Like Captain Barrington Irving himself, his popularity is certainly soaring, and Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller is the latest to come onboard the party plane. Here, Irving, the first black man to fly solo around the world, receives a Youth Musgrave Medal at a reception and concert at Emancipation Park, New Kingston, on Friday. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer - Nathaniel Stewart/Freelance Photographer

Shelly-Ann Thompson, Gleaner Writer

DENBIGH, Clarendon:

Pilot Barrington Irving and six former presidents of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) were inducted into the society's hall of fame on day two of the 55th Denbigh Agri-Industrial Show, yesterday.

The youngest and first black pilot to fly solo around the world, Jamaican-born Irving said he was honoured to be inducted into the hall of fame.

"Never would I imagine that flying around the world would land me in an agricultural hall of fame," Irving said.

But JAS president, Norman Grant, said it was important to honour Irving.

"We know while he was flying around the world, he was eating some Jamaican food," quipped Grant. "He is a Jamaican who has achieved excellence in tremendous proportions and we think that agriculture itself is an arena of excellence."

The other inductees are Rudolph Burke, who served as JAS president from 1947-1967; Willie Henry, 1967-1971; Percival Broderick Sr., 1971-1974; Courtney Fletcher, 1974-1993; Ivan Tomlinson, 1993-1997; and A.A. 'Bobby' Pottinger, 1997-2003.

4-h to honour irving

Meanwhile, Grant says a committee will be established to field nominees from the public for induction into the hall of fame.

Grant noted that the 4-H Clubs, which recognises the achievement of young people, would be honouring Irving with its Clover Award.

Yesterday, Maria Azan of Riversdale, St. Catherine, was named the 2007 Champion Farmer. One hundred and ten cows are milked daily on her farm.

The Young Champion Farmer is Vijay Smith of St. Mary.

The agricultural show ends today.

shelly-ann.thompson@gleanerjm.com

Champion Farmer, Maria Azan, of Riversdale Palm, St. Catherine, accepts her trophy from Governor-General Professor Kenneth Hall at the Denbigh Agri-Industrial Show in Clarendon, yesterday. Azan, who operates a 365-acre farm, is only the second woman to win the title in the history of the competition. Vijay Smith was named Young Champion Farmer.