crops. For example, in scotch bonnet pepper, I can reap 100 pounds per week for nine months as long as I care the plants and supply the nutrients it needs. That is money earned each week," he explained.

Access to water can make or break a farm, and Young knows he is lucky to have the river nearby.

"The river allows me to establish drip irrigation for my pepper and wash out my pig pens," he said, adding that he recently invested in a water pump to keep his crops and animals thriving.

With 30 adult pigs, 70 weaners, and hundreds of thriving plants, Young isn't slowing down. His sights are set on major growth.

"I hope that by December I can have 70 adult pigs along with a number of weaners and 1,000 pepper trees," he said.