Mother, farmer, philanthropist
MANY IN the entertainment circle would know the name Jade Lee. For years she has been responsible for charting the careers of artistes, including Denyque, as well as being active in other areas of the industry.
What many don’t know is that this sprightly young woman is a resourceful farmer – so much so that she walked away with the Champion Female Farmer title at the recently concluded 64th Denbigh Agricultural Show in Clarendon.
Supported by family and friends, Lee made the proud walk to collect her trophy – a vindication of all the hard work and sacrifices she put in.
Flair caught up with Lee after she received her award, and brimming with pride she told us, “I feel my hard work has been recognised, and I feel inspired to continue my journey in farming – encouraging other farmers and people who aspire to be farmers to be successful at this craft.”
The operator of Little Orchard Farm, she revealed what it took to get to this place in her life – first and foremost a vision and staying focused.
“Handwork, commitment and careful budgeting and research were very important components,” she said.
With most of her life spent in entertainment, Lee said what powered her foray into the farming was her father’s passing in 2008. Although she had grown up on the farm, she never had any interest in taking the path her father did.
But seeing the property abandoned for over six years, she said she realised it was her legacy to rebuild, restructure and rejuvenate her childhood home, making it into a sustainable business and an inspiration for others.
“It sounds kind of crazy, but I had a really impactful out-of-body experience where my dad spoke to me. I feel like he is always there guiding me. We were close and I had a great deal of respect for his wisdom,” Lee shared.
Although Lee was determined to take up this new challenge, she was not willing to let go of the world she loved – the entertainment industry. So for her it meant proper time management, coupled with a great skill of multitasking.
“I have also been blessed with a great team of employees in all my businesses. I believe very strongly in training and teaching my staff how to apply themselves and troubleshoot – this has worked to my advantage,” said the woman who now runs a 35-acre property with 20 being in production.